Batesville Motor Speedway
Texas pilot dips toe into Topless, creates dilemma
By Ben Shelton
DirtonDirt.com correspondent
Teams pit on the backstretch for Thursday's practice in Batesville. (Woody Hampton)
LOCUST GROVE, Ark. (Aug. 18) — Rookie driver Morgan Bagley has created a dilemma for himself at this weekend's 19th annual Comp Cams Topless 100.
The 25-year-old racer from Longview, Texas, wants to improve his time-trialing efforts in major Late Model events, but he also wants to maintain his leading edge on the the O'Reilly Southern United Professional Racing circuit. Something's gotta give for the driver of the Wayman McMillan-owned No. 14m Rocket Chassis. | Complete Topless 100 coverage | Slideshow
Bagley was among 54 drivers practicing Thursday night at Batesville Motor Speedway for the Topless 100, the richest Dirt Late Model race in Arkansas, and he plans to compete in Friday night's prelims in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event at the 3/8-mile oval. But on Saturday night, the O'Reilly SUPR circuit is scheduled to race at Jones Motor Speedway in Chatham, La.
"My car owner fully expects me to be at Chatham on Saturday night, because he wants that title bad. But if we make it into the show on Friday night, we just might have to stay," Bagley said with a laugh.
"I need more experience timing in and running these big shows. If I'm not here obviously I can't get that experience. We'll just see how Friday goes and decide on Saturday from there."
Bagley holds a 223-point lead over Timothy Culp of West Monroe, La., in SUPR points. A driver can gain a maximum of 130 points in a single event.
"We have a solid lead in the O'Reilly SUPR standings, but I know that a few nights of bad luck, and we could very well be in second or worse," Bagley said. "This weekend is a tough decision for sure."
Other notes from Thursday's Topless 100 practice night:
ENGINE PROBLEMS FOR BREAZEALE: David Breazeale's weekend got off to a rough start when he broke an engine in his No. 54 MasterSbilt, but his team forged on, unloading a No. 10 Victory Circle Circle chassis backup car of team owner Leon Henderson. The Four Corners, Miss., driver said he didn't mind the chassis change, but laughingly noted that he hated to have to run a Cornett Chevrolet instead of his Cornett Ford due to his love for the blue oval.
WALLACE'S SNAZZY NEW SCHEME: While several drivers debuted new graphic schemes for the event, hometown driver and former race winner Wendell Wallace debuted an eye-catcher. The bright blue No. 88 that brought back memories of the No. 6m from the Monday Motorsports era for Wallace. With three victories since July 2, Wallace has had a confidence boost in his Victory Circle Chassis. He won Batesville's biggest race in 1998.
ROBINSON'S LATE MODEL DEBUT AT BATESVILLE: Modified ace B.J. Robinson of Blanchard, La., made his first appearance in a Super Late Model at Batesville while debuting a new Victory Circle Chassis. The driver over the No. R5 Childress Rentals entry said he's focused solely on Late Models with modifieds on the back burner. "We are really looking to branch out for the last half of this year, including (at) the World 100," Robinson said. "In 2012 we look to hit the ground running and compete on more of a national schedule." Robinson's teammate Josh Danzy has been sidelined most of the season with back problems, and Chad Dupont of Bossier City, La., is driving the No. F5.
FIRST TIME FOR ROBINSON: Another modified-turned-Late Model driver, Kent Robinson of Bloomington, Ind., carefully studied the 3/8-mile Batesville oval Thursday before his first laps on the track. "This looks like my kind of track — a momentum-type of place," he said. "I'm just glad to get back to an event with a bit of a restricted tire rule. I've got a lot to learn about the open-tire game after my struggles at Shawano Speedway and Cedar Lake Speedway a few weeks ago." Batesville's race is limits drivers to four hard-compound Hoosier Tires.
ODDS AND ENDS: Will Vaught of Crane, Mo., who has parted ways with car owner Paul McKenna, practiced in his family-owned Warrior Race Car. ... Lucas Oil Series regular Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky.,� is running a Roush Yates Chevrolet powerplant he debuted at Shawano (Wis.) Speedway two weeks ago. Brad Loden of Roush Yates indicated a Ford powerplant was currently being built for the team. ... Seven former Topless 100 winners practiced: Jared Landers (2010), Jimmy Owens (2009), Scott Bloomquist (1999, '01, '06), Billy Moyer (1995, '97, '02, '05), Dale McDowell (2004), Shannon Babb (2003) and Wallace (1998).
