A stout field of Pro Late Models are expected to do battle for a large payday and a coveted Nashville guitar trophy in Saturday night’s All American 400 at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville. Photo by Steve Brown
NASHVILLE,TN – The All American 400 is set to make history on the 30th running of the fall classic event at the Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville in Nashville, TN on November 1. For the first time ever, the long distance race will be contested by the Pro Late Model class.
Track promoter Tony Formosa decided two months ago that, due to a fear of a low car count of Super Late Models under the Southern Super Series, the race would, for the first time in history, be a Pro Late Model event. Those cars are the premier division at the 5/8’s mile high banked track. In their only 2014 appearance on April 5, the Southern Super Series had only a 21 car starting field.
This year’s All American will start 36 cars and pay $12,500 to the race winner plus the famous guitar trophy. In addition there is lap money given to the race leader.
The All American was first held in October of 1981 when the legendary short track promoter Bob Harmon wanted a season ending long distance short track race. Harmon secured a lease of the Nashville track for only a one month period when the local racing had finished their season. The inaugural race was won by Butch Lindley. Bob Sennecker and Jim Sauter, both considered northern drivers would win the next two races.
In just a very short time the race would gain huge popularity with both fans and drivers, and soon would rival the World Crown 300 and the Snowball Derby.
Gary Balough became the race’s first two time winner with victories in 1984 and 1986. It took three days to decide but Franklin, TN’s Darrell Waltrip won the 1987 race after an appeal was decided by NASCAR in Daytona Beach. Clarksville, TN’s Jeff Purvis is the only three time race winner, taking the checkered first in 1991, 1992 and 1995.
Cleveland, GA’s Jason Hogan won the last 400 lap All American in 2005. When Bob Harmon sold the rights to Dover Motorsports, who decided to build a superspeedway in nearby Gladeville, the format of the All American changed. The then track lease holders had a difficult time following Harmon’s footsteps.
The race was spilt into two 200 lap races contested between crate engine and built engine cars. Under the supervision of the Champions Racing Association ( CRA ) the race was no longer a 400 lap marathon event. There were no races held in 2009 or 2011.
It wasn’t until 2012 when Tony Formosa secured the track’s lease,that the All American returned to it’s true glory.
Under the sanction of Pro All Star Series ( PASS) the race was scheduled for 400 green flag laps. Prior to the half way point, rain played a factor and the race was stopped with Ross Kenseth declared the winner. The following year, Dawsonville, GA’s Chase Elliot won a 300 lap version of the All American after winning the pole position, but taking the green flag from the last starting spot.
Neither Kenseth nor Elliot are entered this year.
There are five former race winners entered this year. Two of those are true 400 winners. Mike Garvey, the 2000 champion, will drive the Tracy Goodson No. 1 Buddy’s Home Furnishing car. Chuck Barnes, Jr. (2004 ) returns to Nashville after a long absence. The Louisville, KY driver will be behind the No. 55.
Dillon Oliver from Bowling Green, KY leads the former abbreviated winners. The 2010 winner already has one Nashville win this year in his No. 33. Brain Campbell, 2008 winner, and Acworth, GA’s T.J. Reaid, the 2010 winner, have each entered , although the races they won were 100 laps shorter.
Sterling Marlin, three time track champion and two time Daytona 500 winner, leads the list of local entries. Marlin, although retired from NASCAR, has competed locally for the last few years. He has also entered a car for his son-in-law, Michael. Marlin will drive the No. 114 with help from Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge while House is wheeling the No. 711, a number and paint scheme made famous by multi time track champion Coo Coo Marlin, Sterling’s father.
Chad Chaffin, another former NASCAR driver, has come out of retirement to attempt the 400. Chaffin , the 1993 and 1995 track champion, will race the No. 95 Southeastern Recycling car while his son Chase will drive the No. 18.
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Former track champion Ricky Bolden has entered two cars for his sons Daniel and Michael. The Cane Ridge, TN young guns will drive the number 09 and 9 will sponsorship from Hunt Brother’s Pizza. These two are the only brothers entered in the event.
Former track champion Willie Allen leads another two car team for Wendell Mobley. Allen, with two feature wins in 2014, will drive the No. 26, while noted Nashville song writer Mobley will drive the No. 20.
The 2011 track champion Tyler Miles has entered his family owned No. 40 with help from 399 Sofa Store. The former UT student is looking for his first Nashville win.
Andy Johnson, the 2008 track champion, will be aboard his familiar No. 20 Chevy Monte Carlo. The 2006 track champion Mark Day is always a threat in the Scogin Race Parts No. 8.
The 2013 Pro Late Model track champion, Tucker Wingo, has entered his bright yellow No. 88 and has one feature win in 2014.
The newly crowned 2014 track champion Cole Williams looks for his first ever All American attempt. The Sellersburg, IN driver will wheel his No. 46.
Several drivers from Georgia are also set to do battle for the coveted Nashville winner’s guitar. One Peach State driver who has garnered quite a bit of attention is Jefferson, GA’s Micky Cain. Cain, who hasn’t been in competition in a Pro Late Model in some nine years, will return from semi-retirement for his first race on the Nashville high banks.
Cain will drive a Dodge Challenger as a teammate to Dawsonville, GA’s Spencer Davis, who comes into Nashville fresh off becoming the youngest Rookie of the Year in NASCAR Whelen Modified Series history.
Also set to race for the win in Acworth, GA’s T.J. Reaid, who scored the All American victory back in 2010, along with Macon, GA’s Kyle McCallum, Flowery Branch, GA’s Dalton Grindle and Suwanee, GA’s Anderson Bowen.
NASCAR will be represented by two drivers. Tommy Joe Martins, a Nationwide Series driver, cut his teeth at Nashville prior to jumping into the big leagues. John Hunter Nemechek, a Camping World Truck Series regular, jumps out of his truck at Martinsville and into a Pro Late Model for a short track race at Nashville.
Canadian driver Steve LaKing, from Guelph, Canada has added an international flavor to the race. Landon Cling is coming from Tempe, AZ while Will Gallaher gets the furthest tow from Santa Rosa, CA. Coming almost as far is Brain Hoar from his home in Williston, VT. The American Canadian Tour (ACT ) champion will make his first ever Nashville appearance.
Second generation driver Harrison Burton has the most recognized name in the field. The son of former Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton, he is hoping to get valuable experience running at Nashville.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip has been named Grand Marshall of this year’s race. Fellow Hall of Famer Jack Ingram, who raced several times at the Fairgrounds, will drop the green flag on the 300 lap main event. Britt Whited, a 10-year-old special needs child, has been named as the honorary chief scorer.
The 30th All American 400 begins November 1 at 1:00 pm at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. For more info, visit FairgroundsSpeedwayNashville.com.
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