Speedway action resumes tonight

Published 11:18 pm Thursday, June 14, 2007

North Georgia Speedway returns to dirt-track action tonight with the Lucas Late Model Dirt Series hogging the spotlight and with new promoter Monty Morrow overseeing the racing card.

“You hate to have your first race at a track be a big one, but here we are,” Morrow said in statement sent via e-mail. “They way things are coming together this race will be a dandy. With the quality of cars and drivers that will be here for (tonight’s) race is shaping up to be one of the biggest racing events this area has ever seen.”

Dalton’s Gary McPherson, who leads the NGS Super Late Model points standings, will be among drivers contending for the $7,000 top prize in the Lucas Late Model Harris-Sutton Chevrolet 40 feature.

Also in the field are traveling stars Steve Casebolt, Lucas points leader Don O’Neal, three-time national Late Model champion and World 100 winner Earl Pearson Jr., and Donnie Moran.

In addition to the Super Late Models, the regular racing card includes action in Sportsman, Limited Sportsman and Crate Late Model divisions.

Morrow will pay a $300 bonus to tonight’s winners if they can go to Cleveland (Tenn.) Speedway and win there on Saturday. If there is no double winner, the driver with the highest point total after both nights receives a $100 bonus.

Veteran driver Leon Brindle is looking forward to seeing how Morrow’s first night at NGS turns out.

“I think it will be all right,” said Brindle, who is currently third in the Limited Late Model points race, 16 points behind leader Paul Doss of Cleveland, Tenn.

“I’ve known Monty a long time and he’s a good fellow,” Brindle said. “He’s always treated me right and does a good job running the Cleveland track. Maybe he’ll do a good job promoting our track.”

Chip Brindle, 11th in the Crate Late Model points race, according to the NGS Web site, has two options tonight. If he can get a new engine into his Crate car he’ll race in that division. If that doesn’t work out, Chip might drive Leon’s Super Late Model car if he isn’t prevented from racing in the Crate division for the rest of the season.

“Some people have been moving up and down and nothing much has been said,” Leon Brindle said. “If me and Chip do that it seems like everybody gets a little rattled. His car might be ready, though. We’re putting the engine in it right now.”

Calhoun’s Darel Ownbey leads the Crate points race with 180 points, 34 ahead of Jeff Smith of Villanow.

Dalton’s Spencer Singleton has a 195-186 lead over Chatsworth’s Scott Jackson in the Sportsman division.

Adult tickets for tonight’s races are $20 and pit passes are $32. Children 6-11 get in for $3 and children under 6 are admitted free.