2009 Press Releases: Fairgrounds Speedway
Fairgrounds Speedway - Tennessee State Fairgrounds - Nashville, TN
http://www.fairgroundsspeedwayatnashville.com/pages/press.html
How To Ruin A Good Thing
Two weeks in a row there’s been fights in the pits.
Last week it was Andy Johnson and Mark Day, two former track champions. This week it was a couple of drivers in the open wheel division. Both Johnson and Day were disqualified and suspended one week, and Johnson was fined an additional $500 for running his car into Day while Day was parked on pit road, with crew and officials all around.
This week another driver has been suspended and fined.
Uh, drivers, don’t you know how fragile the deal is at the Fairgrounds? The neighbors are looking for ANY thing to use to say “See, this facility doesn’t belong here, so we need to shut it down.”
I have to hand it to Johnson. He acknowledged that his actions were wrong, while Day has to figure out if he still wants to race at the track because of his punishment.
The track doesn’t need drivers who remove their brains when they put a helmet on. I understand that passion plays a part in racing (after all, who wants to see a driver who’s not upset at losing?), but drivers have to learn how to channel that passion in ways that don’t involve the potential death of an official or other driver.
Track promoter Danny Denson made the right decision in telling drivers that he’ll press charges if there are other fights. He’s risking a lot for the drivers, and the least they can do is behave professionally.
Opening Night, 2009 Season
Despite the threat of rain and a competing NASCAR Cup race on TV, an estimated 3000 people attended the opening night of the 2009 racing season at the Fairgrounds Speedway at Nashville.
A whopping ten divisions took to the tracks at the historic fairgrounds. Even with that many divisions, the final race ended at 9:45 pm, well before the 11:00 pm sound curfew.
2009 Late Model champion Andy Johnson started his title defense on a winning note, leading flag to flag in the 50 lap feature. Bobby Buttrey took home the win in the SuperTruck division, while Lee Goddard got his first win of the season in the Sportsman division.
On the quarter mile track, the winners were:
- Dwarfs - Ricky McIllwain
- Thunderstox - Charles Goddard, Jr.
- Legends Pro/Master - Tyler Slayden
- Legends Semi-Pro/Young Guns - Cody Fernett
- Open Wheels - Scott Gay
- Bandoleros - “Weatherman”
- Superstocks - Robert Forsythe
Racing continues next Saturday, April 25, with racing in all divisions plus to end the night, a demolition derby on the front stretch.
Speedway Results Needed
Does anyone out there have results for the years 2004 through 2008? I only have results from 1997 through 2003 (when I did the speedway’s web site).
If so, let me know.
Thanks.
Newt Moore IV
Newt Moore IV, Grand International Sedan Champion
1982 & 1984, Nashville International Raceway, Nashville, TN
Travis Ryman
#6 Travis Ryman, Madison, TN, Front Runner, Music City Motorplex, Nashville, TN 
Denson Gets 2009 Speedway Lease
According to the Tennessean, Danny Denson has been awarded the lease for the track running through the end of this year.
Denson is co-owner of Full Throttle Race Parts and was a partner with former leaseholder Dennis Grau. Denson is expected to sign the lease within the next few days.
Sterling Marlin & Ryman Family
Sterling Marlin joins the Ryman family at Music City Motorplex, Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Nashville, TN
