BULLS GAP -- With the tough current economy facing the American people, which has brought all-time record high fuel prices that's led to an overall higher cost of living, Volunteer Speedway owner Joe Loven has been forced to make the decision to take the rest of the month of May off from racing. The next scheduled racing action at Volunteer Speedway will be Saturday, June 7.

Along with the tough economy, other contributing factors that led to making the decision are other regional dirt-tracks holding special late model events over the coming weeks, along with the Saturday night televised NASCAR races which began two weekend's ago with Richmond and then this past weekend at Darlington, and now this coming Saturday night will be the All-Star event at Lowe's Motor Speedway being on TV.

Also this coming weekend, the National Hot Rod Association drag races will be at Bristol Dragway (which also will be televised on ESPN2) along with the United Auto Racing Association late model event under the lights Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway. Then there's Memorial Day weekend, which is traditionally the kick-off into summer, plus over the next couple of weeks families' around the region have high school graduations to attend.

"This is not just a quick decision I've made, I've struggled with it ... it's been developing over the past several weeks," said Volunteer Speedway owner Joe Loven. "Operating a racetrack is a business, and the bottom line is that currently it's a tough time running a racetrack. The crowds are down significantly compared to last year, and I feel it's directly attributed to our ailing economy. I feel with our weekly adult admission price being only $8, that's a real bargain. But it's not a bargain if people just can't afford to spend any money besides what it takes to pay their bills associated with their daily living costs."
For more information regarding Volunteer Speedway, contact the track office at (423) 378-5942 or Phyllis Loven at (423) 676-9081.