Long-time Late Model racer Carnell Parker III is recuperating from surgery in a Chattanooga, Tenn., hospital after suffering serious neck injuries in a flipping accident Friday at Boyd's Speedway in Ringgold, Ga. The 40-year-old driver from Clarksville, Tenn., was released from the intensive care unit Monday afternoon and expects to remain hospitalized until the weekend. | Slideshow

"I feel pretty good. I'm going to be sore for a while," said Parker, who suffered a dislocated neck and broke the C-6 and C-7 vertebrae when his No. 75 flipped and landed upside down between turns three and four. "It could've been a whole lot worse than it is."

Doctors at Erlanger Medical Center were encouraged by the success of the Sunday morning surgery, Parker said in a Monday evening phone interview.

"The doctor told me everything was lined up and everything fused together good," Parker said. "He told me at first 12 weeks with the neck brace, and he bumped it back to three or four weeks now."

Parker's accident happened during a Southern Regional Racing Series consolation race when he came upon a tangle between David Gentry and Robert Stutts.

"I slowed up to keep from getting into (Gentry)," Parker said. "I think Robert, when he hit David, it busted the radiator on his car, and I guess I got into the water out of that. And I don't know if I hooked a rut and got into the water and was sliding. ... but I guess it bit, and when it did, I started flipping."

The car barrel-rolled a few times, got up on the nose and landed upside down with a thud. "It was a hard landing," said Parker, who never lost consciousness. "It was definitely the hardest I ever hit anything."

"My thumb and index finger on my left hand went completely numb and I thought, 'Oh now, this ain't good,' " said Parker, who wears a head-and-neck restraint system.

The violent wreck broke Parker's helmet in a few places but his MasterSbilt Race Car held up. Parker and his team theorized his injuries might have been so serious because the 6-foot driver has shorter legs but a longer torso and his helmet was very close to the top of the car.

"The car stayed intact," Parker said. "It mashed the hoop down a little bit. Nothing broke. All the welds are still intact. I did talk to Keith (Masters of MasterSbilt) last night about it and he said when I get to feeling better and can get out, he'd like to see the car and go over it."

For now though, Parker will rest a few more days at the hospital before returning to Clarksville. Crew members, his parents and fiancee Molly have been among those who have been with him in Chattanooga, where he said "they've really taken good care of me."

Four days after the accident and two days after the surgery, Parker sees improvement. "I feel a lot better now than I did," he said. — Todd Turner

GILLETTE SPONSORING RESCHEDULED PRELUDE: Eldora Speedway's Prelude to the Dream, the Dirt Late Model event featuring NASCAR stars rained out in June, is set for Sept. 9 as the Gillette Young Guns Prelude to the Dream. The event will be commercial-free on HBO Pay-Per-View with proceeds from the telecast at the Rossburg, Ohio, track benefitting four military-themed charities. “We’re grateful for Gillette’s support and the participation of nearly all the drivers who originally committed to the June 3 race,” said track owner Tony Stewart, whose four previous Preludes have raised more than $2 million for charity. Limited tickets are available at the Eldora Speedway website or by calling the track at (937) 338-3815. The $24.95 telecast is available to more than 71 million homes and is scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern on Sept. 9 with with an immediate replay and subsequent replays over the next several days. Ordering information is available at www.hbo.com. — Kellye Arning

KID WINS ON KIDS NIGHT: On McDonald's Kids Night at Muskingum County, a kid outran the adults. While children 12-and-under got in free and enjoyed free hot dogs, Pepsi and bike giveaways, 14-year-old Devin Moran swept the 36-car Super Late Model division by setting fast time, winning his heat race and the feature event, the first of his career. "It's just awesome," said the son of Hall of Fame driver Donnie Moran. The young Moran swapped the lead with veteran Keith Berner before securing the victory. Alas, though, at 14, he was to old for a chance at one of the 100 bicycles. — From track and team reports

BACK INJURY ENDS WILMOTH'S SEASON: Paul Wilmoth Jr. of Clarksburg, W.Va., one of the West Virginia's winningest Late Model racers in recent years, had his 2009 season cut short by a serious back injury. Wilmoth expects possible surgery for treatment of a ruptured disc in his back that caused frequent soreness throughout the season. After Wilmoth's fourth-place finish in the May 31 World of Outlaws Late Model Series event at Tyler County Speedway, crew members had to lift Wilmoth out of his car. Wilmoth had been leading Tyler County's point and among title contenders at Elkins (W.Va.) Speedway. He plans to recuperate and return to racing in 2010. — Bob Reed

SUPR'S VISIT TO HOUSTON TO HONOR MILITARY: The Aug. 22 visit to Houston Raceway Park by the O'Reilly Southern United Professional Racing Late Models will come on Military Appreciation Day at the quarter-mile oval. Activities will pay tribute to all active and retired military personnel, who will be admitted free to the event. “Racing is synonymous with freedom, and freedom is synonymous with our U.S. Military, so we could not think of a better way to recognize our heroes than at our speedway,” said HRP director Gary Swearengin. In addition, the first 500 fans will receive a complimentary checkered flag to commemorate their visit to the Speedway and one lucky race fan will win the role as honorary starter for the night's SUPR feature. The Sunbelt Rentals SUPR Shootout pays $2,500 to the winner. — From track reports

TALLADEGA PREPARING FOR RICH CRATE RACE: Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala., is preparing to host one of the richest Crate Late Model events of the season with the $10,000-to-win Red Top Auto Auction Dega 100 on Sept. 17-19 at the third-mile oval. The event is a non-points event on the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Practice is set for Thursday, Sept., 17, with Friday, Sept. 18, featuring time trials, heat races and a dash for heat winners. The nonstop 100-lap feature is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, preceded by consolation races. A 28-car starting field is planned. — Roby Helm

CRATE NOTES: Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, Ky., hosts the $2,000-to-win Colston Paving 40 on Aug. 14. ... East Lincoln (N.C.) Speedway will host an NDRA-sanctioned Crate event on Aug. 15 paying $1,500 to the winner. ... Hall of Fame driver Jeff Purvis will meet and greet fans Aug. 15 at Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, Tenn., prior to the evening's NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series event.

ODDS AND ENDS: Richmond (Ky.) Raceway hosts the $3,500-to-win Ironman Classic on Aug. 22, an unsanctioned event promoted by Chris Tilley. ... The winning purse for the Aug. 12 finale on the Dart Corn Belt Clash at Fayette County Speedway in West Union, Iowa, has been increased to $3,500. ... Canadian drivers Adam Ferri and Darren Peters have swapped rides with Ferri moving back to modified racing and Peters campaigning with the Ontario Dirt Late Models circuit. ... The Mississippi State Championship Challenge had added a big weekend of racing at Northwest Florida Speedway in Blackman, Fla. A Sept. 18 event will pay $2,000 to the winner and the Sept. 19 feature pays $4,400 to the winner. ... The Carolina Clash added an Aug. 29 event at 311 Fastrack in Madison, N.C., paying $4,000 to the winner.