One of the nearly forgotten homes of stock car racing will
return to life this fall.
After sitting dormant for nearly a decade and having been
gutted of everything that traditionally would deem it a race track, the Lanier
Raceplex will host Super Late Model racing with the Pro All Stars Series (PASS)
National Championship season finale on November 15-16.
This is the 0.375-mile track directly across from Road Atlanta that used to be known as Lanier National Speedway.
Details regarding the race, along with support divisions,
will be announced in the coming days. A
practice day for all divisions competing is scheduled for Friday, November 15,
while additional practice, qualifying, and all features will take place on
Saturday, November 16. Sunday, November
17 will be reserved as a rain date if needed.
“This is something we have been working on for a very long
time,” said PASS President Tom Mayberry.
“We plan to announce more details soon but wanted to let drivers and
fans know as soon as possible that stock car racing will be returning to Lanier
in 2019 so they can make their plans to join us.”
The track was gutted of its infrastructure after it was sold to Road America owner Jim Downing, with buildings in its infield torn down. That led to a total repave of the entire infield, turning the track into a drifting, autocross and karting facility.
The track still retains its banking and may or may not need jersey barriers on the inside of the racing surface.
The track opened in 1982 as a dirt track, and was paved in the mid-1980s. The track was under the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series banner and even hosted ARCA and NASCAR Xfinity Series races in the late 80s and 90s once it was paved.
The PASS National Championship marks a return of the series
to Lanier.
When PASS began sanctioning Super Late Model races in the
south, Lanier was one of the first tracks to come on board to host an
event. Georgia native Jason Hogan won the
first PASS race there in 2006, while Maine’s Corey Williams took the checkered
flag the final time PASS held a race at Lanier in 2007.
The 2019 PASS National Championship Super Late Model season
continues this weekend at Hickory Motor Speedway with the 14th Annual Easter
Bunny 150.
An impressive list of drivers from across the country is entered including Preston Peltier, Bubba Pollard, Matt Craig, Ben Rowe, Travis Benjamin, and many more. Also, PASS is continuing to work towards a makeup date in the Fall for the postponed National event that was scheduled at Dillon Motor Speedway in February.
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Donald
April 16, 2019 at 9:48 am
Tell us more. Went to Lanier for Slim Jim All Pro Series in July 98. 30 car field won by Freddy Query. Seemed at the time Lanier had strong lasting traditions in the area. What happened?