CLARKSVILLE, TN – Round two of the 2006 StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series season for the National Tour will be at Columbus Speedway in Columbus, MS on Saturday, January 21. The $2,000-to-win 40-lap main event will be a part of the Columbus Speedway 6th Annual Winter Classic.
StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series point leader David Gentry of Lewisburg, TN will head the entry list after winning the season opener on January 8 at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL. Gentry led every lap of the NeSmith Chevrolet 40, and won the Hoosier Race Tire Quick 6 Dash to earn the pole position, but he didn’t sweep the program.
Frankie Beard of Hartwell, GA will arrive at Columbus Speedway on January 21 second in the StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series points, and the Rookie of the Year point leader. Beard finished second to Gentry at TST, and was also the Fast Qualifier. Beard turned in a time that was just .25 seconds slower than the super late model fast time for one-tenth of the cost.
GM Performance engines built and sealed at the factory powers the StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series machines. Racers can buy these engines from their local GM Dealer, or online, for $2,950 for a steel-head engine, or $4,950 for an aluminum-head engine. The cost of a super late model engine can be between $30,000 to $50,000.
Other top entries expected for the StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series include the defending National Champion Denny Slayton of Rossville, GA, Jimmy Kay of Taylorsville, GA, and Jeff Fields of Aragon, GA. Also expected are dirt late model veterans Mike Head of Ellenwood, GA, and National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Purvis of Clarksville, TN.
Race fans can also watch for two drivers that have become the Hard Chargers of the StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series.
Veteran Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN has passed a total of 34 cars in the last two main events in StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series competition. On December 2, 2005 at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL, the “Chattanooga Flash” started 24th and finished seventh, and at TST, R.J. started 23rd and finished sixth.
Shannon Buckingham of Morristown, TN put on a passing clinic of his own on January 8 at Talladega Short Track. Buckingham got into the main event after starting 11th in his B-main and finishing second. He didn’t stop there, as he started 22nd in the main event, and finished fifth to earn the $100 NeSmith Chevrolet Hard Charger of the Race Award.
Columbus Speedway will host a Practice Day for the Winter Classic on Friday, January 20 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Saturday, January 21, the pit gate opens at 9 a.m., StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series Tech and Registration will be from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the drivers meeting will be at 12:30 p.m., and racing is scheduled for 2 p.m.
For more information about the Winter Classic, visit the Columbus Speedway web site at www.midsouthracing.com/columbusindex, or call 662-241-5004. For more information about the StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series, visit their web site at www.stormpayracing.com.
StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series point leader David Gentry of Lewisburg, TN will head the entry list after winning the season opener on January 8 at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL. Gentry led every lap of the NeSmith Chevrolet 40, and won the Hoosier Race Tire Quick 6 Dash to earn the pole position, but he didn’t sweep the program.
Frankie Beard of Hartwell, GA will arrive at Columbus Speedway on January 21 second in the StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series points, and the Rookie of the Year point leader. Beard finished second to Gentry at TST, and was also the Fast Qualifier. Beard turned in a time that was just .25 seconds slower than the super late model fast time for one-tenth of the cost.
GM Performance engines built and sealed at the factory powers the StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series machines. Racers can buy these engines from their local GM Dealer, or online, for $2,950 for a steel-head engine, or $4,950 for an aluminum-head engine. The cost of a super late model engine can be between $30,000 to $50,000.
Other top entries expected for the StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series include the defending National Champion Denny Slayton of Rossville, GA, Jimmy Kay of Taylorsville, GA, and Jeff Fields of Aragon, GA. Also expected are dirt late model veterans Mike Head of Ellenwood, GA, and National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Purvis of Clarksville, TN.
Race fans can also watch for two drivers that have become the Hard Chargers of the StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series.
Veteran Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN has passed a total of 34 cars in the last two main events in StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series competition. On December 2, 2005 at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL, the “Chattanooga Flash” started 24th and finished seventh, and at TST, R.J. started 23rd and finished sixth.
Shannon Buckingham of Morristown, TN put on a passing clinic of his own on January 8 at Talladega Short Track. Buckingham got into the main event after starting 11th in his B-main and finishing second. He didn’t stop there, as he started 22nd in the main event, and finished fifth to earn the $100 NeSmith Chevrolet Hard Charger of the Race Award.
Columbus Speedway will host a Practice Day for the Winter Classic on Friday, January 20 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Saturday, January 21, the pit gate opens at 9 a.m., StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series Tech and Registration will be from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the drivers meeting will be at 12:30 p.m., and racing is scheduled for 2 p.m.
For more information about the Winter Classic, visit the Columbus Speedway web site at www.midsouthracing.com/columbusindex, or call 662-241-5004. For more information about the StormPay.com Dirt Late Model Series, visit their web site at www.stormpayracing.com.
