Aug 21 2006 Author:Kevin Kovac, WoO Late Model P.R. Director
Location:Norman, OK
WoO LMS At A Glance: Columbus Speedway
WHAT:
* The World of Outlaws Late Model Series heads to the deep south this weekend for the critical ‘Battle of the Bullring 50’ at Columbus (Miss.) Speedway. Following the event just four races will remain on the 2006 tour, which is wrapped up in a red-hot battle for the $120,000 prize that goes to the points champion.
WHEN:
* On Sat., Aug., 26, the WoO LMS will make its first-ever stop at the high-banked Columbus Speedway, which is known as the ‘Baddest Bullring in the South.’ One of the Mississippi track’s most highly-anticipated events of the season will include time trials, heat races, B-Mains, a pole dash and a 50-lap feature that pays $10,000 to win from a purse of over $50,000.
Pit gates are scheduled to open at 3 p.m. and the grandstands will be unlocked at 4 p.m. on Saturday. A drivers’ meeting is set for 6:30 p.m., with practice and time trials following and then racing beginning at 8 p.m.
WHERE:
* Columbus Speedway is located in north-central Mississippi, seven miles east of Columbus off U.S. Highway 82. Exit at Stokes Rd., turn left, go 1.5 miles north on Pleasant Hill Rd., then turn right on Lacy Rd. The track will be .75 of a mile on the left.
TICKETS:
* Adult grandstand admission for the event is $25. Active Military and students (ages 11-18) are $15, and children 10 and under will be admitted free of charge. Pit passes cost $35, with children ages 6-10 $15 and kids under 5 admitted free.
Lawn chairs and coolers (no glass containers allowed) are allowed at Columbus Speedway. Fans should also note there is an FM broadcast of the announcer’s call over the p.a. system on FM 88.5 for their listening pleasure.
Local Divisions will also be in action competing in “Battle at the Bullring” Championships. The open-wheel Modifieds and Late Model Stocks/Stormpay Late Models will race for $700 to win, and the Street Stocks will chase a $350 top prize.
PREVIOUS WINNERS:
* This is the first WoO LMS event at Columbus Speedway since the tour was launched by DIRT MotorSports in 2004.
INFORMATION:
* To find out more about the ‘Battle of the Bullring 50,’ visit www.columbusspeedway.net and click on the event flyer or call the speedway’s Johnny Stokes at 662-572-2572.
WHO’S COMING:
* The WoO LMS will bring 14 touring drivers to Columbus Speedway, representing a mix of dirt Late Model superstars and budding talents.
Leading the WoO LMS charge to Columbus will be Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who leads the tour points standings by a mere 16 markers over defending champion Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark. McCreadie, 32, will be making his first-ever appearance at Columbus, while the 48-year-old Moyer has visited the track several times during his spectacular career and won multiple features.
Other WoO LMS drivers who will be competing at Columbus for the first time include Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who leads the tour with eight victories in 2006 but has slipped to seventh in the points standings thanks to a recent slump he’ll be trying to shake out of on Saturday night; Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., a two-time WoO LMS winner this season and one of the most hard-nosed dirt Late Model racers in the country; and Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., a teenage sensation who joined Frank as a featured driver in last month’s ‘Dirt Track Warriors’ Late Model racing documentary broadcast nationally on CNN.
WoO LMS regulars hoping to draw on past success at Columbus include Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., a former winner of the track’s Winter Classic and James King Memorial events; 2005 Rebel Challenge and Possum Town Grand Prix winner Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga.; and former James King Memorial winner Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga.
READY FOR BATTLE:
* The WoO LMS standouts will face some stiff competition from Columbus Speedway’s locals, including current track points leader Shawn Edwards, Mike Boland (who recently won a $10,000 event), Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, Mark Stokes, Anthony Rushing, the racing Rickmans, Jim McDuffie, John L. Cliett Tribute winner David Breazeale, 2005 track champion Tombo Callahan, Scott Dedwylder, Roger Shirley, Clint Logan and Jerry Inmon.
And there’s several other top-notch drivers from the region who are expected to tow in for the show, led by Chris Wall of Holden, La. Wall, who makes his living operating an alligator farm and is known in racing circles as the ‘Intimigator,’ is one of the area’s hottest racers in 2006. He has 15 victories, four of which have come at Columbus – including a huge triumph in the last national touring series event held at Columbus Speedway, on July 15.
EXTRA CASH:
* The Bullring locals and other racers will have some extra incentive in the event. DIRT MotorSports has posted a $1,000 non-touring/local driver bonus, with the money divided up by three competitors who are not currently ranked in the top 20 of a national touring series and have never won a WoO LMS event in the past. The first driver across the finish line who fits the criteria will receive a $500 bonus, the second $300 and the third $200.
SUPER LATE MODEL RULES:
* The weight rule for this event will be 2,300 pounds with 1-pound per lap burn off for all cars (regardless of motor combination). In addition, the 12” SUPR or MSCCS Spec Spoiler will be permitted for cars using spec engines only; gas or alcohol will be allowed; and there will be an open tire rule.
WHAT THE WoO DRIVERS THINK:
* Billy Moyer on beginning the stretch run to the WoO LMS championship at a track which he’s more familiar with than some of his rivals in the points race: “We’re running on some tracks where those guys are gonna be strong at, so it will be nice to get to Columbus first. We’ve been there several times over the years and had some success. I know Columbus is a racy place, but I don’t know what chassis combination I’m gonna run there yet.”
* Garrett Durrett of Simsboro, La., a WoO LMS Rookie of the Year contender who is looking forward to the Columbus event because of its proximity to his home and prior experience there: “Columbus should be a good track for us. Most of the tracks we’ve gone to this year (on the WoO LMS) we’ve never seen before, but Columbus is about five hours away from our shop so I’ve run there about 12, maybe 15 times. That doesn’t mean we’ll have an advantage, because the guys we race with are good enough and it won’t take them long to figure the track out, but it should help us.”
* Clint Smith on what fans can expect from a race at Columbus: “They work on the racetrack down there. That’s one of the better racetracks we’ll go to. It’ll be a gas-on, two- and three-wide racing, come-from-the-rear-and-win type track. It won’t be settled when qualifying is over. It’s the kind of place we all like going to because you can race on it.”
STORYLINES:
* The WoO LMS points battle. With a prize of $120,000 going to the champion – the largest single check any dirt Late Model driver in the country will collect this year – the standings are razor-close. The top-five drivers are separated by just 42 points, and seventh-place Rick Eckert is 88 points behind.
* Will the WoO LMS drivers who have raced at Columbus Speedway in the past have an advantage on those who will compete their for the first time on Saturday?
* Can Eckert end his eight-race losing streak on the WoO LMS and challenge Scott Bloomquist’s DIRT MotorSports-era single-season win record of 10?
* Can Louisiana’s Chris Wall beat the WoO LMS invaders, repeating his victory in the last national touring series event held at Columbus Speedway one month ago? In 25 events this season, only three non-series regulars have won races – Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., I Need to Learn How To Use Big Boy Words Barton of Ashville, N.Y., and Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa.
ON THE INTERNET:
If fans can’t get to a track to see the tour, they can experience the excitement of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series live on Dirtvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.
To listen to the audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.
Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail webmaster@dirtvision.com.
2006 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Points Standings & Statistics - after Aug. 15 (Pos.—Driver-Residence-Races Entered-Starts-Wins-Top 5’s-Top 10’s-Fast Times-Heat Wins-Dash Wins-B-Main Wins-Earnings-Points-Trail By):
1. Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY 25-25-2-11-19-4-7-0-1-$82,600-3,430-0
2. Billy Moyer/Batesville,AR 25-25-2-12-21-2-9-2-2-$70,200-3,414-16
3. Darrell Lanigan/Union,KY 25-25-2-14-20-0-11-5-1-$71,900-3,410-20
4. Steve Francis/Ashland,KY 25-25-2-12-20-1-12-1-1-$85,600 -3,404-26
5. Shane Clanton/Locust Grove,GA 25-25-0-10-20-2-8-2-1-$53,800-3,388-42
6. Chub Frank/Bear Lake,PA 25-25-2-7-18-2-4-1-1-$65,700-3,358-72
7. Rick Eckert/York,PA 25-25-8-11-15-1-7-2-1-$103,800-3,342-88
8. Dale McDowell/Chickamauga,GA 25-25-0-7-16-1-4-1-0-$45,000-3,260-170
9. Clint Smith/Senoia,GA 25-24-4-8-15-0-4-4-3-$69,610-3,253-177
10. Josh Richards/Shinnston,WV 25-25-0-4-15-2-3-1-2-$38,600-3,196-234
11. Eddie Carrier Jr.®/Salt Rock,WV 24-23-0-1-2-0-1-0-2-$19,610-2,833-597
12. John Blankenship/Williamson,WV 25-21-0-1-6-0-1-0-3-$24,440-2,808-622
13. Eric Jacobsen®/Santa Cruz,CA 25-21-0-0-2-0-0-0-1-$17,640-2,736-694
14. Garrett Durrett®/Simsboro,LA 25-21-0-0-1-0-0-0-4-$16,310-2,704-72
15. Mike Balzano/Parkersburg,WV 9-7-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-$6,220-998-2,43
Location:Norman, OK
WoO LMS At A Glance: Columbus Speedway
WHAT:
* The World of Outlaws Late Model Series heads to the deep south this weekend for the critical ‘Battle of the Bullring 50’ at Columbus (Miss.) Speedway. Following the event just four races will remain on the 2006 tour, which is wrapped up in a red-hot battle for the $120,000 prize that goes to the points champion.
WHEN:
* On Sat., Aug., 26, the WoO LMS will make its first-ever stop at the high-banked Columbus Speedway, which is known as the ‘Baddest Bullring in the South.’ One of the Mississippi track’s most highly-anticipated events of the season will include time trials, heat races, B-Mains, a pole dash and a 50-lap feature that pays $10,000 to win from a purse of over $50,000.
Pit gates are scheduled to open at 3 p.m. and the grandstands will be unlocked at 4 p.m. on Saturday. A drivers’ meeting is set for 6:30 p.m., with practice and time trials following and then racing beginning at 8 p.m.
WHERE:
* Columbus Speedway is located in north-central Mississippi, seven miles east of Columbus off U.S. Highway 82. Exit at Stokes Rd., turn left, go 1.5 miles north on Pleasant Hill Rd., then turn right on Lacy Rd. The track will be .75 of a mile on the left.
TICKETS:
* Adult grandstand admission for the event is $25. Active Military and students (ages 11-18) are $15, and children 10 and under will be admitted free of charge. Pit passes cost $35, with children ages 6-10 $15 and kids under 5 admitted free.
Lawn chairs and coolers (no glass containers allowed) are allowed at Columbus Speedway. Fans should also note there is an FM broadcast of the announcer’s call over the p.a. system on FM 88.5 for their listening pleasure.
Local Divisions will also be in action competing in “Battle at the Bullring” Championships. The open-wheel Modifieds and Late Model Stocks/Stormpay Late Models will race for $700 to win, and the Street Stocks will chase a $350 top prize.
PREVIOUS WINNERS:
* This is the first WoO LMS event at Columbus Speedway since the tour was launched by DIRT MotorSports in 2004.
INFORMATION:
* To find out more about the ‘Battle of the Bullring 50,’ visit www.columbusspeedway.net and click on the event flyer or call the speedway’s Johnny Stokes at 662-572-2572.
WHO’S COMING:
* The WoO LMS will bring 14 touring drivers to Columbus Speedway, representing a mix of dirt Late Model superstars and budding talents.
Leading the WoO LMS charge to Columbus will be Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., who leads the tour points standings by a mere 16 markers over defending champion Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark. McCreadie, 32, will be making his first-ever appearance at Columbus, while the 48-year-old Moyer has visited the track several times during his spectacular career and won multiple features.
Other WoO LMS drivers who will be competing at Columbus for the first time include Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who leads the tour with eight victories in 2006 but has slipped to seventh in the points standings thanks to a recent slump he’ll be trying to shake out of on Saturday night; Chub Frank of Bear Lake, Pa., a two-time WoO LMS winner this season and one of the most hard-nosed dirt Late Model racers in the country; and Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., a teenage sensation who joined Frank as a featured driver in last month’s ‘Dirt Track Warriors’ Late Model racing documentary broadcast nationally on CNN.
WoO LMS regulars hoping to draw on past success at Columbus include Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., a former winner of the track’s Winter Classic and James King Memorial events; 2005 Rebel Challenge and Possum Town Grand Prix winner Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga.; and former James King Memorial winner Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga.
READY FOR BATTLE:
* The WoO LMS standouts will face some stiff competition from Columbus Speedway’s locals, including current track points leader Shawn Edwards, Mike Boland (who recently won a $10,000 event), Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, Mark Stokes, Anthony Rushing, the racing Rickmans, Jim McDuffie, John L. Cliett Tribute winner David Breazeale, 2005 track champion Tombo Callahan, Scott Dedwylder, Roger Shirley, Clint Logan and Jerry Inmon.
And there’s several other top-notch drivers from the region who are expected to tow in for the show, led by Chris Wall of Holden, La. Wall, who makes his living operating an alligator farm and is known in racing circles as the ‘Intimigator,’ is one of the area’s hottest racers in 2006. He has 15 victories, four of which have come at Columbus – including a huge triumph in the last national touring series event held at Columbus Speedway, on July 15.
EXTRA CASH:
* The Bullring locals and other racers will have some extra incentive in the event. DIRT MotorSports has posted a $1,000 non-touring/local driver bonus, with the money divided up by three competitors who are not currently ranked in the top 20 of a national touring series and have never won a WoO LMS event in the past. The first driver across the finish line who fits the criteria will receive a $500 bonus, the second $300 and the third $200.
SUPER LATE MODEL RULES:
* The weight rule for this event will be 2,300 pounds with 1-pound per lap burn off for all cars (regardless of motor combination). In addition, the 12” SUPR or MSCCS Spec Spoiler will be permitted for cars using spec engines only; gas or alcohol will be allowed; and there will be an open tire rule.
WHAT THE WoO DRIVERS THINK:
* Billy Moyer on beginning the stretch run to the WoO LMS championship at a track which he’s more familiar with than some of his rivals in the points race: “We’re running on some tracks where those guys are gonna be strong at, so it will be nice to get to Columbus first. We’ve been there several times over the years and had some success. I know Columbus is a racy place, but I don’t know what chassis combination I’m gonna run there yet.”
* Garrett Durrett of Simsboro, La., a WoO LMS Rookie of the Year contender who is looking forward to the Columbus event because of its proximity to his home and prior experience there: “Columbus should be a good track for us. Most of the tracks we’ve gone to this year (on the WoO LMS) we’ve never seen before, but Columbus is about five hours away from our shop so I’ve run there about 12, maybe 15 times. That doesn’t mean we’ll have an advantage, because the guys we race with are good enough and it won’t take them long to figure the track out, but it should help us.”
* Clint Smith on what fans can expect from a race at Columbus: “They work on the racetrack down there. That’s one of the better racetracks we’ll go to. It’ll be a gas-on, two- and three-wide racing, come-from-the-rear-and-win type track. It won’t be settled when qualifying is over. It’s the kind of place we all like going to because you can race on it.”
STORYLINES:
* The WoO LMS points battle. With a prize of $120,000 going to the champion – the largest single check any dirt Late Model driver in the country will collect this year – the standings are razor-close. The top-five drivers are separated by just 42 points, and seventh-place Rick Eckert is 88 points behind.
* Will the WoO LMS drivers who have raced at Columbus Speedway in the past have an advantage on those who will compete their for the first time on Saturday?
* Can Eckert end his eight-race losing streak on the WoO LMS and challenge Scott Bloomquist’s DIRT MotorSports-era single-season win record of 10?
* Can Louisiana’s Chris Wall beat the WoO LMS invaders, repeating his victory in the last national touring series event held at Columbus Speedway one month ago? In 25 events this season, only three non-series regulars have won races – Earl Pearson Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., I Need to Learn How To Use Big Boy Words Barton of Ashville, N.Y., and Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa.
ON THE INTERNET:
If fans can’t get to a track to see the tour, they can experience the excitement of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series live on Dirtvision.com through the DIRT Radio Network.
To listen to the audio broadcasts, log on to www.dirtvision.com and click on the DIRT Radio Network logo.
Listeners will need Windows Media Player 9 or higher to listen to the DIRT Radio Network. For technical support or questions, e-mail webmaster@dirtvision.com.
2006 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Points Standings & Statistics - after Aug. 15 (Pos.—Driver-Residence-Races Entered-Starts-Wins-Top 5’s-Top 10’s-Fast Times-Heat Wins-Dash Wins-B-Main Wins-Earnings-Points-Trail By):
1. Tim McCreadie/Watertown,NY 25-25-2-11-19-4-7-0-1-$82,600-3,430-0
2. Billy Moyer/Batesville,AR 25-25-2-12-21-2-9-2-2-$70,200-3,414-16
3. Darrell Lanigan/Union,KY 25-25-2-14-20-0-11-5-1-$71,900-3,410-20
4. Steve Francis/Ashland,KY 25-25-2-12-20-1-12-1-1-$85,600 -3,404-26
5. Shane Clanton/Locust Grove,GA 25-25-0-10-20-2-8-2-1-$53,800-3,388-42
6. Chub Frank/Bear Lake,PA 25-25-2-7-18-2-4-1-1-$65,700-3,358-72
7. Rick Eckert/York,PA 25-25-8-11-15-1-7-2-1-$103,800-3,342-88
8. Dale McDowell/Chickamauga,GA 25-25-0-7-16-1-4-1-0-$45,000-3,260-170
9. Clint Smith/Senoia,GA 25-24-4-8-15-0-4-4-3-$69,610-3,253-177
10. Josh Richards/Shinnston,WV 25-25-0-4-15-2-3-1-2-$38,600-3,196-234
11. Eddie Carrier Jr.®/Salt Rock,WV 24-23-0-1-2-0-1-0-2-$19,610-2,833-597
12. John Blankenship/Williamson,WV 25-21-0-1-6-0-1-0-3-$24,440-2,808-622
13. Eric Jacobsen®/Santa Cruz,CA 25-21-0-0-2-0-0-0-1-$17,640-2,736-694
14. Garrett Durrett®/Simsboro,LA 25-21-0-0-1-0-0-0-4-$16,310-2,704-72
15. Mike Balzano/Parkersburg,WV 9-7-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-$6,220-998-2,43
