On June 15, 2016 beloved Franklin County Speedway driver Buster Carroll passed away at his home. On Sunday August 21st Franklin County Speedway will honor Buster’s memory with a race in his honor.
Franklin County Speedway promoter Langley Austin announced today that the First Annual Buster Carroll Memorial race would be held on Sunday August 21st. The race will feature a 103-lap Late Model Stock Car race featuring two segments. The first segment will be 58-laps in length which is the same number as one of the most recent cars that Buster competed in for Atwell Racing. The final segment of the race after a ten minute break will be 45-laps in length representing the number of the other car he most recently drove for Harbour Racing bringing the total laps of the event to 103 laps.
“We’re excited to be able to do this race,” said Langley Austin. “Buster was a great ambassador for Franklin County Speedway for years. He was a tough competitor on the track and one of the best guys you would ever meet off the track. His smile and laugh is one of the things that most people remember most about him and we hope he’ll be smiling down from heaven on Sunday August 21st.”
That Late Model Stock Car race will be run on four new tires, which is a change from the normal scuff program that Franklin County Speedway runs each week. The change to new tires is expected to draw many other cars from other area tracks as it’s more consistent with what they run on every week.
“We want this to be a big race,” continued Austin. “We chose a weekend when almost no other tracks were running and the NASCAR race would be on TV on Saturday night freeing up everyone to come out and enjoy this huge event on Sunday afternoon. I’m a firm believer that with a new tire program and the weekend we’re racing on we can draw in some of the best Late Model Stock Cars in the southeast region. That’s how we want to honor Buster, with a race that he would have loved to have competed in.”
The Buster Carroll Memorial race will also feature racing in other divisions but a decision on what divisions will compete with the Late Model Stock Cars hasn’t been made.
“We’re looking at running some of the divisions that Buster raced through the years. He was a top driver in the Street Stocks for a time and won races in the Modifieds as well. If we can get a bunch of those guys to commit to come run with us then we’ll make them a part of the show as well. We’re also looking to do a big money Mini Stock/Mod4 race if we can get the interest from the racers needed to really make them a great show for the fans.”
Lap sponsorships are available for this event from Kenny Lang at Left Turn Promotions. Laps are $50 each and 100% of the money from the lap sponsorships will go into the purse likely making it one of the strongest purses ever paid at Franklin County Speedway. To purchase a lap sponsorship contact Kenny at 540-355-3176.
Additional sponsorships of the event including the Title Sponsorship of the event are also available. We will also have special event t-shirts, banners and etc. available for sponsorship. Please contact Langley Austin at [email protected] for a complete list of sponsorships available.
Make plans to attend the Buster Carroll Memorial race on Sunday August 21st and witness the biggest race of the season at Franklin County Speedway and honor a man who meant so much to the racing community and to the Franklin County area as well. Buster is already missed but with this event his contributions to racing won’t be forgotten.
For more information on the Buster Carroll Memorial race please visit www.FCSpeedway.com or visit the tracks Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MoonshineCapitalPromotions/ or contact the track via phone at 276.613.4208.
