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SPRING CITY, TN – Saturday night’s Special Sportsman Division Race at Mountain View Raceway will honor an East Tennessee Dirt Racing legend, the late Sam Williams. The race will be called the Sam Williams Memorial 40 and will pay $3,096-to-win, with the 96 reflecting his car number.
Williams’ #96 Dirt Late Model will be on display in the Mountain View Raceway Victory Lane before the race, and Sam’s brother Rick Williams will drive the car during the Opening Ceremonies and carry the American Flag during the signing of the National Anthem.
Sam and Rick Williams competed at just about every East Tennessee dirt track throughout their careers, including Mountain View Raceway under several different names. They were always a threat to win any race they entered and scored many victories. The Crossville, TN racing family has had a legacy of Dirt Late Model racing that has seen three generations.
Their father, the late Lloyd Williams was always a part of their racing team, and Rick’s son Brandon Williams is one of the top Dirt Late Model drivers today. Mountain View Raceway veteran announcer Roby Helm has called many races that Sam Williams competed in.
“It’s going to be an honor for me to call the Inaugural Sam Williams Memorial Race, and an honor for Mountain View Raceway to host it,” Helm said. “I had the pleasure of knowing three generations of the Williams Family through Lloyd, Sam, Rick and Brandon. I got to call many races and many wins at tracks that include Atomic Speedway, Crossville Raceway, Duck River Raceway Park, and 411 Motor Speedway. Sam Williams meant a lot to the local racing community.”
Mountain View Raceway officials have announced that drivers from the track’s other Divisions are eligible to compete in this Special Sportsman race, but drivers can only compete in one Division this Saturday night. The Mountain View Raceway Sportsman Division Rules are posted on the track web site at www.mountainviewraceway.com.
The Sportsman Division will run Qualifying, B-Main Races and a Non-Qualifiers Race where the top two finishers can either claim their cash prize, or elect to start on the tail of the Sam Williams Memorial 40. Motorsports Promotions will pay $50 for the Longest Tow Award.
Other race sponsors include Tracy’s Towing, Shannon & Sons Trucking, Dwight Beals, Mountain View Raceway Speed Shop, Homestead Motors, Tyler Collins, Rogers Hoof Trimming, Colton Reed, BS Welding, Randi Lynn Crafts and Design, Denise Littleton, Izzy Wiseman, Bryson Elliott, D.J. Prater Motorsports, and Johnny Sliger.
Along with the Sportsman Division, the Mountain View Raceway Late Model, Open-Wheel Modified, B-Hobby, Thunder and Front-Wheel-Drive Divisions will also be in action with Weekly Point Races. The Beginner Sportsman Division will have the night off, but drivers from that Division are welcome to compete in the Special Sportsman Race without losing their Beginner status.
In addition to the racing action highlighted by the $3,096-to-win Inaugural Sam Williams Memorial 40 for the Sportsman Division, there will also be a huge Fireworks Display for the July 4th Weekend at Mountain View Raceway this Saturday night. As always, there will also be plenty of activities for the younger race fans at the Mountain View Raceway Kids Club.
On Saturday at Mountain View Raceway, the Pit Gate opens at 3 p.m., and the Grandstand/Tier Parking Gates opens at 4 p.m. Pre-Race Technical Inspection and Registration will be from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the Drivers Meeting is set for 5:45 p.m., with Racing scheduled for 6 p.m.
Pit Passes are $30 for Adults, $15 for Children 6-11, and Children 5 and under are admitted Free. The General Admission and Tier Parking ticket prices are $10 for race fans 12 and older, Children 6-11 are $5. and Children 5 and under are admitted Free. All Children must be accompanied by an Adult.
Mountain View Raceway where you can get “Your Thrill By The Hill” is located at 20626 Rhea County Highway (U.S. Highway 27), Spring City, TN 37381. For more information, call 423-507-2619 or visit the track website at www.mountainviewraceway.com. You can also like the Mountain View Raceway Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mountainviewraceway.
PHOTO CUTLINE: The main event at Mountain View Raceway in Spring City, TN this Saturday night will be the $3,096-to-win Inaugural Sam Williams Memorial 40 for the Sportsman Division cars. The late Sam Williams from Crossville, TN was a top driver in his familiar red and white #96 race car that will be at the Sam Williams Memorial 40 and driven in the Opening Ceremonies by Sam’s brother Rick Williams. (Photos Courtesy of Shannon Norwood)