This weekend, race fans will be treated to some of the best racing action this area has seen in years, as drivers and fans alike will flock to South Georgia and North Florida, for three nights of Dirt Late Model action at three different race tracks.

The top Dirt Late Model drivers in the country are ready for a busy winter schedule to begin the $4-Million 2000 United Dirt Track Racing Association Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Late Model season. The 11th season begins with seven races
at three different tracks here in the South Georgia and Florida area, beginning tonight at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, Georgia, for two single day events on the fastest dirt track in the South.
Over 80 of the top drivers in the country are expected, including the 1999 race winner, and former Winston Cup driver Jack Pennington, as well as current Busch Grand National driver, Jeff Purvis.

Dale McDowell of Rossville, Georgia is the defending Hav-A-Tampa Champion, and is ready to contend again in 2000, driving his #17 GRT Chassis, which is headed up by his brother Shane McDowell as Crew Chief and Mike Price.

"We're going to prepare for this season the same as we did for last season," McDowell said. "We have a new race car, one car with five races on it, and five new engines. There's not as much pressure as there was last year
because we've got more product support than we had last year, so our confidence might be a little higher, being the defending champion. We'll just take it one race at a time with a goal of finishing in the top five at each race. That's what we did last year, and the points took care of
themselves."

Last season, McDowell won a record amount of money on the cigar-sponsored series winning over $300,000 and claiming six victories. The last event of the season was the Hav-A-Tampa Shootout at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Georgia, where McDowell won the 100-lap race, and overcame a 31-point deficit to beat Wendell Wallace of Batesville, Arkansas for the title. McDowell took $50,000 for winning the championship, $52,000 for winning the event, and
Dixie Speedway owner Mickey Swims paid a $20,000 bonus. McDowell earned $122,000, a record single-event win total. Gates at Golden Isles Speedway will open at 5PM tonight, and 3PM tomorrow.

The racers and fans won't have far to travel on Sunday, as they make their way 45 minutes south to Jax Raceways, as the Southeast Motorsports Dirt Racing Series will hold it's season opener. The event postponed from last Saturday, was advertised as a 75-lap event paying $5,000 to win. Series
officials decided to reduce the number of laps to 50, while keeping the purse the same. The reduction in laps will slightly shorten the program to allow the competitors an opportunity to pack up at a reasonable hour to make the
trip to Tampa for the beginning of their week long racing schedule the following day.
"We have worked extremely hard to get this Series off the ground and want to thank everyone for all their effort and participation." said Timmy Carter, series promoter, "We can control just about everything but the weather. Sure,
we may have had a clear race day last Saturday, but the forecast all last week called for rain and cold weather. We just couldn't have expected everyone to make his or her way through such bad travel conditions to possibly sit at the gate in the rain. With Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick
having their season opener tonight, the teams will already be in the area. Cutting the laps and keeping the purse intact will allow the teams to get an earlier start for East Bay and is our way of showing the appreciation for
everyone's understanding."

The Southeast Motorsports Dirt Racing Series has scheduled the second of twelve events for the inaugural racing season, on Saturday, February 26, 2000 at Waycross Motor Speedway in Waycross, Georgia. This event will close out
Speedweeks 2000. Additionally, Series President Timmy Carter, has also offered a special bonus of $2,500 to any driver who can win both Southeast Motorsports Dirt Racing Series Speedweeks events. The Jax Raceways local Pure
Stocks will also be on hand for heat races and feature events, gates open at noon, racing will start at 5.

Volusia Speedway Park, just 70 miles south of Jacksonville, will also be in action this weekend. The half mile clay track, located in Deland, Florida will hold the season opening Late Model Sportsmen event. Track officials are
expecting over 30 of the top Sportsmen drivers in the South to be on hand for the event. Practice will be tonight, with qualifying and heat races tomorrow, and the 75 lap feature event to be held on Sunday afternoon.

(Donnie Helmly can be heard on Monday nights @ 7pm on 1320AM WJGR as the host of "The Race Report")

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