Racing in Richmond - Hamlin, Stewart, Busch and Logano Set to Trade Paint for Charity

Denny Hamlin Foundation Announces Second Annual Benefit Race at Southside Speedway

Denny Hamlin, Chesterfield, Va. native and driver of the #11 FedEx Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, is once again racing for charity at Southside Speedway this spring – and he’s bringing his friends.

On April 30, 2009 Hamlin will host the second annual “Short Track Showdown” at Southside Speedway in Richmond (Va.) to benefit the Denny Hamlin Foundation, and this season Hamlin is being joined by some of NASCAR’s biggest stars. Two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart will join Hamlin’s current Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Kyle Busch and Joey Logano, and race day spotter Curtis Markham, in a race against some of the South’s best short-track talent in a 175-lap Limited Late Model race.

Last year, Hamlin presented a check in the amount of $50,000 - an amount raised almost entirely from the proceeds of the race - to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

“I was thrilled with what we were able to do last year – it was a great event for a great cause and this year it is our hope to double that donation,” said Hamlin. “It means a lot that Tony, Kyle, Joey and Curtis are committed to helping me raise money for my foundation and I know we all want to put on a great show for the fans.”

The Denny Hamlin Foundation was created in 2008 to aid in raising awareness and funding for Cystic Fibrosis research and treatment, as well support other not for profit corporations that focus on aiding children with debilitating illnesses.

Online ticket sales begin Tuesday, March 17, 2009 exclusively at www.dennyhamlinfoundation.org .

All proceeds from ticket sales, the silent auction and raffles will benefit the Denny Hamlin Foundation.

For more information on the event, please log onto www.dennyhamlinfoundation.org .

APRIL 30: BIG NIGHT AT SOUTHSIDE SPEEDWAY!!

* * * April 30 * * * Southside Speedway is pleased to announce it will host The Denny Hamlin Foundation Night on Thursday, April 30.

Drivers will include: TONY STEWART, DENNY HAMLIN, KYLE BUSCH, JOEY LOGANO and CURTIS MARKHAM. They will be racing in the Late Model Sportsman Division, along with our own local weekly drivers. Details about this event, such as ticket prices and sale dates, will be announced as they become available. Sign up for the Speedway website's email list to keep up-to-date on this and other events at the Toughest Short Track In The South!
(Note: Drivers, Dates and Times are always subject to change)

Visit www.southsidespeedway.com for more information, to sign up for email updates and for pictures from last year's event.

Inaugural Southside event scores for charity

Kyle Busch found a great way to pre-celebrate his 23rd birthday Thursday, May 1. He worked his way up from 7th, ran in the top two for most of the night and picked off local favorite Chris Hopkins for a trip to victory lane at Southside Speedway in the inaugural Denny Hamlin 175. It wasn’t such a great night for all of the superstars however.

Busch, Hamlin and Curtis Markham took on top Southside Speedway contenders in the Late Model Division to kick off Hamlin’s foundation benefiting Cystic Fibrosis, and on hand to kick off the action was Bobby Allison, formerly of the Alabama Gang which dominated racing in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Allison rode four laps as the Grand Marshal, but says he wasn’t quite ready to get behind the wheel again.

“I remember I won a race here back in 1960. That’s pretty good. It’s a little bigger now but it’s pretty much the same,” Allison said. “I go through moments where I watch these young guys like Denny Hamlin and these other hot shoes and I say ‘I ain’t sure I’d do it exactly like that’ … I’m going to tell you what, they do a great job and I had a lot of good times and I’m OK where I am.”

As racing got underway, it appeared that the two Sprint Cup stars didn’t need too much advice though.

Hamlin and Busch started sixth and seventh, respectively, thanks to an inverted start of the top seven qualifiers and both quickly worked their way to the top of the pack.

By the 36th lap, Busch had taken second and was on the tail of Hopkins. The two stayed bumper to bumper through lap 100 when Busch took the inside line in turns three and four and took a slim lead, but Hopkins got back to the top position three laps later when Busch got caught in lapped traffic as he again tried to take the low line. Hopkins sped ahead but Busch grabbed a solid lead by lap 116 and would stay three to four car-lengths ahead for the rest of the race.

“Really to be honest I didn’t talk to anybody about how to get around this place,” Busch said. “I just figured out for myself what I needed to do. I ran in practice then got out of my car and watched Denny, watched Curtis to see what they were doing. Seemed to be pretty close, then I followed a couple guys in practice.

“I might have got lucky, I’m not really sure I know what I’m doing,” Busch continued about being the pole sitter. “I’ll go out tonight and if I look like an idiot, I don’t know what I’m doing. If I look smart, then certainly, I know what I’m doing.”

Hamlin worked up to fourth in the first two laps and was in third by the fourth lap battling Billy Morris for the second position. The two ran 2-3 for 31 laps before Hamlin became his own racing nemesis. After drafting and sometimes bumping the no. 5 car, Hamlin got under Morris in turn one of lap 36 and sent him spinning into the wall. Morris kept control and avoided connecting with concrete but race officials sent Hamlin to the back of the pack for the maneuver because he had gained an advantage.

Hamlin came back but could never fully recover. He finished fourth behind Busch, Hopkins and Eddie Johnson.

Fans also got a reminder of why they aren’t allowed at the track fence during races in lap 50 on a crash in the front straightaway. Mike Greathouse in the no. 77 car found himself in the middle of a pack and then unexpectedly in the air. A car behind him got under his car and sent him flying. His right side came up and rode the concrete barrier next to the grandstand fence, flattening both tires and sending him to the garage for the rest of the evening. The car stayed right side up and Greathouse was unharmed.

Also damaged in the crash was the no. 17 car of Alan Porser.

The Grand Stocks got things started in a thrilling 50-lap race. Chris Hott continued his winning ways with a dominant performance in the late laps.

From the get-go, the battle established between Hott, Ruggles, Fred Key, Bill Nixon, Jason Beck and Daniel Shelton and the top-five changed multiple times throughout the race. However, Hott took the lead for good by lap 39 and appeared to have the car of the night.

In six separate caution incidents in the final 10 laps, Hott rocketed out of the restarts and kept at least a ¼ lap between him and the rest of the pack.

But it was Cystic Fibrosis research that was the real winner for the evening. $50,000 was raised through ticket sales and various auctions including that of the bumper of the No. 11 car driven by Hamlin and signed by Hamlin, Busch, Allison and Markham.

“It feels good for me, especially for Bobby to come to this. It means a lot to me to kick off our foundation. Hopefully we’ve raised a lot of awareness for Cystic Fibrosis,” Hamlin said before the race. “Hopefully we’ll [get a win] here tonight, but either way we’re hitting a homerun for Cystic Fibrosis with all these people that showed up to this race tonight.”

Allison and Hamlin both have family affected by Cystic Fibrosis.

By Sara Page, sports@midlothianexchange.com

Hamlin, Kyle Busch Ready For Denny Hamlin 175 at Southside Speedway

Chesterfield Virginia's favorite son is returning home Thursday night to light up Southside Speedway and put on a show the fans will be glad they didn't miss. Only this time he's bringing some company. Teammate Kyle Busch will join his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate for the Denny Hamlin 175 to benefit the Denny Hamlin Foundation Thursday night at the Fed Ex Toyota driver's old stomping grounds. They're hoping to raise money to help The Cysic Fibrosis Foundation and people who suffer from CF. This is a cause close to Hamlin's heart, as his cousin Kevin has CF, but is doing well.

NASCAR legend Bobby Allison will be the Grand Marshall for the event. Denny's spotter, Curtis Markham will also be onhand for the race. It promises to be quite an event. Tickets will be on sale on race day, Thursday May 1st, at 3pm. Stop by the front ticket office at the speedway. Adult tickets are $20, children 7-12 are $10 and children under 6 are free. For more information visit the Speedway's website at www.southside-speedway.com

Southside SpeedwaySchedule For May 1

1:00 - Pit Gates Open

2:00 - 3:06 - Practice

3:00 - Grandstand Tickets on Sale

3:15 - 3:30 - Mandatory Driver's Meeting

3:45 - Late Models to the Tech Building

4:00 - Front Gates open to the Fans

4:15 - 4:45 - Late Model Qualifying (2 Laps)

4:15 - Grand Stocks to the Tech Building

4:45 - 5:15 - Grand Stock Qualifying (2 Laps)

5:30 - 6:10 - Mozely Rose Band on the Party Pit Stage

5:45 - Grand Stock Last Chance Race - 10 Laps (If Needed)

5:55 - Late Model Last Chance Race - 10 Laps (if Needed)

6:15 - 6:25 - Live Remotes from Local TV

6:25 - 6:45 - Mozely Rose Band on the Party Pit Stage

6:48 - 7:34 - Pre-Race Ceremonies on the Frontstretch Stage

7:35 - 8:05 - Grand Stock Feature - 50 Laps

8:05- 8:28 - Late Model Driver Introductions on the Frontstretch Stage

8:30 - 9:45 - Late Model Feature - 175 Laps

Kyle Busch To Join Denny Hamlin At Southside Speedway for the Denny Hamlin 175

When Denny Hamlin returns home to Southside Speedway on May 1st for the Inaugural Denny Hamlin 175 to benefit the Denny Hamlin Foundation and it’s quest to aid in raising awareness and funding for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, he’ll have new Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch gunning for him. Kyle has agreed to help the newly created charity in it’s very first fundraiser.
“I am really looking forward to battling Denny and a field of some of the best short track racers in the southeast at Southside. Denny is a lot of fun to have as a teammate and I am really honored to be able to support the launch of his foundation by participating in the Denny Hamlin 175. Even though the proceeds from the race will support some great charities, I’m definitely showing up to win,” said Busch.
Denny’s spotter Curtis Markham will also be at the event. Tickets will be available ONLY at the track Office and will be first come first serve. Tickets go on sale on Friday April 18th at 3pm at the Main Ticket Office at the Speedway. Tickets will also be on sale Friday, April 25th and May 1st at 3 pm.
This is sure to be an exciting event and the proceeds are going to a very worthwhile charity, and a cause that is very dear to Denny’s heart.
For more information please visit the Southside Speedway website at www.southside-speedway.com or call 804-744-2700