Practice has concluded and the cool weather has made the racetrack lightning fast! Joe Gibbs Racing development driver Darrell Wallace is competing in tonight's 125 lap Late Model feature.
Supertruck points leader Bobby Buttrey is also racing in the Late Model race tonight.
J. Pennington Penrod, IV is racing a Marty Robbins themed truck in the Supertruck feature.
With Sutherlin Marlin beginning her racing career this weekend, we look back to early in her father, Sterling's, illustrious career. This picture is from 1981, the year he won his second of three consecutive track championships.
A bright red #711 will once again roll out of the Marlin clan racing shop and onto the high banks at the historic Fairgrounds Speedway on Saturday night. No, it won’t be Sterling or his son Steadman driving. This time Sterling’s daughter Sutherlin will make her driving debut in the Supertruck feature piloting a vehicle bearing the colors once made famous by her grandfather, the legendary Coo Coo Marlin.
“I’m just ready to get out there,” said the 19-year-old Sutherlin. “We’ve been working on the truck for months.”
Now that her crew has the truck race-ready, Sutherlin said she realizes that with no driving experience, she’ll have to take some time to get adjusted to racing in the Fairgrounds Speedway’s most competitive division.
“We just want to finish our first race,” Sutherlin said. “Right now I just need to get some seat time.”
Sterling agreed, saying “We’ll consider it a good night if she keeps the fenders on it and gets some experience. Of course, we would like to finish in the top five or six too. We’ll just have to see how it goes. Seat time is the most important thing.”
Along with gaining experience, Sutherlin said she also expects to have some fun too. “That’s the main reason I wanted to do it- to have fun,” she said. “I’m looking forward to getting out there and mixing it up with the guys.”
Sutherlin did say that she understands there will be a spotlight on her because of her famous name. “There is some pressure, but since it’s my first time in a car, we don’t really have many expectations. We just want to avoid trouble,” she said.
Of course, if she does end up finding trouble, Sutherlin said she expects her gender to be called into question. “I’m sure whatever happens they’ll say is my fault because I’m a girl. If they wreck three cars in front of me and I get caught up, they’ll say it’s my fault because I’m a girl. I want to turn it around on them. If I have a good run it will be because I’m a girl,” she said.
Sterling said that he doesn’t see gender on the track. “There is no difference between her and Steadman when they’re out there,” he said. “They’re both just my kids.”
Sutherlin said that she would love to race against her father and brother one day. “It would be a lot of fun,” she said. “Dad would probably go easy around me because he’s the one paying, but Steadman might get mean,” she joked.
“We might do it sometime, but she’ll need some seat time first,” Sterling added.
Regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s race, Sutherlin said she is just excited to be on the track. “(The Marlins) have always raced. Now it’s my turn to get out there and show them what I’ve got,” she said.
In addition to the Supertruck race, a full line-up of divisions will be competing at the Fairgrounds Speedway, including the fender-bangin’ Thunderstox and the lightnin’-fast Late Models going nose-to-tail and side-by-side for 125 laps!
Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and, as always, children under 10 are free. Gates open at 4 p.m. with the first green flag of the night falling at 5:30 p.m.
If you skipped race night at the Fairgrounds Speedway on Saturday, July 11th, you missed another memorable event scripted especially for the history books!
After dodging the weather all afternoon, an energized assembly of fans witnessed four legendary drivers and the ‘Voice of the Fairgrounds” as they were inducted into the newly-restored Fairgrounds Speedway Hall of Fame at the .596 asphalt speedway.
The inductees were the late Marty Robbins, former track champions Chad Chaffin, Sterling Marlin, and Joe Buford, and 25-year veteran track announcer, Joe Williams.
Ronnie Robbins, Marty’s son, was on hand to accept the honor on behalf of his famous father. Robbins said, “My dad would be so proud to be honored here tonight. He loved this little track. Dad is well-known in Nashville as a singer and musician, but racing was always a strong passion too. I’m tickled to be here on stage with all these great former drivers and will always be grateful to this track and the fans for always loving my father.”
Sterling Marlin, former NASCAR star, two-time Daytona 500 winner, and 3-time Fairgrounds Speedway Late Model champion stated, “I’ve been coming to the Fairgrounds Speedway since I was only 2-months old, back when Daddy (legendary Coo Coo Marlin) raced here. I grew up on this track before moving on to NASCAR. This will always be my home track. My son, Steadman, races here and my daughter, Sutherlin, is getting ready to make her Truck debut next weekend. I’ve been here all my life and I appreciate being inducted into the Fairgrounds Speedway Hall of Fame.”
Chad Chaffin, 2-time speedway champion said, “I have to thank my Dad and entire family first and foremost. I’m honored to be considered for the Hall of Fame as I look around on stage at the men I’m standing here with. This is a great night and I want to thank everyone here for voting me in and it’s a true honor.”
Joe Buford, winningest driver in the history of the Fairgrounds and 4-time track champion said, “I’m so glad my dad, Hall of Fame member Flookie Buford, is here with me to share in this night. It’s an honor to be inducted and I’m happy to see the track reinstating the Hall of Fame. It’s been an exciting night and I plan to be out here for many more races this season.”
The “Voice of the Fairgrounds Speedway”, Joe Williams, was the surprise, previously unannounced inductee, and surprised he was! Williams stated, “I make a career out of what I say as an announcer, but I’m truly at a loss for words. I truly, truly appreciate it and never, ever dreamed this would happen. Thank you all.”
Track promoter Danny Denson added, “We are all working hard here at the track to build this place back into something the city of Nashville can be proud of and support. The drivers and fans appreciate it and that means a lot to all of us behind the scenes working week in and week out. I’m thrilled to have these fine men inducted into our Hall of Fame and we plan another induction ceremony later in the year and adding in more legendary people connected with the Fairgrounds Speedway.”
