NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series Preview: Kroger 200 at Lanier National Speedway
18 August 1997
NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series Kroger 200 Presented by Old El Paso Advance Lanier National Speedway SLIM JIM ALL PRO SERIES RETURNS TO LANIER FOR LABOR DAY LOLLAPALOOZA DAYTONA BEACH, FL- After a three week break, the participants in the NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series will resume their nine month odyssey across the south and midwest with a return to Lanier National Speedway in Gainesville, GA on Saturday night, August 30. The $43,360 Kroger 200 presented by Old El Paso represents the 15th event on the 20 race schedule and just making the starting field will be a major challenge. On July 3, 17 teams were sent packing as 47 drivers attempted to secure one of 30 starting positions in the Budweiser 200. Next weekend similar circumstances should prevail as a large field of series regulars, challenged by a generous group of Lanier local drivers, and spiced up by some one-time invaders, should produce an outstanding 30 car starting field for the 200 lap Labor Day weekend grind. Mobile, AL native Rick Crawford, who finished second in the 1996 NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series point standings, and is now a Cintas Rookie of the Year contender in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, is expected to return to the series to run in this event. Along with the return of Crawford, Suwanee, GA's Mike Garvey is also expected. Garvey, who is slated to drive Jerry Awbrey's StreetWires Chevrolet, holds the 200-lap race record as he notched a win on June 20, 1992 in a time of one hour, four minutes and 11 seconds. NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour driver John Metcalf will also return to pilot the Re/Max Chevrolet which he drove to a third place finish on July 3 at Lanier in his first Slim Jim All Pro Series start. The Englewood, CO resident will be accompanied by Davy Lee Liniger, a rookie on the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour and the owner of Lanier National Speedway. Liniger will be attempting to make his first oval track start in the series after making his series debut earlier this year at the Heartland Park Topeka road course. In addition to the Kroger 200, Hoosier Tire will once again sponsor the Hoosier Tire Pit Stop Challenge. Several teams from the NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series will be pitted against one another in a $500 winner-take-all contest of pit stop prowess. A timed two tire pit stop will be executed on the front straightaway at Lanier prior to the running of the Kroger 200. Back in July, Ron Young's team, under the leadership of Larry Rapp snagged the $500 prize in their homestate and many teams are dedicating extra practice time to their pit stop efforts in order to dethrone the home state favorites. Registration and Inspection for the Kroger 200 begins at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 30 with Practice scheduled to run from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Busch Pole qualifying gets underway at 6:00 p.m. and the 200-lap slugfest begins at approximately 8:00 p.m. *** On Friday, August 29, BellSouth and driver Steven Christian have organized a driver autograph session at Malibu SpeedZone in Kennesaw, GA. Numerous NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series drivers will have their racing machines on display and will be on hand to sign autographs in an entertaining setting from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Malibu SpeedZone is located at 3005 George Busbee Parkway and can be reached by exiting off of Interstate 75 at Exit 116, then turning right on Barrett Parkway and executing an immediate right on to George Busbee Parkway. The complex is located approximately one half mile on the right. The 12-acre park is dedicated to racing and speed and is loaded with action-packed attractions for licensed drivers over 18, plus special children's attractions which can be accessed prior to 9:00 p.m. each day. *** Austin Quality Foods will be conducting a special promotion during the at-track festivities at Lanier. A promotion entitled "Let's Say Thanks" will take place and will enable those in attendance to express their gratitude and support to the men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces worldwide via e-mail through the American Red Cross intranet computer sites. By NASCAR Public Relations