InsideDirtRacing.com was on the scene for a pair of big touring series races this weekend. On Saturday night, we covered the Ultimate Super Late Models stop at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, Tenn.(story here) and on Sunday afternoon we ventured to Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC for a Southern All Stars event(story here).
Here are some post-race notes for both of those races:
The #20 of Jimmy Owens suffered engine woes in qualifying at SMS.
1. Three-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion Jimmy Owens made a last minute decision to race with the Ultimate SLM Series on Saturday night at Smoky Mountain. The ‘Newport Nightmare’ was quick, as was demonstrated by what would have been the second fastest lap overall in qualifying turned in by his Club 29 machine on its first official trip around the track. However, the famed black and green #20 machine billowed smoke from under the hood on Owens’ second lap. The problem was diagnosed as terminal by the Rowland Racing crew and their night was finished almost before it even got started.
While the engine trouble suffered by Owens may have seemed like a costly problem after a last minute decision to race, it may have actually served the team well. Had the trouble occurred at a LOLMDS race, it could have caused a serious setback in their hopes of winning another title.
Donald McIntosh encountered mechanical trouble late in the race at SMS.
2. That unusual looking spin off of turn four and the unorthodox parking job against the pit wall done by Donald McIntosh near the end of the Ultimate race at Smoky Mountain wasn’t just an attempt at trick driving. Actually, a broken rear end in the Blount Motorsports car caused one of the rear wheels to lock up which sent the car spinning right at the entrance of the track’s inner pit area.
Ray Cook’s bad luck continued at SMS.
3. Ray Cook’s luck in the Super Late Model races he’s entered so far in 2015 couldn’t get much worse. He has looked like a contender to win multiple times in 2015 but has had components break on the car to prevent him from making it to the checkered flag.
Saturday night at Smoky Mountain proved to be another one of those instances for ‘The Tarheel Tiger’. While racing Mike Marlar for 2nd place just behind eventual winner Randy Weaver, the #53 car suddenly slowed. When he came to a stop on the front straightaway, the obvious sign of a parts failure in the rear suspension showed itself as the car’s rear end sat much lower than normal.
4. Smoky Mountain Speedway has seen a number of improvements made during the past off-season. Fans will quickly notice a new digital scoreboard, additional and improved lighting, an improved public address system, gravel added in the pit area and a reworking of the track surface to widen the entrance in turn three.
The new Rocket of Mark Douglas
5. Mark Douglas debuted a new Rocket Chassis on Saturday at Smoky Mountain. The car was on its game right out of the box as the #52D was second fastest in qualifying. Douglas ultimately finished 19th after pulling off track late in the race.
Nick Stroupe celebrating with his crew in Victory Lane at SMS
6. Nick Stroupe passed Clayton Miller with just three laps remaining to take the American Modified Series win at Smoky Mountain on Saturday night. The victory earned the North Carolina driver $3,000.
Chris Rickett won in the Street Stocks on Saturday at SMS.
7. Chris Rickett continued his winning ways in the area’s Street Stock division by claiming the $750 win in that class on Saturday night at Smoky Mountain. He finished ahead of Gary Blanken and Tony Horton.
Chris Madden raced with a heavy heart on Sunday
8. Although he had it on his schedule, Chris Madden was unable to race with the Ultimate Supers at Smoky Mountain due to the death of his grandmother earlier in the week. He did race in the Southern All Stars event at Cherokee Speedway on Sunday. However, he arrived late and missed hot laps because of the funeral service and ultimately failed to finish in the feature due to involvement in a big crash on lap 18.
The #38 of Dillon Tidmore sits on top of the overturned car of Dustin Mitchell.
9. There were a pair of flips in Sunday’s race at Cherokee. Brent Dixon had his car wind up on its roof on the sixth lap. Dustin Mitchell was involved in the big multi-car incident on lap 16 and found himself upside down with Dillon Tidmore’s car on top of his. Mitchell was actually trapped in his car for several minutes as track officials worked to untangle the carnage. All drivers were reported to be uninjured in the respective crashes.
