CARTERSVILLE, GA – The 2007 StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series National Championship, and the $20,000 that goes to the top driver out of the point fund, will be decided between two drivers on Saturday night, November 24 at Columbus Speedway in Columbus, MS as a part of the 7th Annual Possum Town Grand Prix.
The Defending StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series National Champion David Gentry of Lewisburg, TN has a 34-point lead over Jay Blair of Angie, LA, but if history has a role in deciding the outcome at “The Baddest Bullring In The South,” Blair would stand a good chance of making it tough for Gentry to repeat as Champion.
On paper, Gentry has to finish 16th or better to claim his second straight championship, no matter what Blair does in the race. But if one looks back in record books, Blair could have a strong claim for the 2007 StormPay.com DLMS title.
Over the past two seasons, there have been five StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series events contested at Columbus Speedway. Gentry’s best finish was a second-place effort on January 21, 2006. In last year’s Possum Town Grand Prix, it was good thing that Gentry had already clinched the championship, as he finished 20th.
This season, Gentry’s best finish at Columbus Speedway was a seventh-place showing on September 14. Gentry finished ninth on January 28, and 19th on September 15. Out of five races, Gentry finished outside of where he needs to be on November 24 in two of those events.
Blair, on the other hand, can’t wait to get to Columbus Speedway for the 40-lap $3,000-to-win event because that has been his best track performance-wise during the 2007 season.
“If I had to pick a track to try and win the championship from David under these circumstances, it would be Columbus Speedway,” Blair said. “I messed up in the last race at Talladega Short Track, and let David get a big advantage. Now I’ve got to go to Columbus, do what we’ve done twice this year, win the race, and then look behind and see what David has done.”
Blair has run three races this year at Columbus Speedway. The “Angie Assassin” has won twice, on January 28, and September 14, and finished third on September 15. Just to be in the hunt for the StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series 2007 title is quite an accomplishment for Blair, as he did not compete in the first race of the season at Talladega Short Track.
Gentry has 1,732 points with one win, 11 top five finishes, 16 top ten finishes, and two pole awards in 20 starts. In just 19 starts, Blair has 1,698 points with three wins, 12 top five finishes, 16 top ten finishes, and two pole awards. If Blair had just started the season opener at Talladega Short Track on January 8, he would have a 28-point lead over Gentry.
In addition to the $20,000 cash award, the 2007 StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series National Champion will receive a GM Performance 604 Crate Engine, and a Mastersbilt Chassis.
A slip by Blair at the Possum Town Grand Prix could be costly to Blair, as not only would he lose a chance at winning the championship, but he could also lose the second spot in the point standings to Derrick Rainey of Powder Springs, GA.
Rainey is in the third spot of the StormPay.com DLMS points chase with 1,672 points. While Rainey does not have a mathematical chance at the championship, he is still within striking distance of Blair for the second spot, 26 points behind. In 2007, Rainey has one win, 12 top five finishes, 15 top ten finishes, and one pole award in 20 events.
Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, GA has sewed up the fourth spot in the point standings and the 2007 GRT Race Cars Rookie of the Year title. Brindle will receive a new GRT Chassis at the StormPay.com Annual Awards Banquet in Tampa, FL on December 5. Brindle has 1,596 points with three wins, six top five finishes, 13 top ten finishes, and three pole awards.
The Possum Town Grand Prix will also decide the fifth spot in the StormPay.com DLMS point standings, with three drivers 16 points apart contesting the position. Jeff Fields of Aragon, GA is fifth with 1,506 points, followed by Frank Ingram of Woodstock, GA with 1,496 points, and Chris Tays of Corinth, MS with 1,490 points.
Fields will be looking for his third straight appearance in the top five of the StormPay.com DLMS National point standings. Fields was the National Championship Runner-Up in 2005 and finished third in the National points chase last season.
Robert Stutts of Murfreesboro, TN has locked up the eighth spot in the National points for 2007, and will finish second in the Rookie of the Year point standings. Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA will finish ninth, his third straight top ten appearance to go with a third in 2005, and a seventh last season. Jim Till of Greenville, AL will round out the top ten in the 2007 StormPay.com DLMS National point standings, and finish third in the Rookie of the Year point standings.
The final National Touring points race of the 2007 StormPay.com DLMS season will be run in conjunction with the 2nd Annual Crate Racin’ USA Fall Nationals Invitational Race for 120 StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series competitors that received invitations to compete in a 40-lap $2,000-to-win event on Friday night, November 23 at Columbus Speedway.
Many of those drivers will also enter the Saturday night StormPay.com DLMS National Touring event, led by the three StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series Regional Champions.
Lucky Keeton of Toomsuba, MS won his second straight StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series West Region title this season, and he will receive a cash prize, a GM Performance 604 Crate Engine, and a new Trak Star Chassis from Boland Performance at the Awards Banquet. Keeton was also the 2007 StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series Track Champion at Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, MS.
Logan Yates of Delta, AL won the 2007 StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series East Region title and the 2007 StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series Track Championship at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL. Yates will travel to the Awards Banquet to pick up his cash prize, a GM Performance 604 Crate Engine, and a new Rayburn Chassis.
Frank Wilson of Milton, FL took the 2007 StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series South Region title and 2007 StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series Track Championships at Blackman Motor Speedway in Blackman, FL and Southern Raceway in Milton, FL. Wilson will receive a cash prize, a new GM Performance 604 Crate Engine, and a new TNT Chassis at the Awards Banquet.
Keeton, Wilson, and Yates will also compete in two special events on Saturday afternoon prior to the StormPay.com DLMS National Touring Event at Columbus Speedway. The StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series Race of Region will put the top six drivers from each region against each other, and the StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series Race of Champions will see the track champions taking on each other.
The StormPay.com DLMS National Touring event on Saturday night, November 24 will be open to all drivers, and consist of qualifying, heat races, and a $3,000-to-win 40-lap main event.
The 2nd Annual Crate Racin’ USA Fall Nationals Invitational Race will take place at Columbus Speedway on Friday night, November 23 with time trials, heat races, and a 40-lap main event. The Race of Regions and Race of Champions heat races will be contested on Friday afternoon, November 23.
Columbus Speedway will host an open practice session on Thursday night, November 22, and there will be also be a practice session for drivers not invited to the Weekly Racing Series Fall Nationals Invitational Race on Friday, November 23 in preparation for the 40-lap $3,000-to-win StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series National Touring event on Saturday night, November 24.
Columbus Speedway is located seven miles east of Columbus, MS on U.S. Highway 82. Exit at Stokes Rd exit, then go left 1.5 miles north on Pleasant Hill Road, and then right on Lacy Road. Columbus Speedway will be 3/4's of a mile on the left. For more information visit the Columbus Speedway web site at www.columbusspeedway.net, or call Columbus Speedway at 662-241-5004.
For a complete list of the 120 Invitees to the 2nd Annual Crate Racin’ USA Fall Nationals and a compete schedule of the weekend’s events at Columbus Speedway, visit the StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series web site at www.stormpayracing.com.
The Defending StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series National Champion David Gentry of Lewisburg, TN has a 34-point lead over Jay Blair of Angie, LA, but if history has a role in deciding the outcome at “The Baddest Bullring In The South,” Blair would stand a good chance of making it tough for Gentry to repeat as Champion.
On paper, Gentry has to finish 16th or better to claim his second straight championship, no matter what Blair does in the race. But if one looks back in record books, Blair could have a strong claim for the 2007 StormPay.com DLMS title.
Over the past two seasons, there have been five StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series events contested at Columbus Speedway. Gentry’s best finish was a second-place effort on January 21, 2006. In last year’s Possum Town Grand Prix, it was good thing that Gentry had already clinched the championship, as he finished 20th.
This season, Gentry’s best finish at Columbus Speedway was a seventh-place showing on September 14. Gentry finished ninth on January 28, and 19th on September 15. Out of five races, Gentry finished outside of where he needs to be on November 24 in two of those events.
Blair, on the other hand, can’t wait to get to Columbus Speedway for the 40-lap $3,000-to-win event because that has been his best track performance-wise during the 2007 season.
“If I had to pick a track to try and win the championship from David under these circumstances, it would be Columbus Speedway,” Blair said. “I messed up in the last race at Talladega Short Track, and let David get a big advantage. Now I’ve got to go to Columbus, do what we’ve done twice this year, win the race, and then look behind and see what David has done.”
Blair has run three races this year at Columbus Speedway. The “Angie Assassin” has won twice, on January 28, and September 14, and finished third on September 15. Just to be in the hunt for the StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series 2007 title is quite an accomplishment for Blair, as he did not compete in the first race of the season at Talladega Short Track.
Gentry has 1,732 points with one win, 11 top five finishes, 16 top ten finishes, and two pole awards in 20 starts. In just 19 starts, Blair has 1,698 points with three wins, 12 top five finishes, 16 top ten finishes, and two pole awards. If Blair had just started the season opener at Talladega Short Track on January 8, he would have a 28-point lead over Gentry.
In addition to the $20,000 cash award, the 2007 StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series National Champion will receive a GM Performance 604 Crate Engine, and a Mastersbilt Chassis.
A slip by Blair at the Possum Town Grand Prix could be costly to Blair, as not only would he lose a chance at winning the championship, but he could also lose the second spot in the point standings to Derrick Rainey of Powder Springs, GA.
Rainey is in the third spot of the StormPay.com DLMS points chase with 1,672 points. While Rainey does not have a mathematical chance at the championship, he is still within striking distance of Blair for the second spot, 26 points behind. In 2007, Rainey has one win, 12 top five finishes, 15 top ten finishes, and one pole award in 20 events.
Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, GA has sewed up the fourth spot in the point standings and the 2007 GRT Race Cars Rookie of the Year title. Brindle will receive a new GRT Chassis at the StormPay.com Annual Awards Banquet in Tampa, FL on December 5. Brindle has 1,596 points with three wins, six top five finishes, 13 top ten finishes, and three pole awards.
The Possum Town Grand Prix will also decide the fifth spot in the StormPay.com DLMS point standings, with three drivers 16 points apart contesting the position. Jeff Fields of Aragon, GA is fifth with 1,506 points, followed by Frank Ingram of Woodstock, GA with 1,496 points, and Chris Tays of Corinth, MS with 1,490 points.
Fields will be looking for his third straight appearance in the top five of the StormPay.com DLMS National point standings. Fields was the National Championship Runner-Up in 2005 and finished third in the National points chase last season.
Robert Stutts of Murfreesboro, TN has locked up the eighth spot in the National points for 2007, and will finish second in the Rookie of the Year point standings. Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA will finish ninth, his third straight top ten appearance to go with a third in 2005, and a seventh last season. Jim Till of Greenville, AL will round out the top ten in the 2007 StormPay.com DLMS National point standings, and finish third in the Rookie of the Year point standings.
The final National Touring points race of the 2007 StormPay.com DLMS season will be run in conjunction with the 2nd Annual Crate Racin’ USA Fall Nationals Invitational Race for 120 StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series competitors that received invitations to compete in a 40-lap $2,000-to-win event on Friday night, November 23 at Columbus Speedway.
Many of those drivers will also enter the Saturday night StormPay.com DLMS National Touring event, led by the three StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series Regional Champions.
Lucky Keeton of Toomsuba, MS won his second straight StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series West Region title this season, and he will receive a cash prize, a GM Performance 604 Crate Engine, and a new Trak Star Chassis from Boland Performance at the Awards Banquet. Keeton was also the 2007 StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series Track Champion at Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, MS.
Logan Yates of Delta, AL won the 2007 StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series East Region title and the 2007 StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series Track Championship at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL. Yates will travel to the Awards Banquet to pick up his cash prize, a GM Performance 604 Crate Engine, and a new Rayburn Chassis.
Frank Wilson of Milton, FL took the 2007 StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series South Region title and 2007 StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series Track Championships at Blackman Motor Speedway in Blackman, FL and Southern Raceway in Milton, FL. Wilson will receive a cash prize, a new GM Performance 604 Crate Engine, and a new TNT Chassis at the Awards Banquet.
Keeton, Wilson, and Yates will also compete in two special events on Saturday afternoon prior to the StormPay.com DLMS National Touring Event at Columbus Speedway. The StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series Race of Region will put the top six drivers from each region against each other, and the StormPay.com Weekly Racing Series Race of Champions will see the track champions taking on each other.
The StormPay.com DLMS National Touring event on Saturday night, November 24 will be open to all drivers, and consist of qualifying, heat races, and a $3,000-to-win 40-lap main event.
The 2nd Annual Crate Racin’ USA Fall Nationals Invitational Race will take place at Columbus Speedway on Friday night, November 23 with time trials, heat races, and a 40-lap main event. The Race of Regions and Race of Champions heat races will be contested on Friday afternoon, November 23.
Columbus Speedway will host an open practice session on Thursday night, November 22, and there will be also be a practice session for drivers not invited to the Weekly Racing Series Fall Nationals Invitational Race on Friday, November 23 in preparation for the 40-lap $3,000-to-win StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series National Touring event on Saturday night, November 24.
Columbus Speedway is located seven miles east of Columbus, MS on U.S. Highway 82. Exit at Stokes Rd exit, then go left 1.5 miles north on Pleasant Hill Road, and then right on Lacy Road. Columbus Speedway will be 3/4's of a mile on the left. For more information visit the Columbus Speedway web site at www.columbusspeedway.net, or call Columbus Speedway at 662-241-5004.
For a complete list of the 120 Invitees to the 2nd Annual Crate Racin’ USA Fall Nationals and a compete schedule of the weekend’s events at Columbus Speedway, visit the StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series web site at www.stormpayracing.com.
