Perry, Michigan (Monday, August 15th, 2011): As the 2011 racing season makes the turn heading for the home stretch, one of the biggest weekends of racing in the state of Michigan is coming up as the cars and stars of the World of Outlaw Late Models Series invade for a Michigan doubleheader weekend on a pair of 3/8s (0.375) mile semi-banked paved ovals beginning on Friday, August 19th at Winston Motor Speedway in Rothbury, Michigan and then on Saturday, August 20th at Merritt Raceway in Lake City, Michigan.
Both 50-lap Features will pay a cool $10,000 to win each making this the biggest Weekend of Dirt Racing the Wolverine State has ever seen and Epling and crew are ready for the expected invasion of superstars from around the country. The Keyser Manufacturing 50 highlights the Winston card while the Lane Automotive / Allstar Performance 50 will grab the spotlight at Merritt.
Going up against the likes of Current Series Points Leader, Rick Eckert, Two-Time Defending Series Champion, Josh Richards, former series champions Darrell Lanigan and Tim McCreadie who combined have won 16 of the 24 races held this season. Others like Shane Clanton, Vic Coffey, Chub Frank, Tim Fuller, Austin Hibbard, Clint Smith, and even more invaders is a challenge Epling is looking forward too.
"These guys travel all over the country racing everywhere. It's pretty rare that they come up this far north, but I'm really looking forward to the challenge." The Perry, Michigan resident remarked. "Normally if you wanted to race against the best in the country, you had to travel a little bit, but this time around, they're coming here and I can't wait to race side by side with them and see how we stack up against those guys."
Epling will also have some stiff competition from his adoptive home state of Michigan with the likes of Jeep VanWormer, Zack Olger, Brandon Thirlby, Eric Spangler, Brian Ruhlman, and more. "We have some of the best drivers in the country right here in Michigan. I'm pretty happy to be a part of this group." Stated the transplanted Michigander originally from Cicero, Illinois, "It wouldn't surprise me one bit to see someone from Michigan take one or both paychecks; hopefully it's us." He smiled.
Then after the two WoO LM shows, Epling and the S.J.E. Motorsports crew will make the short trip south from Merritt and participate in the inaugural Michigan Dirt Cup UMP Late Models event at Mt. Pleasant Speedway in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan on Sunday, August 21st. This event is part of the tracks' Xtreme 100 with the UMP Late Models going 30 laps in there Feature in a preview of the 2012 season for the new series. Epling and crew will make it three races in three nights with this highly anticipated event.
"I think the Michigan Dirt Cup Late Models Series has some serious potential to be something special," The 41-year-old continued. "We do have the Sunoco American Late Model Series in this area, but this series looks like it'll stay here in Michigan only and I'm looking forward to this preview race for the series as they get things together for 2012. This race at Mt. Pleasant will perhaps show the series what works and what doesn't and then next year they'll be ready to go and we're looking to be a part of it."
Epling did manage to race once this past weekend as on August 12th, Epling and the team returned to Mt. Pleasant as the Defending UMP Late Models Track Champion at the 1/3 (0.333) mile semi-banked dirt oval raced in the special Mt. Pleasant American Legion Post 110 event to prepare for the Michigan Dirt Cup race. After winning his Heat Race, Epling would start ninth in the Feature and brought home a fourth place finish.
As the 2011 racing season continues on, Epling's popular red #28 Mastersbilt from Mars UMP Late Model with a Pontiac GTO nose has sponsorship decals adorning it from his own business; S.J.E. Trucking as well as Shift Shop Transmissions, Fusion Graphics & Sign Company, Hedrick Precision Engines, NashCar Trailers, Huffy's Marathon of Perry, M.P.H. Promotions, SammyEpling.com, and S.J.E. Motorsports.
For more information about Sammy Epling and the entire S.J.E. Motorsports Team and to inquire about additional sponsorship opportunities for the 2011 racing season, log onto the teams' website at: www.sammyepling.com You can also follow the remainder of the 2011 season with Epling by becoming a fan on his Facebook Fan Page. Just go to: www.facebook.com and search "Sammy Epling / S.J.E. Motorsports" then click on "Like" today.
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