LateModelsLive.com

Late Model Mark
Pinson, Alabama (February 24,2010)

February got off to a fast start with a trip out West to attend the 50th edition of the NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. I still call it Pomona, can't get used to the corporate name. I enjoyed 4 great days of weather and 4 awesome days of racing. It makes me feel old when I think that I have gone to that race since 1966, that's 44 years-in-a-row! It was good to see a load of my California friends, so many fans of dirt racing out there came by and said howdy thruout the weekend. It was nice to get out to some warm weather after the winter we've had around the South this year, came back red as a tomato.

My second dirt race of the year was last weekend's opener at Moulton Speedway, the 1st annual Dglenn Super Meltdown. This was the first race with new for 2010 promoter John Bates. I would call it a success, nice weather, good car count considering it's February, and a nice crowd. Nearly 80 cars filled the pits with the headline Super Late Models having a nice 22 car field. Many new and "straight" cars raced hard and fairly well on the daytime surface that got black and hard early on. There was some slickness to the track but for the most part the bottom was the place to be. Moulton is one of those tracks I really like to go to. Very friendly staff, reasonable admission and concession prices. It's like a big family at Moulton, they treat you right. This was a very well run program that had me in the ole Dodge on the road at 7:00pm. after a 4:00pm. start. Moulton is now one of only 3 tracks in Alabama running Super Late Models weekly. I had a real good time at Moulton and I think that John and Hanna Bates will do a fine job at the track in 2010.

This weekend is the running of the 13th annual Bama Bash at Dennis Harker's Green Valley Speedway in Glencoe. The swagger that this race had in the past has returned as the race has a nice total purse of over $95,000 dollars up for grabs. The headline division, the Super late Models, will be sanctioned by the fast-rising Southern Regional Racing Series and pay a fat $10,000-to-win and a nice $800-to-start. Crate and Limited Late Models run for a nice first place check of $2500 each. This race will differ from previous Bama Bash races this weekend, all the racing will start in the late afternoon and will feature nightime action. This change will see better race conditions for the racers and better viewing action for the fans. Green Valley last year had some of the best racing of any track in the Southeast, side-by-side was the norm while 3-wide was very common. The Supers will have a very strong and talented field of national and regional stars. With S.R.R.S. sanctioning you are guaranteed a stout field at any show, throw in many national stars and a fat winners paycheck, ya got yourself a winner. Also helping is that there are no major conflicts anywhere close. This has the potential of being a real barnburner, I'll be going on Saturday and Sunday, if ya see the orange shirt, stop me and say howdy. Really looking forward to my trip up to Green Valley Speedway, always have a good time at GVS. If you have never gone, give the track a try, bet you'll like it. Till next time.