PASS CHRISTIAN, Miss. -- South Mississippi Speedway in Gulfport, MS had a successful racing season in 2005 although the ‘05 season at SMS was shortened when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Mississippi Gulf coast.

SMS kicked off the 2005 racing season on February 26th with the Steve Marsh Memorial street stock race which was won by Earl Grimes. On March 5th SMS hosted the Frost Bite 50 in which forty super late models was on hand for. The Frost Bite 50 proved to be one of the wildest races on the coast in 2005 season with eight lead changes among five different leaders, Tennessee’s David Gentry won the Frost Bite 50. The April 16, $1,500 late model race was won by K.I. Davis from Poplarville, MS. The late models once again return in SMS in mid July for a $2,000 to win event which was won by Cuba, Alabama’s Mike Boland. Boland also won the $10,000 to win Gulf Coast 100 in August, 2005.

The UMP Modified division ran some outstanding and exciting races in 2005 at SMS, The modified division brought South Mississippi race fans to their feet many times throughout the ‘05 season with two, three and sometimes four wide racing. Nicholas Sellier is the 2005 SMS UMP Modified points champion.

The Street Stock division was known as the "wild bunch" at SMS. The street stocks had ran many close races and had more than one photo finish. The Street stocks also provided some scary wrecks as the one on March 19, when Bubba Trotter, Jeremy Pol and Jeremy Sexton was involved in the three car pile up in turn three. Then on April 2nd Jimmy Moody spun in turn two, then was hit hard head on. Bobby Busby is the 2005 SMS Street Stock points champion.

At the end of the 2004 racing season, SMS started a new class of cars called the Stingers. The Stinger division is a stock, front wheel drive, 4 cylinder car. The Stinger division is the fastest growing class at SMS with drivers ranging in age from kids just barely old enough to get a driver license to the retired citizens. The Stingers is one of the cheapest forms of racing in the South. The first time SMS ran the Stingers at the end of the 2004 season only four cars was on hand, in 2005 this class has built up to close to twenty cars with more being built for the 2006 season. James Barton is the 2005 Stingers points Champion.

The Pure Stock division also provided good racing on the Gulf Coast with several different winners. Jimmy Hodges is the 2005 SMS Pure Stock Points Champion.

The Pro Stock division also made some noise at SMS with several close races and spectacular finishes. Randy Dechamp is the 2005 SMS Pro Stock points Champion.

Mike Ladner was the dominant man in the Late Model Sportsman division. Ladner is also the 2005 SMS Late Model Sportsman points champion.

The races at SMS were filmed by Motion Media and are available on VHS or DVD. For ordering information visit www.motionmediavideo.com Motion Media also has some short clips of the racing action at SMS.

The Staff and management of South Mississippi Speedway says thanks to all drivers, crews, car owners and race fans for their support in 2005. We are all looking forward to seeing you back at SMS in 2006.

For more information on South Ms Speedway and the upcoming 2006 season call Lyndon Rushing at 228-297-8007, Ricky Mason at 228-860-3935 or Aubrey McKenzie at 601-765-6900.