Gillenwater Motorsports set to return
in 2012
IRONTON, OH-After nearly six years away from the dirt
track, Gillenwater Motorsports is back. Gillenwater
Motorsports, which has been around the sport for 45
years, will return to the track this year competing in
the Sport Mod class at the Southern Ohio Speedway.
Gillenwater Motorosports, originally known as
Gillenwater Brothers Racing, was officially formed in
the year 1967 in Ironton, Ohio. In 1966, Otha
Gillenwater took his three sons, John, Ray, and PD to
the races at Southern Ohio Speedway. From the first
race, the brothers were hooked and began putting
together a car to race for the 1967 season.
In 1967, the brothers accomplished their goal of
fielding a race car and competed at Southern Ohio
Speedway in Wheelersburg, Ohio and Champions Speedway in
Kitts Hill, Ohio. John and Ray split the driving duties,
while PD went off to join the service. The brothers
raced through the 1973 season until rising costs forced
the team to quit racing.
John, in taking his kids with him to the races,
instilled the racing bug in son John Jr. After 19 years
away from the sport, Gillenwater Motorsports returned in
1992 with John Jr. behind the wheel of a Street Stock at
the Portsmouth Raceway Park. John Jr. competed in the
Street Stock class for one year and then sat out until
2005 when he returned to the wheel of a Late Model at
the Rocky Top Raceway. John Jr. competed in the Late
Model division for a year and a half until rising costs
forced him to sit out again.
In 2011, the newly re-opened Southern Ohio Speedway
announced the introduction of the economical Sport Mod
class. John Jr. took notice and looked at this as his
opportunity to get back into the sport and be able to
race on the track his dad started at. So in December of
2011 John Jr. purchased a car to compete in the class.
With that will come the official return of Gillenwater
Motorsports to the track in 2012.
Even in the years that Gillenwater Motorsports did not
compete on track, they have still been familiar faces
around the sport. John Sr. and John Jr. have both been
loyal race fans in the region, supporting the regions
dirt tracks each year. John Jr. has also been a big part
of several tracks, race teams, and racing related
businesses by providing website and graphics work
through his business Pro Star Designs.
As Gillenwater Motorsports makes a run at the 2012 SOS
Sport Mod track championship, they would like to thank
the following sponsors for their support: Counter
Culture Inc., ThinkTees.com, Brokers Unlimited, Remy’s
Auto Group, 222 Signs and Graphics, BC Tool Rental, Kidz
Dudz, Taras Island Rayz, Southern Ohio Sports Photos,
and Pro Star Designs.
For more information on Gillenwater Motorsports please
visit
www.gillenwatermotorsports.com.
Have you ever wanted to sponsor a race car? Here is your
opportunity. Gillenwater Motorsports is announcing the
Fan Zone Sponsor. What is this you say? The Fan Zone
Sponsor is someone who donates a minimum of $10.00 to
Gillenwater Motorsports for the 2012 racing season. You
will get your name listed on the Fan Zone panel of the
race car decking, you will also be listed on the
Gillenwater Motorsports website and you will receive a
signed 8x10 Photo of the car in action. To become a Fan
Zone Sponsor go to www.gillenwatermotorsports.com and
click on the donate button. Thank you and don’t miss
this opportunity to get your name a race car.
$20.00 each.
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Become a Fan Zone Sponsor Click Donate Button and Enter your Amount
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