2002 Champions announced at Lanier National Speedway

BRASELTON - Lanier National Speedway, sanctioned by the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge, has announced its 2002 champions in each of its six weekly divisions.

In perhaps the most competitive season in the track's 20-year history, three of the six titles were won by drivers trailing in championship standings entering the final points race of the year - the September 28 Casey Elliott Memorial Superbowl presented by Diversified Merchant Services.

Shane Chastain of Murrayville claimed his first Lanier National Speedway track title after posting a sixth-place finish in the Budweiser Pro Late Model portion of the annual Superbowl which was won by Tony Bennett. Chastain posted two wins and 12 top-five finishes during his championship run.

George Williams, Jr of Bethlehem surged past Joey Love in the final event of the season to claim the Team Ford of Marietta Truck Series title in a division where 25 or more entries were common each week.

Terry Crump of Rome collected his first championship in the Simpson's Trucking & Grading Sportsman Series. A spin while leading in the final race cost Cumming's Jackie Daniel a chance to win the 2002 Sportsman title.

Thomas Ross of Dahlonega won his third Longhorn Steakhouse Modified Ministock championship after winning his division's final event of the season. Ross overtook points leader Brian Huff of Buford during the Superbowl.

William Earnest turned consistency into a title in the Garrison Racing Pure Ministock division.

Brian Sosebee, son of the late NASCAR great Gober Sosebee, claimed his first track title after overtaking Michael Stewart in the final X-Karz race of the season.

All drivers and crews will be recognized at the annual Lanier National Speedway awards banquet which will be held on Saturday November 9 at the Georgia Mountains Center in Gainesville.

The final event of the 2002 season at LNS is the inaugural Williams Bros Lumber Lanier Late Model Nationals. Time trials for this historic event will commence on Friday October 18. The green flag will fall on the racing action that weekend on Saturday evening October 19.

The Nationals will be composed of a $10,000-to-win 150-lap Southern All Star sanctioned super late model race and a $10,000-to-win 150-lap pro late model event. Many of the nation's top short track drivers are expected to compete.