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Kevin Kovac
MAGNOLIA, Miss. (March 20) - The World of Outlaws Late Model Series will be in the 'Gator Zone' on March 28-29 at Pike County Speedway.
And if Chris Wall - the Gulf Coast star known as the 'Intimagator' - puts on a show in the 'March Through Dixie 100,' you can take it to the bank that the grandstand section occupied by his rabid supporters will be chomp-chomp-chomping it up in glee.
With Wall expecting perhaps three-dozen family members and hundreds of his local fans to be looking on, he's laser-focused on giving them something to cheer about in a $20,000-to-win spectacular that will boast the most talented field ever to assemble at the three-eighths-mile oval.
"I'm real excited," said the 39-year-old Wall, whose home in Holden, La., is about an hour's drive from Pike County Speedway. "If I could win a World of Outlaws race in front of my hometown crowd, with all my family, friends and fans watching, it would definitely be the biggest highlight of my career."
An approachable fan-favorite whose 'Intimagator' nickname derives from his ownership of the C&M Gator Farm in Springfield, La. (he harvests and raises alligators for such customers as meat markets and high-end leather manufacturers), Wall has steadily risen in recent years to his current status as the Gulf Coast Region driver with the best chance of defeating the national stars of the WoO LMS. He's finished as high as second in a WoO LMS event (on March 17, 2006, at Baton Rouge Raceway in Baker, La.), and last year he scored seventh-place finishes in tour shows at Baton Rouge and Columbus (Miss.) Speedway (where he ran in the top five until the race's final laps).
Wall brings his Intimagator Racing team, which he fields with his wife Missy, to Pike County riding a wave of early-season momentum. He's already won two features in 2008, including a Mississippi State Challenge Series event on March 15 at Pike County that he earned using the same combination (MastersBilt by Stuckey car, Wall2Wall Performance open-rules engine) he'll drive in the 'March Through Dixie 100.'
"It's not like winning against the Outlaws, but having two wins under your belt already does boost your confidence," said Wall, who won a career-high 23 features in 2006 but fell to seven victories in '07 while plagued with bad luck. "Running a race at Pike County also helps a lot. We went there to try and get dialed in a little for the Outlaw show because that's some pretty big money on the line in our backyard, and I think we learned some things."
Wall said Pike County's clay surface on March 15 was a "good, all-around racetrack," the kind of surface that could produce exciting, competitive action during the 'March Through Dixie 100.'
"You never know what a dirt track will do - that's the challenge of the sport," said Wall. "But I think if the track is like it was for the (Mississippi) State race, the Outlaw show could be a real good race.
"And if we run like we did (on March 15), I think we can do real well (against the Outlaws). I think we can at least pull off a top-five (finish)."
Of course, Wall's goal - as it is every time he drives onto a racetrack - is to win the race, but he understands how tough conquering the 'March Through Dixie 100' will be.
"I'm definitely confident that we can win, but it almost seems unrealistic that we can do it," said Wall, hailing the talented drivers he'll be facing. "We're optimistic, and we're showing up to win. But if we finish in the top 10, or top five, against that caliber of competition, that's O.K. We won't hang our heads."
Wall is certainly mentally prepared for the challenge ahead.
"Before a big race like this you have to make sure you do your homework and are prepared 110 percent," said Wall. "And you gotta be careful not to out-think yourself when you're at the track running against the best guys. You have to realize that these guys put on their pants one leg at a time just like you do."
The all-star roster of WoO LMS regulars that Wall will battle features defending champion Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky.; Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa.; Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga.; Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga.; Rick Eckert of York, Pa.; 20-year-old Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va.; Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky.; '07 Rookie of the Year Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y.; Brian Shirley of Chatham, Ill.; Shannon Babb of Moweaqua, Ill.; and 2008 Rookie of the Year contender Al Purkey of Coffeyville, Kan.
Other well-known national names planning to enter the event include Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who won the 2006 WoO LMS title and is currently a Richard Childress Racing Development Driver; three-time WoO LMS champ Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark.; Pike County's 2007 Jambalaya 100 winner Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis.; Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa; John Blankenship of Williamson, W.Va.; and 2006 WoO LMS Rookie of the Year Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va.
Wall also expects to joined by a host of his fellow Gulf Coast standouts, including former Jambalaya 100 winner David Ashley of Zachary, La. ("He will be a contender," asserted Wall); David Breazeale of Four Corners, Miss. ("He's changed chassis manufacturers this year and is still getting on track, but he'll get it together," said Wall); and James Ward of Lettsworth, La., who finished second in the 2007 Jambalaya 100.
The 'March Through Dixie 100' kicks off on Fri., March 28. Pit gates are scheduled to open at 3 p.m. and spectator gates will be unlocked at 5 p.m. Cars will begin hitting the track at 6 p.m.
The Friday program will also include qualifying heats for the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, NeSmith Crate Late Models and Street Stocks and heats and features for the Limited Modifieds and Pure Stocks.
On Sat., March 29, pit gates will open at 2 p.m. and spectator gates at 4 p.m. A driver autograph session will run from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the grandstand area, and cars will begin packing the track at 6 p.m.
Saturday night's card will include B-Mains and the 'March Through Dixie 100' A-Main, plus last-chance races and features for the UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, NeSmith Crate Late Models and Street Stocks.
A raindate of Sun., March 30, has been reserved for the 'March Through Dixie 100.'
General admission will be $20 on Friday and $25 on Saturday, with kids ages 6-12 admitted for $10 on Friday and $15 on Saturday. Pit passes will cost $35 on Friday and $40 on Saturday.
For more information, visit www.pikecountyspeedway.com.
Additional info about the WoO LMS is available by logging on to www.worldofoutlaws.com.
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