Drivers Meeting Feb. 4th At 1 PM. @ Day Motorsports in Tyler TX.

Driver: Greg Bartchy               Car: 01            Hometown: Saxonburg, PA & Benton, Louisiana

Greg Bartchy began racing Hobby Stocks in Georgia in 1994, from there his racing career moved on to Pennsylvania where he raced sprint cars for 2 years.  Following a 7 year break, Bartchy returned to sprint car racing in 2010 with the Southern Thunder Sprints.  Greg’s favorite racing moments came early in the 2011 season when he raced with his brother at Ark-La-Tex and Boothill Speedway, and when he took 2^nd place at LoneStar Speedway.  Getting behind the wheel of a 410 sprint car was the scariest racing moment Greg has experienced.  Crew members for the 01 are Nicole and Rudy.  Sponsors for the 2011 season are B&D Imaging, and Gary Stephens Construction.

Driver: Brent Mayfield            Car: #53          Hometown: Waco, Texas

Brent Mayfield, driver of the #53, hales from Waco, Texas and joined the Southern Thunder Sprints in 2010.  Before racing with STS, Brent racked up 2 years of experience with the Jr. Minis.  Brent states that trying to get his first win is the most exciting thing about racing and takes inspiration from his dad’s experience with Outlaw and ASCS racing.  For Brent, his scariest moment came last year at Tyler, Texas where he became airborne.  Brent’s sponsors include: Patan Place, Genva Lounge, Uncle Gilbert, and Dad’s Pocket!  Thanks to Brent’s crew – Gilbert, Trey, Tracy, and his dad

Driver: Cody Robbins             Car: #7            Hometown: Stanley, Louisiana

Cody Robbins, driver of the #7, has a varied racing background that can be traced to his first four-wheeler race at the age of 4 years old.  Cody took to the track and a love for racing was ignited.  Cody’s racing career includes 10 years of Modified racing, and14 years with the Mini Sprints; in 2010 Cody joined the SouthernThunderSprints.  For Cody the best moment in racing is winning and nothing is scarier than losing (not even demolishing a chassis or flipping over the wall)!  Cody’s crew for the 2011 season include Doc, Fluffy, Nunie, Amy, Brucie, Kunky, Buckeye, JoJo, and Cody Jack

Driver: Chris “Nunie” Lopez      Car: 1x         Hometown: Noble, Louisiana

Chris “Nunie” Lopez has joined the Southern Thunder Sprints for the 2011 season following years spent racing Modified, Limited Late Model, Late Model, and Street Stock.  For Nunie, nothing is better than racing beside his idol Regan Hawkins! Nunie loves to race for the adrenaline and the felling of living on the edge.  The thought of losing to Cody Robbins motivates Nunie each time he pulls onto the track.  Nunie’s crew members for the 2011 season are Buckeye, Joey, JoJo, Fluffy, Cody Jack, Kelli, Amy, Kunky, and Cody Robbins. Sponsor’s for Chris “Nunie” Lopez include Turnkey Drilling Consultants, L&L Energy Services, CLR Motorsports, and S&C Express.

Driver: Regan Hawkins           Car: 30            Hometown: Whitehouse, Texas

2011 will be Regan’s 3^rd year racing sprint cars with the Southern Thunder Sprints, and when asked why she raced Regan stated, “It’s just something I love to do. I enjoy being with my family every weekend.”  Regan’s favorite racing moment is yet to come…when she beats her brother Josh!   So far, the scariest moment on the track for Regan came when she flipped at Champion Park Speedway.  Crew members for the 2011 season are Lee Long, Brad Hawkins, Sheena Walker, Alexa Fisher, Mark Gore, and Brian Crawley.  Sponsors for the #30 are Brad’s Transmission and Day Motorsports.

Driver: Neil McCarl               Car: #311           Hometown: Haughton, LA

Neil has been running in the STS since the series inception. Prior to the STS Neil raced with the ASCS and SUPR sprints as well as running modifies and late models.  Neil's sponsors include, Raven Performance, E-Team Cleaning, Shed Road Auto Parts and Moore Metal Plating. And "The Crew" of the Three Eleven Car consist of Darrell, Debbie, "Deuce" , Steph and GooB.  Neils favorite racing moment was his first sprint car win at Rosebowl speedway.

www.neil311.com 

 Raven Performance YouTube Page

Driver: Cody Hinton               Car: 88            Hometown: Ashdown, Arkansas

Cody Hinton joins the Southern Thunder Sprints for the 2011 season. This is Cody’s first year with the 305 league, but he is no stranger to racing. Cody credits his 11 years racing experience to the love of racing in his blood. Joining Cody in the pits for 2011 are Chops, Clayton, Pup, and his dad.  Sponsors for the #88 are PTS Racing Engines and Hinton Flooring.

Driver:  Raven Culp                Car: 3              Hometown: Mesquite, Texas

Raven Culp developed a love of racing early on and hales his first win and championship at age 8 as his favorite racing moments. In the years following that first win Raven has been behind the wheel in multiple classes including pure stock, street stock, and modified.  In 2010 Raven took home Rookie of the year honors at Devils Bowl Speedway as well has finishing 2^nd and 5^th in points at Devil’s Bowl and RPM Speedways, respectively.  Raven says he loves to race for “the adrenaline rush, fans, friends, and the chicks dig it!”  Crew members for the #3 are Kevan and Rachel Culp, Ronnie Shirley, Dale Wester, Charlie Davidson, Dusty Geilliams, and Lance DeLeon.  Sponsor for the 2011 season are Allard Racing Engines, Kustom Craft Exhibits, Speedway Photography, Axle Surgeons, and D&W towing

Driver: Justin Witt             Car: 13                  Hometown: Bossier City, Louisiana

Justin Witt gained experience on dirt by wheeling a factory stock and limited modified around local tracks for the past 3 years.  For the 2011 season, Justin joins the world of 305 sprint car racing with the Southern Thunder Sprints.  Working in the pits with Justin are Keven Witt, Brandon, Matt Ebarb, Chris Edwards, Kasey Witt, and Baby Mack.  Sponsors for the #13 are Sascyn Sales, Hope Contractors, Camus Electricity, Reliance, and Witt’s Powder Coating

Driver: Johnny Brown Car: B 51                 Hometown: Mauriceville, Texas

When asked why he loves to race, Johnny Brown stated he “didn’t know there was anything else!”  That love has brought Johnny to the world of sprint cars after 8 years of racing modifieds and limited modifieds. Winning championships in both classes are highlights of Johnny’s racing career…unlike the scary moments which number too many to count, according to Johnny.  In the B 51’s pits for 2011 are Paula, Angela, Shelby, Hannah, Luke, Jeremy, Frank, Blain, Henry, Nola, and Bobby.  Sponsor include Gaus Motorsports, Classic Glass, Keller Williams Realty (Hershel Manley), All Pro Auto Reconditioning, and Brown Auto Repair

Driver: Josh Hawkins              Car: 80            Hometown: Whitehouse, Texas

Josh Hawkins blames his love of racing on one thing…genetics!  Josh spent 5 years in an IMCA Stock Car in addition to 6 years racing sprint cars.  Earning his first feature win was Josh’s favorite racing moment to date. Flipping his go-cart at Cactus Speedway did not rank quite as high on the favorites list, but it did take the #1 spot for scariest racing moment.  Crew members for Josh’s 2011 season are Lee, Charles, Bryan, and his dad.  Sponsor for the #80 include Brad’s Transmissions, The Honda Shop, and Schoenfeld Headers

Driver: Marty Hargroder         Car: 12            Hometown: Opelousas, Louisiana

Driver Marty Hargroder joins the Southern Thunder Sprints for the first time in 2011.  Marty’s racing career spans 15 years and includes many races behind the wheel of a winged-600 mini sprint.  In the pits for the #12 this year is Gene.  Sponsor for the 2011 season is Showtyme Home Furnishing

Driver: Dale Wester                Car: 12            Hometown: Ovilla, Texas

Driver Dale Wester joins the Southern Thunder Sprints for another year of 305 sprint car racing following a very successful 2010 season.  Dale’s favorite racing moment came at the end of 2010 when he went home with a track championship from both Devil’s Bowl and RPM Speedway.  For Dale, the scariest moment behind the wheel was hanging his car in the fence at Devil’s Bowl…not once, but twice!  In Dale’s pit for the 2011 season are Dusty, Tandy, Linda, and Mark.  Sponsors for the #12 are Allard Racing Engines, Speedway Photography, and D&W towing.

Driver: Darren Harris            Car: 44               

Harris Racing began its journey on to the Sprint Car racing scene on June 18th, 2011. Darren Harris, a long time race fan did the unthinkable (to family and friends). He bought a Sprint Car! You might say he is checking off his bucket list. But in fact, he has always had the fever for racing. Growing up in Fouke, AR gave him the insight to the dirt track racing scene living just a few miles from a track. Now he is the owner/driver of his very own race car! A lifelong dream. The Harris Racing Team, comprised of Driver Darren Harris and Crew Chief Chris Lafleur, is running with the Southern Thunder Sprints for the 2011 racing season.  Follow us along the oval dirt track scene on Facebook!