SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. -- Duck River Speedway in Wheel, Tennessee and Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Tennessee have reached an agreement to conduct a ten race steel Head Late Model series in 2005. This series continues the tradition started in 2002 at Duck River Speedway when DRS conducted the six race "Big 6" series that crowned Byron Michael as the champion and Les Howell as runner-up. Then in 2003 Duck River and Winchester conducted a 10 race series that crowned Jerry Owens as the Champion. Last season both speedways conducted their own series with Jay Brinkley winning the "Cup LM" Championship at Duck River while David Gentry edged Danny Peoples for the 10 race series championship conducted at North Alabama and Winchester.

Two thousand and five will continue the Steel Head series tradition with more money on the line for the Top 10 driver’s in the 10 race series. In a move that should appeal to the racers all entry fee moneys will be dedicated to the "Big 10 Steel Head Cup" series points fund. The speedways will not keep any of the entry fee moneys. The Points fund will be a minimum of $17,000 (based on 25 entries per event) with the champion garnering 25% of the total points fund. Points runner-up will accrue 16% of the total Points fund with third place receiving 13%. Fourth is 11%, 5)10% 6)8% 7)6% 8)5% 9)4% 10)2%

Basic series rules remain unchanged with 362 cubic inch stock valve angle steel head(no porting or polishing of heads)engines, open intake and any brand rear tire that durometer’s 60 or more when cold. Open front tires. Detailed rules may be accessed at the tracks web sites. www.duckriverspeedway.com and www.winchesterspeedwaytn.com

$3,000 to win shows(35 laps) will pay: 1)$3,000 to win 2)$1,500 3)$1,000 4)$800 5)$700 6)$550 7)$450 8)$400 9)$380 10)$360 11)$350 12)$340 13)$330 14)$320 15)$300 16)$290 17)$280 18)$270 19)$260 20 through 24)$250 ($100 entry fee will be totally dedicated to the series point’s fund)

$1,500 to win shows(50 laps) will pay: 1)$1,500 2)$750 3)$600 4)$500 5)$400 6)$300 7)$275 8)$250 9)$225 10)$200 11)$160 12)$150 13)$125 14)$120 15)$110 16) through 24)$100 ($60 entry fee will go entirely into the series point’s fund)

Kennith Wessner Ford-Mercury in Winchester, Tennessee will be the Series sponsor>

The "Big 10 Steel Head Cup" series schedule as follows:

*April 2 at Winchester Speedway($1,500 to win)

*April 9 at Duck River Speedway($1,500 to win)

*May 7 at Winchester Speedway($1,500 to win)

*May 28 at Winchester Speedway($3,000 to win)

*May 29 at Duck River Speedway($3,000 to win - Sunday evening show)

*June 20 at Duck River Speedway($1,500 to win)

*July 9 at Winchester Speedway($1,500 to win)

*July 16 at Duck River Speedway($1,500 to win)

*August 6 at Winchester Speedway($1,500 to win)

*August 20 at Duck River Speedway($1,500 to win) Champion will be crowned and points moneys will be distributed to the Top 10 in the series after the series finale at DRS

Note: The Traditional Labor day weekend of September 3(at Winchester) and September 4(at Duck River on Sunday night) will feature a special Super Late Model doubleheader, not related to the Big 10 Cup Series.

Of local interest: All classes will run during the Big 10 Cup events. In the past the two barrel late Models did not compete when the Steel Head series were running but in 2005 both speedways will run 2-BBL LM’s during all events.

For additional information contact the following:

Duck River Speedway: Track Phone is(931)684-8200 Call Jim Hastings(days) at: (931)684-2117, Tim Smith (days) at: (931)685-9090 or e-mail Tim at: tim@race-connection.com Please check our web site at: www.duckriverspeedway.com

Winchester Speedway: Track Phone is: (931)967-0066 Call Tim or Jana Smith(evenings) at: (931)469-7898 or e-mail: winchesterspeedway@earthlink.net or bowlingj@warplink.net (Dennis) Check Our web site at: www.winchesterspeedwaytn.com