CALLAWAY, Va. – Racing in Virginia will officially kick off on Sunday, March 15 at Franklin County Speedway with a race dubbed the Star City Stunner and promoted by Moonshine Capital Promotions.
The event will be the first official race in the state of Virginia for 2020 and will feature the first Mini Stock Tour race. The new touring series for Mini Stock and modified four-cylinder cars, which have grown to be the largest car counts at many regional tracks. The new series which was created by Moonshine Capital Promotions founder Langley Austin and will be a part of a few events at Franklin County Speedway this season.
The Star City Stunner name for the season opener is a way for the track and race fans to honor the closest city to Callaway, Va., which is Roanoke. Roanoke has several nicknames but the most recognizable, the Star City, is a nod to the Mill Mountain Star which is iconic to tourists and locals alike. Austin says it’s important to recognize the communities around the track.
“Calling our business Moonshine Capital Promotions was the start of us recognizing what this community is all about,” Austin explained. “Everyone knows that Franklin County is the moonshine capital of the world, just like everyone knows Roanoke as the Star City. We’re embracing the community in many ways this season and this is just one of them.”
The Star City Stunner will feature two headline shows with a 60-lap Limited Late Model feature and the previously mentioned inaugural race for the Mini Stock Tour, which will compete for 50-laps and $1,000 to win. Austin knows it’s important to give fans more bang for their buck.
“I think the fans who come to our events know that we’re doing everything we can to put on the best show,” Austin said. “This event will be no different. We looked at how things are in this racing region and felt we could draw a good field of Limited cars and with us launching the Mini Stock Tour this season, we knew it’d be a perfect doubleheader.”
That’s not all the racing that will take place on the high banked three-eighths-mile track on Sunday, March 15 as the Limiteds and Mini Stocks will be joined by four additional divisions which will make for a full evening of racing action. The Chargers, Compacts, Stock4’s and Any Cars will all compete during this event.
This will be the first of several planned events by Austin and his Moonshine Capital Promotions team and Austin says he hopes to release a season schedule in the coming weeks.
“Everyone has been asking how many races we’re going to have this season and I’m excited to finally be able to say that it’ll be more than one,” Austin stated. “We really weren’t sure what we were going to do this year. Running a race track might be my dream job but it’s not the greatest business model in the world. My wife Kimberly and I love Franklin County Speedway though and we’re going to continue to do all we can to put events on what I think is the best race track anywhere.”