CRA Super Series and the Southern All-Stars Series' to co sanction the All-American 400 at the Music City (TN) Motorplex this weekend; November 4-6.
 

By Matt Prieur-ASA Late Model Series

Lexington, Michigan (November 2, 2005): The 2005 season may be over for most speedways in the country, but the special non-points end of the season star studded showcases are just getting started. The 23rd annual 650am WSM All-American 400 is this weekend, November 4-6, 2005 at the fast 5/8s mile high-banked paved oval of the Music City (TN) Motorplex in Nashville, Tennesee located at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds.

The 2005 version of this event will be co sanctioned by the Indiana based, CRA Super Series as well as the Southern All-Stars Super Late Model Series, which was purchased and finalized on September 1, 2005 by the ASA Late Model Series.

The history of the All-American 400 speaks for itself, some of the past winners of this prestigious event reads like a who's who of the racing world past and present. 2004 CRA Super Series Champion, Chuck Barnes Jr., is the defending AA400 champion as his name is enshrined next to such historical icons as, Jeff Purvis who has won this event the most times with victories in 1991, 1992, and 1995. Butch Lindley , who won the first ever event back in 1980.

Since then names like; Three-time NASCAR Winston Cup Champion (1980, 1981, and 1985) Darrell Waltrip, who won the AA400 in 1987 and 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, Rusty Wallace, who took a guitar home in 1984 are both former winners of this prestigious event.

In addition, more prominent names such as; Bob Senneker (81), Jim Sauter (82), Gary Balough (83 and 85), Butch Miller two years in a row (88 and 89), Gary St. Amant (90), Mike Garvey (93 and 00), Bobby Gill (94), Wayne Anderson (96 and 99), Freddy Query (97 and 98), and Brian Hoppe (03), and this event is most certainly rich in tradition and always marked down on every drivers calender each year.

The list of Fast Qualifiers gives you an idea of just how tough the fields were way back when and how they will be this weekend. Past Fast Qualifiers include AA400 winners Wallace, Balough, Senneker (twice), Purvis, Query (twice), Gill, and Barnes Jr. Stars that have not won the AA400, but have left their mark and added to the legacy of this event by setting fast time over enormous fields of cars include; Mike Alexander who set fast time three years in a row from 1985-1987.

Also NASCAR Nextel Cup Star, Mark Martin, Wisconsin Legend Dick Trickle, ASA Legend Harold Fair Sr., Steve Burgess, Canadian Legend Junior Hanley, Eddie Mercer, Tony Walls, Matt Hutter, current NASCAR Nextel Cup driver, Travis Kvapil, and Eddie Hoffman. Drivers who already have their names etched in the AA40 record books that are entered this weekend include; Barnes Jr., Hoffman, Mercer, and Query.

Some headlining drivers entered for this event, one of the biggest end of the season extravaganzas in the country include; Jason Hogan, who  finished second in the final points standings in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Southeast Series, and with Barnes Jr., are currently two of 25 drivers featured on Discovery Channel's new show, "Roush Racing: Driver X." which airs on Monday nights.

In addition, Midwestern drivers hoping to bring the All-American 400 trophy and guitar back to the Northern states include Wolverine State drivers, Harold Fair Jr., Tom Hernly Jr., and Andy Ponstein. Also 2005 CRA Super Series Drivers Points Champion, Jeff Lane has entered as well as other drivers representing the North that include, Dan Fredrickson, Chris Gabehart, Scott Hantz, Nathan Haseleu, Boris Jurkovic, Ryan Mathews, Bobby Parsley, J.R. Roahrig, Kenny Tweedy, and Eddie Van Meter will lead the Northern contingent into Music City.

2005 Southern All-Stars Series Champion and Rookie of the Year, Matt Hawkins will represent the South as will such stars as Johnny Brazier, Scott Carlson, Ryan Crane, Jay Middleton, J.R. Norris, Dennis Schoenfeld, Stanley Smith, Eric Wallace, and Wayne Willard are among a slew of Southern stars hoping to end the Northern states win streak.

ASA Late Model Series competitors that are currently entered include; Jack Smith, who finished seventh this season in the 2005 points chase and is a two-time winner this season with victories at the Kalamazoo (MI) Speedway on July 1st and at the Indianapolis (IN) Raceway Park on July 30th. 16-year-old, Landon Cassill, who finished a strong sixth in the season long points chase and Brent Downey, who in his rookie season wound up 11th overall in the final points tallies are also entered.

The All-American 400 at the Music City (TN) Motorplex in Nashville, Tennessee will close out the 2005 season for the Southern All-Stars and the CRA Super Series who will co-sanction the weekend long festivities on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, November 4th, 5th, and 6th.

Friday the 4th, will see the pit gates open at 10:00am and an all-day test and tune for competitors will be held from 1:30-5:30pm. On Saturday the 5th, the gates will open bright and early at 8:00am with practice set for 11:00-12:30pm. Qualifying will see the top 24 cars in qualifications automatically transfer to the main 300-lap feature on Sunday to be lined up in the order they qualified.

Positions 25-30 will be come from the next three highest teams in each of the SAS and CRA final 2005 Points Standings. Positions 30-36 will then come from the two last chance races. The two 25-lap Last Chance Races will begin at 3:30pm taking the top three in each.

If needed, positions 37-42 may be added as promoter's options as "reduced pay" starters. (Subject to change due to weather) All cars that do not qualify for the 300-lap main event, will be eligible for the "Blue-Gray 100" to be run on Sunday at high Noon.

Sunday is the big day with the schedule of events that will see the Grandstand gates open at 10:00am and include an on-track autograph session at 11:00am, the Blue/Grey 100 for non-qualifiers will get the green flag at 12:00pm and the All American 300 is set for approximately 2:00pm. All times are Central Standard Time.

Tickets for Sunday, November 5th are $15 for adults and children 11 and under $5. More information is available by calling the Music City Motorplex office at (615) 726-1818, or online at www.musiccitymotorplex.com Tickets are available at all ticket master locations or at www.ticketmaster.com

If you can't make it down to Music City, but want to keep track of updates throughout the All-American 400 weekend and for further information, stay logged in all weekend long at: www.craracing.net to check out continuous updates beginning on Saturday afternoon.