North Georgia Speedway is trading its typical Saturday schedule for three days of activity this weekend, and fans will be able to enjoy a side of music with their racing.
The Murray County dirt track’s “Let’s Get Dirty Weekend,” which starts Friday and continues through Sunday, will include activity on the track every day and a concert Saturday night.
North Georgia Speedway promoter Jason Jones said Friday will feature practices from 4 to 8 p.m., qualifying is set for 7 p.m. Saturday and feature races are scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. For grandstand admission, Saturday-Sunday passes are $25 and one-day passes are $15. For entrance to the pits, two-day passes are $50 and a one-day pass is $30. Admission on Friday is free, but a pit pass can be purchased for $10.
After the roar of the engines subsides Saturday night, Dunlap, Tenn., native Cody McCarver will perform in concert. A former member of country music group Confederate Railroad, McCarver’s singles as a solo artist include “Let’s Get Dirty.” That show is expected to begin at approximately 10:30 p.m.
“They are filming a music video during it, so it should be a lot of fun,” Jones said.
On Sunday, a noon church service will precede the feature races.
Jones said when he came on board as the new promoter in July he wanted to have a concert and do other fan-friendly activities.
This is only part of that plan, though. Jones said he also expect to offer free admission to local high school football players, coaches, band members and cheerleaders for at least one weekend this fall.
“I’m making (the concert) an annual event,” Jones said. “National Title Pawn is a big sponsor, and they came on board with us to do this.”
There will be a $3,000 prize for the Crate and Limited division winners. Modified Hobby, Economy Hobby and Stock Pony also will race.
This is the third-to-last weekend of racing listed on the schedule at the speedway’s website (northaspeedway.net), but Jones said there is no definite date when the 2012 season will end. A regular race program is set for Sept. 29 and a tribute to the late Biddle Ridley is set for Oct. 13.
“It will be a $4,000 prize for a 40-lap Super Late Model race,” Jones said of the memorial race. “It’s also going to be annual. As far as the racing season goes, my intentions were and still are that as long as the racers want to show up and the fans still come we’re going to race. That’s why I haven’t scheduled an end to the season.”
Ridley died at the age of 72 on July 30 after a two-year battle with cancer. He was the crew chief to brother Jody Ridley, the 1980 NASCAR rookie of the year, and had his own successful career as a short track driver. Biddle Ridley’s family also includes cousin Aaron Ridley, who won the limited late model division this past Saturday at North Georgia Speedway.
The Biddle Ridley Memorial 40 was Jones’ idea, but he took some time after Ridley’s death before approaching the family.
“I gave my checkered flag to the family,” Jones said. “We discussed with the family to do something like this and they were very happy to do it.
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