CALLAWAY, Va. – Moonshine Capital Promotions will return to Franklin County Speedway to promote the Southern Turkey Derby on Nov. 23-24.
Moonshine Capital Promotions is operated by Langley and Kimberly Austin and previously managed Franklin County Speedway during the 2013-2014 and 2016-2017 seasons, before issues with track ownership forced them out.
They return this time but only for a single event.
Franklin County Speedway ran a limited schedule in 2018 and held just a handful of small events this season. Event promoter Langley Austin said that he wanted to run an event there, because it’s been a while since the track has had this kind of show.
“It’s been a while since there’s been a show like this on that track,” Austin said. “I think probably June 2017 at our last event was the last time an event of this size was held there. The racers want it and the fans want it. I hear from them when I’m out at another track and on Facebook all the time. We want to do something that brings drivers and fans back there to enjoy one of the best short tracks in America in my opinion.”
The Southern Turkey Derby will feature NASCAR-style late model stock cars, Mod 4’s, U-Cars, Stock 4’s and possibly an Any Car or Destruction type division to end the evening.
Details on the Destruction-type division will be announced at a later time.
“We wanted to do an Oct. 13 event, but we just couldn’t get all of our ducks in a row. It seemed as if everything was working against us to make that date work,” Austin noted. “We looked at doing Oct. 27 but the NASCAR Cup Series races at Martinsville that day and we didn’t want to go up against that.
“I wanted to get this info out there as soon as possible and let drivers get their cars ready and let fans know that a big event will take place at Franklin County this season.”
Open practice will be held on Nov. 23rd with all racing taking place on Sunday, Nov. 24. The race is tentatively slated for a 2 p.m. start.
“This is going to be the big event of the year for this region. It was great to have Motor Mile Speedway back open this year for the drivers and fans, but after the Martinsville late model stock car race, this region has nothing for the diehard drivers, teams, and fans. We’d like to make this an annual event and something we can really build on.
“It all starts with this one and we’ll see what we can do with it.”
Austin says he feels as if the drivers and fans will want to be a part of this event.
“Promoting is what I love to do,” Austin explained. “I’m going to work really hard at making this the type of event that every fan wants to watch and every driver wants to say they’re a part of. Since putting the word out that we were looking to do a race there, we’ve had a lot of drivers reach out to us. I think it could be one of the biggest car counts we’ve had for any event there.
“The local racers are hungry to get back there and the fans are hungry to see a good race there.”