By Katherine Adams

Savannah, GA - The interest for the 2nd Annual Coca-Cola Young Guns Shoot-Out presented by Stock Car Racing and Circle Track Magazines along with Sport Clips at the Oglethorpe Speedway Park continues to grow. Entries include drivers aged 23 and younger from California to Deleware and from Florida to Ontario, Canada as everyone scouts for the next sensation in professional stock car racing. The event is slated for Oglethorpe Speedway Park near Savannah, GA, the first weekend of February.

The entry list for this year’s race has grown to sixty-three competitors representing 22 states and one Canadian province. There are two young ladies ready to compete against the men. Illinois’ Trista Stevenson will compete in both the Young Guns Late Model and Modified features while Wisconsin’s Julie McDermid is running the Modifieds only. The diverse group of young racing talent is sure to make a great racing event.

“The response has been tremendous already,” said track promoter Ted Austad. “The team representatives are just as excited with the growing turn-out. They are anxious to scout a good group of young talent in one location.”

Kellen Chadwick of Oakley, CA, will travel just under 2,900 miles to compete at the Young Guns Shoot-Out in Savannah, GA. The late model and modified driver is looking at this as unique opportunity to showcase his talent to professional teams.

“We do not get that much publicity in our area near the Bay area,” said his mother Tina Chadwick. “We are hoping to meet someone who may be able to assist us in our pursuit of a professional career in motorsports.”

Many drivers are planning on a return visit after competing in last year’s inaugural event for the young drivers. That list is led by defending champions Bodine Massengill from Florida in the Young Guns Late Model division and Iowa’s Zak VanderBeek in the Young Guns Modifieds.

“The event helped springboard our 2005 racing season,” said VanderBeek’s father Jim. “We are hoping a good solid run at defending that title will lead to more this year.” Some of the sixty-three competitors now entered will also compete the same weekend in events planned for the Crate Late Models, IMCA Modifieds and Championship Modified Tour including VanderBeek.

“We are going to take advantage that the track is hosting multiple events,” said Jim Vanderbeek. “Our team will run both Friday and Saturday night in the Championship Modified Tour events with the big one being Saturday night when we run for the title of Young Guns champion for the second straight year. It will be a fun weekend in Georgia.”

The Coca-Cola Young Guns Shoot-Out presented by Stock Car Racing and Circle Track Magazines along with Sport Clips will take place in conjunction with the track’s Winternationals.

Oglethorpe Speedway Park is located on US Highway in Pooler, GA. Just three miles east of Interstate 95 (GA exit 102) and five miles west of downtown Savannah.

The event is also hosting a pair of race events for the Crate Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Championship Tour Modifieds, Mini Stocks and 440 cars.

Additional information, race entry, schedule and more can be obtained by calling the speedway at 912-964-8200 or by visiting the speedway website at 912-964-8200.


Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on the Message Board! or send a letter to the editor!