Rally Tennessee Race Was A Blast!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Linden, TN June 3, 2010

Rally Tennessee wrapped up the second round of the Atlantic Rally Cup and the Atlantic RallyMoto(tm) Cup over Memorial Day weekend in Perry County, Tennessee. The awesome all-paved tarmac course winds through the hills of Middle Tennessee and is known for having the twistiest rally roads in the United States.

Two-wheel drive cars swept the podium on both days of racing. Doug Shepherd and Karen Wagner, in their powerful Dodge Neon SRT4, took first place overall and in the Open 2WD Heavy class. Shepherd said ‘It’s amazing how these roads really work you as a driver. We really used the whole road.’ Josh Wimpey and Jeremy ‘Worm’ Wimpey were only nine seconds behind in their Volkswagen Golf GTI and finished second place overall and first in the Open 2WD Light class. In a bright yellow Acura Integra Type R, Evan Moen and Billy Elliott Mann rounded out the podium with third place overall and second place finish in the Open 2WD Heavy class.

Other class leaders included Darrell Pugh and Jonathan Barnes with first place in the Open AWD Heavy class. Newcomers Jason Smith and Jared Lantzy finished first in Open AWD Light in a Subaru Impreza. Dmitriy Martynov and Jonathan Tinsey had an off course excursion on day one that had them stuck fifteen feet down in a ditch. They fought back on day two in their Eagle Talon to earn a first place finish in the Stock Medium class.

Diversity was visible in the RallyMoto(tm) competition – each competitor campaigned a unique motorcycle! Rider Bill Conger took first place overall and first in the RallyMoto(tm) Medium Modified class both days on his Aprilia RXV 5.5. Conger, the fastest rider of the weekend, unfortunately had his one and only crash right in front of the photographers on the Tree Farm Stage. Kurt Weigand followed in second place overall and first place in the Stock Medium class on his KTM 530EXC-R. Rally novice Ken Anderson finished third overall and second in the Stock Medium class on a Honda XR650.

The City of Lobelville hosted the event on Saturday with Pit Row featured on Main Street. Competitors, volunteers and the local community enjoyed the festival atmosphere and the free country music concert that night. Despite thunderstorms and rain, the event finished on a high note at Hot Rods & Cadillacs – with the final checkpoint inside the bar!

“Tiny Perry County has been slammed hard recently,” admitted Lobelville Mayor and Perry County Chamber Board member Robby Moore. “Of course, the Governor rescued us somewhat last year, as we were hit unemployment-wise and therefore, economically. Now we’re doing like all of Middle Tennessee and assessing and rebuilding in the aftermath of wide-spread, devastating floodwaters. Rally Tennessee offered a free holiday weekend of first-class racing and music, which was a well-needed, well-deserved blessing.” Proceeds from Rally Tennessee spectator guides, concessions, and t-shirt sales went to the local volunteer fire departments, a local Boy Scout troop and the Bobby Qualls Family Fund. Many local businesses reported feeling the impact of the event. For example, Chet’s Pit Stop doubled their sales on the Saturday of the event.