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Upper South Carolina State Fair
US Hwy 123 @ SC Hwy 124
Between Greenville & Easley, SC

UPPER SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR REVIVES OLD TRADITION, LABOR DAY RACING AT THE ANNUAL UPSTATE CLASSIC

By: Reese Fant

Tradition, a grand ole racing tradition, once again takes center stage at historic Greenville-Pickens Speedway. This comes in conjunction with the Upper South Carolina State Fair with the announcement today of 'Labor Day Monday' when the track presents the K & N Pro Series East, Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 140.

    For decades, GPS owners Tom and Pete Blackwell hosted an automobile race at the historic half-mile as part of the annual Upper South Carolina State Fair on Labor Day Monday, and it was a highly anticipated and very successful even, staged in conjunction with the Fair.

    Then the Blackwell brothers replaced the race program with NASCAR DAY appearances by top NASCAR drivers, including both Dale Earnhardt and his son, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Rusty Wallace and others throughout the years. For over 15 years the top names in the sport of automobile racing visited for photo opportunities with fans and autograph sessions that sometimes lasted for hours. This brought thousands of NASCAR fans into the region both to meet the drivers and to enjoy the fair.

    But NASCAR scheduling, moving the Labor Day 'Southern 500' event away from Darlington and scheduling a racing event in California, making it impossible to get the drivers to Greenville-Pickens Speedway for this important day.

    With this important announcement of the K & N Pro Series East, Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 140, race fans will once again be able to see quality racing, have a chance to meet NASCAR drivers on their way to the top rung of the NASCAR racing ladder, and see a special Late-Model Stock race where valuable track championship and South Carolina points will be awarded, in addition to the K & N race.

    The K & N Pro Series East cars are making their second appearance of the season here at Greenville-Pickens Speedway. This elite group helped open the 2011 racing season at the historic half mile and Brett Moffitt, who drives for Michael Waltrip Racing, brought his Toyota home in front to take the checkered flag. It was an easy win for Moffitt, who came all the way from Grimes, Iowa to be the dominator. Moffitt cracked the track record in qualifying to sit on the pole, and led every lap headed for the Checkered Flag.

    Coleman Pressley, who competed here regularly several years ago in the Late-Model Stock division, finished second.

    He has a chance to go in front, late in the race, but a caution flag put him back in second for good.

    Alex Bowman finished third, and Chase Elliott was fourth.

    Elliott, son of former NASCAR champion Bill Elliott, started back in the pack, but worked his way steadily forward for the fourth spot. Darrell Wallace, Jr., the defending winner of this race, finished fifth. Sergio Pena was sixth, Brandon McReynolds was seventh, as Brandon Haley, Cody Hodgson, and Andrew Smith rounded out the top ten.

    Of this top 10, only Coleman Pressley has not pre registered to compete in this race, scheduled for Monday, Sept. 5, which is Labor Day. 

    Other drivers very familiar with Greenville-Pickens who has committed to be in this race include Michael Cherry, who raced here regularly several years ago, Michelle Therault, Corey Lajoie, and Max Gresham.

                         
So today's announcement revives a long standing tradition for the Upper South Carolina State Fair and Greenville-Pickens Speedway, filling the void for NASCAR fans with the departure of the NASCAR DAY