Street Stock Shootout of South Texas invades Shady Oaks Speedway July 23rd
July 16, 2011
Goliad, Texas is the place to be on Saturday night, July 23, as the 2011 Street Stock Shootout of South Texas rolls into town. Stock car drivers from across central and south Texas will compete for valuable points in their quest for the series championship and multiple nightly awards.
According to series coordinator Stephan Danielsen “This will be a show no one in central or south Texas will want to miss. We’ve got drivers from all over coming in to compete for cash prizes and various other prizes as well as the bragging rights that go along with winning the series. Some have never raced at Shady Oaks Speedway, so it will be good to see how the local masters of the track match up against the visitors. We feel pretty solid on having somewhere between 25 to 30 competitors at this event and possible even more”.
As the series rolls into Goliad, it will be the first stop on a three track tour from now though September. After visiting Shady Oaks Speedway, the series will make a stop in Edna at Texana Raceway Park in August and then the final stop in September at I-37 Raceway in Pleasanton. By the time the night ends in Pleasanton, a champion will be determined.
“This series is unique to other racing series because it was created by people who are not typically promoters, other than just being blessed with the gift of gab. We put this thing together just because we love the sport and like seeing good competition. As the sponsorships and interest from competitors started increasing, we were reminded of the old adage, ‘there is strength in numbers’” said Monty Chamberlain who has assisted Danielsen.
Danielsen is not only spearheading the series, but he is also competing. “I love it when we can bring people together from different tracks in the state and compete on some pretty equal footing. As regulars from different race tracks, we have somewhat different rules at each track, but with trade offs here and there, we are pretty equal overall. We’ve got a bunch of guys that could win this series and even a teenage girl competing in the series. The fans attending at Shady Oaks Speedway, as well as the other stops along the way, will definitely get their moneys worth when the series is there”.
At the kick-off event at Shady Oaks Speedway, current track points leader Tony Blankenship of Victoria will be on hand to compete against many of his regular opponents and the visiting cars. In discussion with Blankenship, he indicates this will be an opportunity for him to test his skills against folks he doesn’t typically race with and a good opportunity to make new racing friends.
“One thing we are focused on when we bring this show into Shady Oaks Speedway is that we will be there to put a show on for race fans that they’ll remember” said Dainelsen. “We have talent across the board in the series and when it comes to dirt track racing, it just doesn’t get much better than this group that will be on hand”.
The green flag drops at 7pm on September 23rd at Shady Oaks Speedway in Goliad. Also on hand for the night’s events will be several other classes including Classic Dwarf cars, Mini-Stocks, Limited Modifieds and others. It is no doubt that the action scheduled for the 23rd is not for the faint of heart.
by Monty Chamberlain
Logo by JBHotshots
Live Updates from Shady Oaks Speedway, 10-31-09
October 31, 2009
BOO!
LSS will be doing Live Updates from Shady Oaks Speedway’s Halloween Havoc (which will a Benefit event for injured track owner Jim Scribellito).
Lots of cars from all over coming to this one. I may have to do some scrambling to get the names matched up to the numbers, but I’ll do my best.
I should be firing up the software around 5:00 p.m. so plan on meeting us then.
Shady Oaks’ “Halloween Havoc” to benefit injured track owner, Jim Scribellito
October 26, 2009
Excitement is building in the air as the countdown to October 31st and the Halloween Havoc at Shady Oaks Speedway in Goliad is fast approaching. A long held tradition at Shady Oaks Speedway during the 90’s, the 2009 Havoc will be the first held in almost a decade.
While the rebirth of the Havoc is news to celebrate in itself, what’s of special noteworthiness is the fact that the 2009 Havoc will double as a benefit event for injured track owner Jim Scribellito.
Jim, wife Laurie and their two children moved from California to Texas in October, 2008, to follow a dream that Jim held for most of his adult life. Jim’s dream, which most people would never desire to chase, was to own and operate a race track. Interestingly enough, Jim found the famed Shady Oaks Speedway listed for sale on Ebay in the summer of 2008. As a team, Jim and Laurie kicked their plans in gear by selling their business interests in California, and pursued the purchase of what in its heyday was known to be one of the fastest dirt tracks in Texas with its red clay racing surface.
Within just hours of arriving to the property in Goliad and setting up camp, the Scribellito’s were greeted by various racing enthusiasts ready to jump in and volunteer in various ways to lend a hand in assisting with the re-opening of the famed raceway which had sat in hibernation for almost 10 years. A unique and unparalleled character, Jim set out in a fashion that would rival P. T. Barnum with the desire to assemble the greatest show on earth.
Jim and Laurie embarked on creating a full motor sports facility with plans to host not only dirt oval racing, but also moto-cross events and tough truck / mud drag competitions, and even lawn mower races. With long hours poured in every day from dawn to dusk from the day of arrival, the family and the force of volunteers were set with a grand re-opening scheduled for March, 2009. Much like the movie Field of Dreams with the words “build it and they will come”, sure enough, the people came out in mass to watch races at the grand re-opening.
Soon after the dirt oval racing program was firmly planted and underway, Jim embarked on the construction of the moto-cross track. Making incredible leaps and bounds from one project to another, word was spreading across the nation that Shady Oaks Speedway was back in action and was a premier facility.
With incredible progress made in such a short time frame everything was headed in the right direction until a tragic curve ball was thrown in early August. Jim, being a racer himself, promoted a special event titled “Beat the Boss” for a particular class of cars. Jim competed in the event and as fate would have it, his car rolled over during competition.
In an accident that many times witnessed a racer would walk away from, Jim suffered severe bruising and swelling on his spine, as well as other injuries, and after facing the initial hospital stay is now working through significant rehabilitation.
In spite of what was viewed to many as the possible end of the program, Jim demanded “the show must go on”. Laurie stepped in and took a front line role, and the tracks Director of Competition, Brian McDevitt, was quickly drafted to move up to the capacity of acting Promoter. Brian’s greatest challenge was the quick manner in which he had to indoctrinate himself into operating the complete racing program. But, as Jim requested that “the show must go on”, go on it has!
The speedway staff never missed a beat, continuing to host the scheduled events, and now the countdown has begun for the 2009 Halloween Havoc.
The speedway has received word of several known racers coming in for this benefit event. Racers will be running for increased purses including $1,500 to win in Moifieds and $800 to win in Limited Modifieds. And racers will have the opportunity to give back some or all of their race winnings for the night towards the benefit if they desire. According to Laurie, “It’s the racers choice if they want to give back some, all, or none of their winnings and it will be completely anonymous through a drop box”.
Not only is it a night that will see notable racing names converge on the speedway, but volunteers have assembled several other fund raising techniques for the event. There will be special designed event t-shirts on sale with all proceeds being donated, bar-b-que plates for sale with proceeds going to the benefit, a silent auction, a classic car show in the afternoon, and trick or treating for the kids on the front straight-a-way during intermission.
There is no doubt that the 2009 Halloween Havoc will be one for the record books. A night well worth the price of admission with racers from across the region, trick or treating for kids, and most of all a benefit for a track owner who set the tone for others to model in the racing world.
For information about Shady Oaks Speedway or the Halloween Havoc, contact Brian McDevitt at 361/ 676-5746 or via email at brian@shadyoakspeedway.com
by Monty Chamberlain
Shady Oaks Speedway promoter Jim Scribellito down, but certainly not out
August 14, 2009
Jim Scribellito and his wife Laurie sold their successful business ventures in California last year and moved to Texas to fulfill their dream of owning and operating a stock car race track by purchasing Shady Oaks Speedway in Goliad, Texas.
“We found the track listed for sale on the internet,” Jim said shortly after his arrival in Texas last year. “Laurie and I flew to Texas to have a look, fell in love with the place as soon as we saw it and here we are ready to make Shady Oaks into one of the finest racing facilities in Texas.”
Jim Scribellito behind the wheel of his Dwarf Car before the wreck - Photo by JBHotShots
Jim, a dirt track Dwarf Car driver in California, came well-equipped with a sound business plan and the willingness to do whatever it might take to get the track in racing shape by the start of the 2009 racing season. After lots of hard work and lots of support from the South Texas dirt track racing community, Shady Oaks opened for business as planned on April 4, 2009, and, by all accounts, was an instant success.
Always a racer first, last Saturday, August 9, 2009, Jim hopped into his Dwarf Car to compete on his well-prepared dirt racing surface as he has several times in the past, not only at Shady Oaks but at the neighboring Texana Raceway Park in Edna, Texas, as well. No need for details here, but Jim and his car ended up in a series of flips that left Jim strapped to a backboard in a helicopter headed for an emergency room in San Antonio.
From his hospital bed, Jim asked that the following be posted on the Shady Oaks Speedway forum on Lone Star Speedzone.
“Every time a race car driver gets in his car, he/she can expect at least minimal injury – at worst, death. The excitement of beating that overrides all of that concern.
You Shady Oaks drivers have come to know me as one of the hardest working and caring race track promoters you’ve ever known. My plans for Shady Oaks Speedway will continue through me or vicariously through me to become the most well-run facility you’ve ever been to.
The Lord found Shady Oaks for our family and brought us here for that reason. We’ve met so many good people since our arrival. I cannot express our gratitude enough for that!
The extent of my injuries, at this point, is serious enough to not know my future. But I do know, and you know, that I fight for everything I do and will continue to fight to survive. The extent of my injuries up to this point includes two broken shoulders, a broken back and a very bruised spinal cord – all of which have caused paralysis from the neck - down. I’m going on a ventilator in order to breathe.
I have hope, as I have some feeling in my lower extremities. With this hope, I will fight for every inch of ground, to recover and come back as your Shady Oaks promoter.
Please do not give up on Shady Oaks Speedway, as the people in place care as much as I, for the well-being of Shady Oaks. Shady Oaks is not just a race track, it’s a way of life.
I thank each and every one of you for your support up to now and in the future. I will be back, but it might take a while. I’ve never loved anything more than my family and the life we’ve begun at Shady Oaks Speedway.”
And he signed it, “With Hope and Determination, Jim Scribellito.”
The South Texas racing community has, as you might expect, rallied around the fallen track owner.
There is a benefit racing event planned in October. Someone set up a PayPal account to help with the medical expenses (which will be enormous). Several racers have stepped up to take care of the track maintenance and preparation in Jim’s absence. Folks have volunteered everything from fire wood to media support. The Race Director has stepped into the Promoter’s role.
All this in less than a week with plenty more to come.
Racers by nature are a very independent, competitive bunch, but when one of their fellow racers goes down, the whole racing community suddenly puts old rivalries aside, forgets - for a while at least -who put whom in the wall last time out and bands together to do whatever it takes to take care of the one in need.
Jim, your dream is alive and well. A whole lot of your fellow racers will see to it.
by Nick Holt
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