Published: April 06, 2006 12:24 am            

Visit by No. 8 car brings back past memories

Local racing fans will get a special treat today when the Dale Earnhardt Jr. showcase car comes to town.

No, Little ‘E’ will not be with the car when it is shown at Nelson Hall Chevrolet from 12:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. But it will be fun to get a close up look at one of the cars NASCAR’s most popular driver drove in the not so distant past.

I remember the fun we had a few years ago when Dale Sr.’s black No. 3 car was on display at Nelson Hall. I still miss seeing that car on Sunday afternoons and wish they would bring it back for a showing in Meridian one day. But for now, we will enjoy the No. 8 car.

I’ll look forward to seeing you at the car display. There will probably be a big crowd so come as early as you can.



Historical day

Saturday promises to be a historical day at the Causeyville Raceway with the first running of the Mississippi Dirt Track Series for Go-Karts.

Causeyville Raceway owner Randy Rawson said he is expecting 150 cars to compete. The time trials start at noon and the races are scheduled to be run at 2 p.m.

“We have set up a seven-race schedule planned,” Rawson said. “The final race will be inside at the Coliseum in Philadelphia. This is the start of a big thing.”

After the Causeyville race, the schedule is as follows: May 27 - Stateline; June 10 -Columbus; July 29 - at Tupelo; Aug. 19 - Causeyville; Sept. 30 - Stateline; Nov. 4 - at Philadelphia.

The regular season races got under way at Causeyville with 40 cars competing. The winners are as follows:

- Rookie Blue: 1) Alex Walton.

- Rookie Purple: 1) Sean Datusch; 2) Jaret Poole, 3) Randy Walters;

- Rookie Gold: 1) Ray Walton; 2) Caleb Killens, 3) Tyler Burgess;

- Stock Light: 1) Daniel Bridgeman, 2) Zac White; 3) Anthony Rawson.

- Stock Medium: 1) Anthony Rawson, 2) Chris Sanford, 3) Mark Litchfield.

- Stock Heavy: 1) Lance Jimmerson, 2) Joe Brown, 3) Lance Dickey.

- Open: 1) Anthony Rawson, 2) Clint McCombs, 3) Roger Durham.



Walls wins again

Chris “The Intimagator” Wall picked up another victory in the Super Late Model competition on April 1 as he held of the challenge of Mike Boland to win the 14th Annual James King Memorial. The victory paid the Louisiana alligator farmer $6,400.

Boland, a local favorite out of Cuba, Ala., came in second followed by Scott Slay of Clinton. Jimbo McDuffie of Meridian came in ninth.

It was a full slate of racing. Another local driver, Randy Boyd Thompson, came in ninth in the Late Model Stock division.

Weekly races will be held Saturday at the Columbus Speedway while a big race is coming up the following weekend at the Magnolia Motor Speedway with the running of the the Budweiser Boll Weevil Rumble.

On tap will be a 25-lap race featuring the ASCS VS SUPR Winged Outlaw Sprint Cars. There will be $2,000 check for the winner.

But the main event this weekend, as always, will be the Super Late Model Division, which will feature a 40-lap, $2,500 to win race. The other divisions will be running as well.

Pit games open at 3 p.m. and races start at 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series has a double header scheduled this weekend at the Simpson County Motorsports Park in D’Lo and the Pike County Speedway, in Magnolia.

The Super Late Model action will get under way this Friday at Simpson County Motorsports Park. It will be a 40-lap race that pays $2,000 to win, $250 to start and will have a $75 entry fee

The next night, the action shifts to Pike County Speedway. It will be a 50-lap race that pays $2,500 to win.

Wall leads the MSCCS series with 260 points, followed by Scott Dedwylder of Clarke County with 230, Jay Blair 225, Anthony Rushing 180, and David Breazeale 175.

Steve Swogetinsky writes weekly column that covers racing news of local interest. If you would like to comment on this column or send in a new items, please email him at swog@hotmail.com.

        

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