NLMS Dublin, GA Preview

Dublin, Ga. - Get ready Middle Georgia...Pure Racing Excitement returns to 441 Speedway next weekend as the bumping, banging, fender rubbing monsters of the National Late Model Sportsman Series make their first appearance on the new asphalt surface. “THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN!”

The 1999 racing season at 441 Speedway opens with a return to the old days as the Southern Dirt Tour brings their dirt Late Models to town for two days of rough and tumble racing the way it used to be when the speedway was known as one of the fastest half mile dirt tracks in the south. This time the racing surface will be asphalt, but don't tell these guys, they think it is just ‘Hard Dirt” and will put on a show that no fiberglass bodied car could ever hope to survive.

Leading the series into Dublin will be 1998 and Defending Series Champion Cecil Eunice of Blackshear, Ga., and this is one dirt tracker who is not lacking in experience on asphalt. Eunice has raced on the Busch Grand National Series and on paved tracks across the south and hopes to bring some of his knowledge to bear at 441 Speedway to garner his first win of the season. David Browning of Jacksonville, Fla. and 1995 Series Champion Skip Pannell of Albany, Ga. are tied atop the Series points standings heading into this, the sixth race on the 1999 schedule. Both drivers have plenty of experience on the asphalt, Pannell in the All-Pro Series and Browning in the Goody’s Dash Series. 1996 Series Champion Ivedent Lloyd of Ocala, Fla. is another driver who has experience on the asphalt surface with plenty of time behind the wheel of a Late Model on the paved tracks of Florida. When you mention dirt cars and asphalt in one sentence, there is one man who has dominated these races over the last three years. Tuck Trentham of Deland, Fla. has won the last three NLMS races on asphalt and would like to keep the streak alive.

When the “Dirt Meets Asphalt 100” takes the green flag Saturday afternnoon there will be plenty of dirt trackers who will start the event with very limited asphalt experience. This is where the fun starts! Drivers like Billy Godowns of Louisville, GA, Dublin’s own Tracy Mimbs, Michael Lloyd of Jacksonville, Fla., Henry Carter from nearby Swainsboro, Ga., and Johnny Collins from Jacksonville. Fla. all will be trying to get to the front and show what they can do on this strange surface. Sparks will fly and tires will squeal as the dirt drivers speed around the track at over 100 mph. Lead changes will come fast and furious as drivers learn the fast way around the track. Don’t expect these drivers to do things in the conventional manner. These are Dirt Trackers!

In addition to the National late Model Sportsman Southern Dirt Tour, there will be $1,000 up for grabs to the winner in Super Street, Pure Stock and Road Warrior while the Mini Stocks will battle for a first place prize of $500. There will also be a special Legends event on tap.

Gates to 441 Speedway will open Friday afternoon at 2:00 PM with practice starting at 6:00 PM. Racing action will get underway at 8:00 PM with Qualifying Time Trials and Heat Races for the Late Models and Heat races for the Super Street, Road Warrior, Pure Stock and Mini Stock classes. Saturday the gates will open at 9:00 AM with an 11:00 AM practice session on tap. At 2:00 PM it will be time for NLMS consolation Races and the “Dirt meets Asphalt 100”. There will also be feature events in all classes.

441 Speedway is located 6.5 miles south of Exit 14 off I-16 on US 441. For more information, contact the track at (912) 984-4455 or E-Mail at 441spped@441speedway.com.

NLMS info may be obtained by contacting Series officials at (912) 987-4219 or (334) 653-8921.

John Kaiser