TWO-DAYS OF RACING ACTION HEADLINES SEASON ENDING

SMOKER FRIENDLY DISCOUNT TOBACCO HALLOWEEN 200

Scott County Visitors Commission Halloween 200 Prelude Set For Saturday

SALEM, IN, Oct. 22 – The ultimate challenge of 200-laps in rush-hour type traffic faces drivers in the 24th annual Smoker Friendly Discount Tobacco Halloween 200 on Sunday, October 28th at Salem Speedway.

 "It’s the most challenging race of the season at Salem,” said track general manager Richard Deaton.  “It takes a combination of driving ability and good fortune to survive the three plus hours of frenzied on-track action.”

 Sporting an entry list spiced with crafty veterans, young chargers and five former race winners the competition level is again expected to be outstanding.

 Frank Kimmel II of Borden, Ind., who started 34th one year ago, passed Blake Hillard of Owensboro, Ky., for the lead on lap 140 and then held off a hard-charging Shawn Smith of Louisville to capture the 2011 edition of the fall classic.

 The third-generation driver, whose father, Frank Kimmel, won the 1997 Halloween 200, was one of seven drivers to lead last year’s race.

 “The quality of the cars in this race has increased ten-fold over what was once seen,” said Deaton.  “The competition level has skyrocketed of late and that has made for some great racing action. 

 Along with Kimmel, other former winners who have filed entries for the season ending race include Brett Hudson of Owensboro (2010), Chuck Barnes of Louisville (2009-2008-2007-2005-2001-2000-1999), Beau Mitchell of Owensboro (2006), and Tony “The Iceman” Conway (1998) of Louisville.

 Hudson, who is a part-time ARCA Racing Series competitor, won the Firecracker 200 earlier this year at Salem.  He has now won four of the last five $5,000 to win races on the Salem high banks.

 Former Firecracker 200 winners David Bayens of Memphis, Ind., the 2012 Salem Speedway Lucas Oil Great American Stock champion, and Todd Kempf of Huntingburg, Ind., have also filed Halloween 200 entries.

 Other notable drivers entered include Blake Hillard of Owensboro, Brian Bayer of Birdseye, Ind., Kyle Hadley of Louisville, Chris Harmon of Brooks, Ky., Brian Hopkins of New Castle, Ind., Shawn Smith of Louisville, Dave Ellis of Mason, Ohio, Rich Segvich of Battleground, Ind., and Chad Hall of Orleans, Ind.

 Also scheduled to return to the high banks for the first time in a number of years is former Salem Speedway Super Stock competitor Scotty Earl Holbert of Louisville.

 SCOTT CO. VISITORS COMMISSION HALLOWEEN 200 PRELUDE ON SATURDAY

The fall festival of speed kicks-off on Saturday with the Scott County Visitors Commission Halloween 200 Prelude.

 The O’Reilly Auto Parts Pure Stocks and Portland Recycling Front Wheel Drive Stocks will provide the racing action on Saturday with 50-lap main events, paying $500 to win, on the infield short-track.  The traditional Halloween 200 practice will also be a part of the Saturday activities.

 “We’re expecting most of our regular Salem Speedway short-track competitors plus drivers from other area tracks for the Halloween 200 Prelude,” said Deaton.  “It should make for some interesting racing action.”

 One such matchup features 2012 track champions from Salem Speedway and the Jeffersonville Sportsdrome Speedway.  Mike Kestler of Louisville, the two-time defending Salem Speedway Pure Stock champion, and Perry Whitsett II of Shepherdsville, Ky., the 2012 Sportsdrome Speedway Dromer champion, are expected to battle for bragging rights in the Trick-Or-Treat 50 for pure stock type cars on Saturday.

 Austin Baum of Shepherdsville, Ky., the 2012 Salem Speedway Front Wheel Drive champion, tops a list of drivers looking to claim the $500 first place payoff in the Spooktacular 50 for FWD cars.

HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST PART OF WEEKEND FESTIVITIES

 For those taking advantage of free weekend camping at the track several activities have been added for this year, including a campsite Halloween Decorating Contest.  Also planned for Saturday is a Halloween Costume Contest to take place behind the main grandstand at the Lowe’s Zone.  Prizes will be awarded in both categories.

 Campsite trick-or-treating for children of camping families and a race-team appreciation bon-fire and wiener roast are also planned for Saturday following the racing action.

 Spectator gates open and practice gets underway at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27th, with the first short-track race rolling off at 3:30 p.m.  On Sunday, Oct. 28th spectator gates open at 9:30 a.m. with practice at 10 a.m. and the start of the Halloween 200 set for 1:15 p.m.

 One and two-day tickets are currently selling for the Scott County Visitors Commission Halloween 200 Prelude and Smoker Friendly Discount Tobacco Halloween 200 and may be purchased on-line at www.salemspeedway.com or by calling 812-883-6504 or toll free 1-888-246-7223.