Superstars Racing Experience announces AMATEUR contestants

Episode 357

April 11, 2021

SRX makes “amateurs” part of race series 

I thought that the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) idea would be a great watch on CBS on six consecutive Saturday nights beginning June 12 at Stafford Motor Speedway. The driver lineup includes 10 full time drivers; Tony Stewart, Tony Kanaan, Willy T. Ribbs, Paul Tracy, Helio Castroneves, Bobby Labonte, Bill Elliott, Ernie Francis Jr., Michael Waltrip, and Marco Andretti.

SRX co-founder Tony Stewart was my favorite to win the majority of the races with Bobby Labonte maybe one and Bill Elliott winning another. The concept seemed to fit Stewart’s style with plenty of power, dirt/asphalt, and same car his skill would prevail.

UNTIL…. SRX announced last week that they were putting five “amateur” racers in the seat for one race apiece starting with 6-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Stafford Springs champion Doug Coby. This announcement changed my perspective almost 180 degrees.

Following are the “amateur” drivers and the track along with dates of the races:

STAFFORD – Doug Coby, June 12, 2021
KNOXVILLE – Brian Brown, June 19, 2021
ELDORA – Kody Swanson, June 26, 2021
LUCAS OIL – Bobby Santos III, July 3, 2021
SLINGER – Slinger Nationals 2021 Champion, July 10, 2021

The driver for the Slinger Nationals race on July 10 will the winner of the Slinger Nationals only four days earlier. Slinger is a one quarter mile 33-degree banked track. Those banks are Daytona like. I am guessing the winner of the Slinger Nationals will have a huge advantage in the subsequent SRX race.

No driver has been announced for the sixth and final race at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway July 17, 2021. The announcement of “amateur” drivers has caused SRX to re-think the use of the word especially considering the four drivers in the lineup. As of publishing time the online poll had “Local Racer” leading by 25%.

Kody Swanson remarks

“It has been exciting to see what SRX Racing has developed for this year,” said the five-time USAC Silver Crown champion. “They have formed such an incredible group with their staff and drivers, and I’m grateful to have been included. I’m really looking forward to the chance to race with them, and thankful for the opportunity!”

“We wanted to add to the drama and excitement SRX will bring fans by adding a Rocky Balboa or Cinderella story to each week’s race,” said Ray Evernham, co-founder of SRX. “Our amateur all-stars will have the opportunity to prove they’re more than just the hero at their home track – that they, in fact, have what it takes to get up on the wheel against the best in the world.”

Some SRX video to get your blood pumping!

https://www.facebook.com/SRXracingofficial/videos/258579619261777

Where is Heather Holler?

Prepping the Hyundai i20 R5 Coupe WRC with her back to the camera is Heather Holler. The team took first and second at the non-WRC event held at Sanremo, Italy. (DirtFish photo)

A couple months ago, Heather Holler the bride of Garrett Holler, and co-owner of Holler Customs, Mooresville, North Carolina, announced that she had accepted a position with Hyundai Motorsports, Alzensu, Germany. Earlier this year she left for Germany to follow her dream of working at the top level in rally the World Rally Championship (WRC).

She had previously worked at Vermont Sports Car and as an independent contractor for DirtFish Rally back in Vermont. She traveled the United States learning the fine points working on rally cars. She did pre-race prep, race day mechanics as well as post-race tasks.

Holler continues her work at Hyundai Motorsports for the 2021 WRC schedule. UpNorth Motorsports will be following the team as well as her adventure at the top level in rally. We wish her well.

Photo of the week

Some of you may recall the story of land speed motorcycle driver Brenda Sue Carver, Seguin, Texas. On September 4, 2016 at 10:30 am she was making a run on the former Loring Air Force base as part of the Loring Timing Association’s sanctioned event.

She passed through the mile timing lights at 223 mph and as she slowed at estimated 140 mph she veered left and exited the motorcycle suffering multiple injuries. She was stabilized at Cary Medical Center then sent via ambulance to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine.

The injury to her right leg was so severe that the leg had to be amputated above the knee. After rehabbing in Maine, she transferred to her home in Texas. Brenda Sue, with help from the San Antonio Amputee Foundation, was fitted with a prosthetic leg. She has since ridden motorcycle on the street and dragstrip continuing to amaze friends with her persistence and humor.

Brenda Sue Carver’s latest Facebook post, “Suffering from a sprained ankle” She still has her sense of humor. (Photo courtesy Brenda Sue Carver)

Stay tuned

Exciting news, I have three stories in development. Two local and one national story. The local stories involve show car championship restoration and a modified pulling tractor team from the past. I will have the story of a County influenced man who is winning races at the national level in IMSA. I am excited to tell their stories.

Let’s go racing,

Tom Hale

Soli Deo Gloria (Matthew 5:16)

 

 

Tom Hale

About Tom Hale

Tom wrote 14 years as freelancer for the Bangor Daily Sports covering motorsports in Maine. Now blogging and concentrating on human interest stories about people and places in racing. He races Champ Karts and owns HTF Motorsports in remote Westmanland, Maine