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James Essex
CORONA, Calif. (June 10) - The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is preparing for three races in three nights as they kick off their "Southern Swing" on Thursday Night, June 12th at Duck River Speedway in Wheel, TN followed by a Friday Night, June 13th visit to North Georgia Speedway in Chatsworth, GA and a Saturday Night, June 14th event at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL.
It will be the second consecutive year the series has made this swing, with the growing popularity of the LOLMDS, this year is even more appealing as some of the nation's best on dirt will be in town to take on the hometown heroes among the strong home-track competition at each of the venues.
In 2007, the LOLMDS event at Duck River saw Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN win a hard-fought battle with Bloomington, IL driver Billy Drake. Duck River promoters Tim Smith and Jim Hastings welcome the series back, "We feel it will be an even better race than last year," said Smith, who is in his 12th year of promoting the track. Duck River, which first opened in 1973, has seen its share of exciting events already in 2008, and with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series $7,000 to win event in town on Thursday Night look for similar wheel-to-wheel racing action. For more info on Duck River Speedway, log onto www.duckriverspeedway.com.
The LOLMDS will then cross over into the state of Georgia where promoter Monty Morrow welcomes the series to North Georgia Speedway in Chatsworth, GA for a $10,000 to win event on Friday Night. Last year Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN was the man to beat at North Georgia, as the Team Zero driver went back-to-back sweeping both North Georgia and Saturday Night's stop at Talladega. To find out more about the LOLMDS event at North Georgia Speedway, point your browser to www.northgeorgiaspeedway.com.
To conclude the weekend the LOLMDS heads to the "Hornet's Nest" at Talladega Short Track. The cameras of SPEED Channel will be on hand to tape the event at the Lynn Phillips and Alfred Gurley promoted facility which is celebrating its 31st year of racing. The $10,000 to win LOLMDS main event will highlight the evening at the track which sits just three-quarters of a mile east of Talladega Super Speedway. For more information, check out www.talladegashorttrack.com.
Going into the "Southern Swing," Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, FL holds a 55-point margin over Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN. Bart Hartman of Zanesville, OH is currently in third place, followed by Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville, KY with Scott James and Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI tied for fifth place in the championship point's standings.
The rounding out the top ten in LOLMDS Championship Points going into the "Southern Swing" are Billy Drake of Bloomington, IL; Terry Casey of New London, WI; Wayne Chinn of Bradford, OH; and Freddy Smith of Seymour, TN who makes his first appearance in the top ten after the last two LOLMDS events at Hilltop and Florence.
Casey and Chinn are one-two in the LOLMDS Quarter Master "Rookie of the Year" points chase with 145 points the margin of distance between them.
The tire rule will be the same for all three events: Hoosier 1300, 1350, LM20, 1600 and LM 40 along with the American Racer SD44, SD48 and MD56.
For more information on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series you can go to www.lucasdirt.com or call the series office at (951) 532-2503.
Current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Championship Points Standings
1) Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) 2470
2) Steve Casebolt (Richmond, IN) 2415
3) Bart Hartman (Zanesville, OH) 2225
4) Justin Rattliff (Campbellsville, KY) 2215
5) Scott James (Lawrenceburg, IN) 2110
5) Dan Schlieper (Sullivan, WI) 2110
7) Billy Drake (Bloomington, IL) 1950
8) Terry Casey (New London, WI) 1945
9) Wayne Chinn (Bradford, OH) 1800
10) Freddy Smith (Seymour, TN) 1635
Quarter Master Rookie of the Year Points Standings
1) Terry Casey (New London, WI) 1945
2) Wayne Chinn (Bradford, OH) 1800
3) John Blankenship (Williamson, WV) 520
4) Eric Jacobsen (Seacliffe Beach, CA) 75
5) Tony Knowles (Tyrone, GA) 75
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