Weekend Recap will be a regular feature throughout the 2017 season on InsideDirtRacing.com. Here, a brief summary of the various national and regional touring series that impact the east Tennessee area will provide a quick review of what happened over the past weekend.
It was a busy weekend(or at least it was supposed to be) for the various series that impact the east Tennessee region.
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series: The national touring series was scheduled to run the ‘Clash at the Mag’ event at Mississippi’s Magnolia Motor Speedway as a $20,000-to-win two-day affair. However, Mother Nature intervened and forced the track and the series to make adjustments. Eventually the race was re-set as a one-day event paying $12,000 to the victor.
Mike Marlar was the fast qualifier and earned the pole for the 60-lap feature by winning his heat race. After taking the lead on lap 13, Marlar engaged in a heated battle for the top spot with early leader Brandon Overton and then Dennis Erb, Jr. before taking the checkered flag ahead of Erb, Overton, Darrell Lanigan and Kyle Bronson.
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Mike Marlar
World of Outlaws Late Models: This national touring series actually became an international touring series as it made a weekend foray into Canada for a Saturday night feature at Brighton Speedway in Brighton, Ontario and then a Sunday evening race at Cornwall Motor Speedway in Cornwall, Ontario. Both of those events were slated to pay $10,000 to the winner. The Sunday night race eventually fell victim to rain.
Brandon Sheppard was the fast qualifier when the series hit the track in Brighton but Frank Heckenast, Jr. was placed on the pole for the feature by way of the redraw. Sheppard took the lead away from Heckenast on lap 10 and went on to lead the rest of the way in the 50-lap affair. Tyler Erb, Morgan Bagley, Devin Moran and Rick Eckert rounded out the top-5 behind the winner.
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Brandon Sheppard
Ultimate Super Late Model Series: The Ultimate Series made its way to the state of Georgia for a double-header weekend. Friday night’s race at Lavonia Speedway paid $4,000-to-win while Saturday’s feature at North Georgia Speedway also shelled out $4,000 to the victor.
Johnny Pursely set fast time in qualifying among the 14 cars signed in for competition on Friday night and started the 40-lap feature race from the pole. The South Carolina driver went on to lead all the way to claim the winner’s check and trophy. Casey Roberts, Dennis Franklin, Tyler Millwood and Brent Dixon rounded out the top-5 in the finishing order.
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Johnny Pursely
Gary McPherson proved to be fastest in qualifying when the series made its way to North Georgia on Saturday night. However, it would be John Ownbey who would show the way in the feature as he outran Michael Page to score the $4,000 win. Page, Jason Welshan, Tyler Millwood and David Payne completed the top-5 behind Ownbey in the 40-lap race.
John Ownbey
Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series: The Southern All Stars ventured to Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn. on Saturday night to contest a $5,000-to-win main event.
Donald McIntosh set fast time in qualifying but Chris Ferguson started from the pole due to the fact that he had led Group A time-trials. Ferguson charged to the early lead and showed the way during the fist 22 circuits until McIntosh executed a slide job to take the top spot. McIntosh then had to hold off a late race charge by Skip Arp to score the win. Arp, Ferguson, T.J. Reaid and Shanon Buckingham rounded out the top-5 finishers.
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Donald McIntosh took the lead on lap 22
United Crate Racing Alliance: The UCRA joined forces with the Southern All Stars on Saturday at Smoky Mountain for a $2,500-to-win feature of their own.
Kyle Courtney set fast time in qualifying but was quickly sidelined from the feature with mechanical issues. Anthony White led all the way but had to endure a strong late race challenge from Jesse Lowe as the two cars treated fans to a side-by-side finish. White won out over Lowe, Forest Trent, Jimmy Elliott and Cruz Skinner.
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Anthony White led all 30 laps of the UCRA feature
