Crisp Motorsports Park racing season revs up

CORDELE — South Georgia auto racing enthusiasts are gearing up for this weekend’s races marking the opening of the new racing season at Crisp Motorsports Park in Cordele.

According to general manager Eddie MacDonald, Crisp Motorsports Park sits on 100 acres and features a three-eighths mile, D-shaped, oval track, which is the only asphalt track in Georgia other than Atlanta Motor Speedway, still in operation.

MacDonald also said that Saturday’s season-opening races will feature a variety of different race classes, including go-kart, bandoleros, legends, pro-challenge/mini stock car, enduro, pure stock, super street, and outlaw late models.

“We’ll have a lot of great racing going on Saturday,” said MacDonald.

MacDonald added that the track is currently under new ownership after Cobb resident Wayne Lyle purchased the facility from Joey Logano’s father, Tom, last year.

“We got a new owner and we’re making a lot of improvements,” said MacDonald. “We’re building a new campsite up by the lake, and adding new concessions. And it’s going to get a lot better. It may take us some time to get there but we’re going to get there.”

MacDonald said both he and Lyle were pleased with the few races they were able to hold at the track last year despite no advertising and no real promotion, culminating with races in January that saw between 60-70 cars racing. All told, in each of the planned races Saturday, MacDonald expects to see more than 100 cars racing.

To help get things going in the right direction for the newly revamped track, ownership has hired Albany’s ThreeForty Creative Group to handle marketing and event promotions, something the previous ownership did not focus on.

Justin Andrews, co-owner of ThreeForty said the chance to get involved with the track was welcomed as the company is working to spread the message that it handles more than just music events and promotions.

“A lot of folks don’t know that we handle events of all kinds, so this is a good thing for us to be involved in,” Andrews said. “This past year we’ve really gotten involved in different things, especially sporting events.”

While working with the motorsports park is certainly sports focused, Andrews said that with the company’s experience booking music, he hopes to pair concerts and other events with racing.

“We’re really excited about this,” said Andrews. “This is a state of the art facility and we think it will be a hit. We’ll find out a lot this weekend.”

Gates open at 4 p.m. with race practice starting at 6, followed by racing at 7 p.m. There will be two heat races of eight laps, followed by a twenty lap feature race for each class with the exception of the crowd-favorite outlaw late models, which run 40 laps.

The cost of admission to Saturday’s races is $11 for adults, with children under 12 admitted free. Pit passes are available for $25. Tickets can be purchased on race day.

Crisp Motorsports Park is located at 385 Farmers Market Road, a half mile from I-75 exit 104 in Cordele. To learn more about the track and upcoming races visit www.crispmotorsportspark.com or call (229) 938-8814.