About this event
The 9th Annual Ponies In The Smokies, presented by National Parts Depot, brings you
"The Driving Experience" at Newport Speedway!
BFGoodrich Driving School (Monday AM/PM Sessions)
From beginner to expert, the instructors at Gateway Mustang will provide a mix of classroom and on-course instruction across a 3.5-hour session to help you become a better, more competent driver to maximize the potential of what you and your machine can do. The classroom portion covers terminology, the race line and hitting the apex along with various methods of going fast while maintaining control. The course will be broken down into segments and is a mix of in-car/out-of-car instruction that allows you to eventually put it together for the quickest lap possible. Don’t think these maneuvers only benefit closed course action, because achieving improved car control and understanding limits provide benefits on the street as well. $75 per driver/per session
Autocross (Tuesday)
Autocross at PITS uses the same closed course the BFGoodrich Driving School used the day before where a single lap is timed from a standing start in the beginning to a controlled stop at the end with a slew of rights and lefts between hard accelerating and braking. Open to any year/make/model, the course is lined with marker cones to help safely navigate through; however, the action is fast and drivers can often “loose the course” so don’t think this is a Sunday drive. Unlimited runs are $75.
Gateway Mustang will have a small Army of prepared Mustangs and professional drivers offering complementary ride-a-longs.
Top 3 quickest Autocross times receive trophies at Saturday's award ceremony.
Fun Runs on the Oval (Wednesday)
Newport Speedway provides the opportuity to run the high banks of the speedway in a spirited, yet controlled fashion. Break out your inner Cole Trickle to take that checkered flag!
Unlimited runs are $40
Event requirements
All participants in the vehicles are required to wear at minimum a D.O.T. approved helmet to be able to participate in the event. An appropriate Snell rating would be preferred (Snell helmets certification - Standards (smf.org) *There will be a limited number of D.O.T. loaner helmets available.
Participants must be at least 16 years of age and have a valid drivers license. Participants under the age of 18 must also have a parent/guardian present in order to run.
Upon Speedway entry all are required to sign the release waiver.