‘Z-Man’ returns to defend Young Guns title

  • November 18, 2005
  • by Katherine Adams

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- The defending Coca-Cola Young Guns Shoot-Out modified champion, Zack VanderBeek of New Sharon, Iowa, has announced his plans to return to the historic NASCAR-sanctioned half-mile Oglethorpe Speedway Park. The 21-year-old race car mechanic will return to defend his title from this past February when he bested a strong field of drivers competing for the first ever title. The race introduces the young dirt racing talent to professional teams attending what has grown to be a “motorsports combine.”

“We enjoyed the event last year immensely,” said Zack’s father Jim VanderBeek. “It helped us move into the United States Modified Touring Series this past season with some recognition. We would like to see if we could win it again and start the 2006 season with a big boost.”

VanderBeek enters his third season behind the wheel of an open wheel modified. After winning the inaugural Coca-Cola Young Guns Shoot-Out in February 2005, the ‘Z-Man’ won his first O'REilly USMTS feature this past summer, along with over a dozen heat race wins and ten B-main wins on the traveling Midwest circuit. He finished sixth in the O'Reilly USMTS points this past season.

“Zack and his father have been very good representatives of the event for the past season,” said Oglethorpe Speedway Park promoter Ted Austad. “They used the experience gained at the race last year to move up to the USMTS this season. If they could repeat this year, it could really raise some eyebrows for Zack with the professional teams.”

The 2nd Annual Coca-Cola Young Guns Shoot-Out presented by Stock Car Racing and Circle Track Magazines is scheduled for February 2-4, 2006, at the Oglethorpe Speedway Park in Savannah, Ga. The event will include Young Guns racing action in the open wheel modified and late model divisions. Drivers ages 23 and younger are eligible to compete in the event that attracts professional teams scouting new talent. The event also offers seminars on media relations, public relations, sponsor communication, portfolio creation and professionalism at the track.

For more information on the 2006 Coca-Cola Young Guns Shoot-Out presented by Stock Car Racing and Circle Track Magazines, contact Oglethorpe Speedway Park at 912-964-8200 or visit their website at www.ospracing.net.