With a Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series race slated for Saturday evening at the 411 Motor Speedway, facility owners Mitch and Tanya McCarter opened the gates of their Seymour, Tenn. track on Friday night to any area drivers who wanted to practice. Even though a light rain fell during much of the day, several drivers showed up to test their equipment on the 3/8 mile clay oval.
The practice was open to all who wished to participate, whether they intend to race at 411 on Saturday or not. Among those unloading cars were three drivers who rolled out brand new rides from their haulers and looked to put them on the track for the first time.
Donald McIntosh tested a new Rocket at 411 on Friday night
A driver and crew who have been hot of late is Donald McIntosh and his Maryville based Blount Motorspots team. The young Dawsonville, GA driver has scored wins already in 2015 at 411 and the North Georgia Speedway. But even with that early season success, BMS has debuted a new Rocket Chassis to be used in competition for the first time at Boyd’s Speedway in the Southern Nationals Bonus Series race on Saturday night.
McIntosh initially attempted to put the new car through its paces in a test session at Smoky Mountain Speedway earlier in the week. However, an oil line came loose during that test after turning only four laps.
As a result of that mishap, crew chief David Bryant wanted to put the car on track one more time before there was money on the line to make sure all was well with the machine.
McIntosh took to the speedway with a light mist coming down and ran several laps. Soon after, the team pronounced the practice a success and loaded their car back on the trailer for the return trip to the shop.
The new No. 52 Rocket for Mark Douglas
Another driver at 411 with a brand new Rocket Chassis was Knoxville’s Mark Douglas. The veteran racer said he made the decision to purchase the new ride last year after struggling over the past couple of seasons in his previous car.
Douglas ultimately opted not to put his new machine on the track in the wet conditions on Friday night. After having races at Smoky Mountain and the Volunteer Speedway rained out earlier this month, he hopes to roll the No. 52 into competition for the first time next weekend at SMS in an Ultimate Super Late Model Series race.
Jake Teague’s new Longhorn
Rockets weren’t the only new race cars in the 411 pit area during the practice. Petros, Tenn. driver Jake Teague unveiled a new Longhorn Chassis for its first laps on a race track. The young driver had just recently taken delivery of the new ride from Randy Weaver’s Crossville, Tenn. shop and wanted to get some track time.
Weaver crew members Josh Gunter and Grant Pearl were on hand to assist Teague in shaking down the car he intends to use in Crate Late Model races around the area during the coming season.
