Just as the weather continues to heat up across the country the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Championship Points Race is burning hot as three drivers keep changing spots in the chase for the 2007 title. This weekend the stars and cars of the nation’s premier touring dirt late model series heads to the Deep South with visits at two tracks that are on the schedule for the second year in a row.
On Friday Night, July 13th the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will run on “Alabama’s Action Track”. North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia, AL for a $7,000 to win show at the Jeff Greer promoted facility and on Saturday Night, July 14th “The Baddest Bullring in the South”. Johnny Stokes’ Columbus Speedway in Columbus, MS will host a $10,000 to win race. The Columbus event will be taped by SPEED Channel who will be on hand for the action. The event will be shown on a date and time to be announced in the future.
With 22 events in the books there have been 14 different winners in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series competition this season. The race for the championship has continued to change hands seemingly from one event to the next. Eldora “Dream” winner Steve Casebolt of Richmond, IN holds down the top spot after the events in Tennessee this past weekend. Casebolt has a narrow 25 point lead over two-time and defending Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series National Champion and reigning “World 100” winner Earl Pearson, Jr. of Jacksonville, FL. Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN who led the points heading into the Bulls Gap event on July 7 now resides in third place just 30 points behind Casebolt and a slim five behind Pearson. Terry English of Benton, KY and Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH complete the top five at the present time.
The rest of the top ten drivers in the series points include Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville, KY, Billy Drake of Bloomington, IL, Dan Schlieper of Sullivan, WI, Damon Eller of Crumpler, NC and Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY.
The run for the COMP Cams Rookie of the Year as Justin Rattliff sitting on top right now over Damon Eller, Brad Neat, Garrett Durrett, Ricky Arms and Mike Mataragas.
Last year at North Alabama, Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN took the win and at Columbus it was Chris Wall of Holden, LA scoring his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory before the cameras of SPEED Channel.
The tire rule for both events will be the same: Hoosier LM20, 1300, 1350, LM40, 1600 and the American Racer SD44, SD48 and MD56.
There will be complete show both nights with LifeLong Locks Time Trials along with the Hawk Brake and Quarter Master sponsored heat races. The number of heat races will be based on the number of entries. The Mason Racin’ Rebel Shock Dyno and Penske Shocks B-Mains will be run followed by the main events each night.
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