National notebook
Notes: Boyd's flooding puts opener at Cleveland
The Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series will wait another day — just one, presumably — to open its 29th season after flooding at Boyd's Speedway postponed Friday's schedule opener in Ringgold, Ga.
"With all the rain we've had over the past couple of weeks and the fact that many parts of the track and the infield are currently under water and with even more rain in the forecast, there is just no way we can get the track ready for Friday night," said Gar Dickson, the Boyd's Speedway promoter.
While the $5,000-to-win event at Boyd's will like be rescheduled, that leaves the 16th annual Shamrock to open the Southern All Star season. The $10,000-to-win event is scheduled for Saturday at the third-mile oval, and the track has moved its practice night to Friday instead of Thursday. Drivers in any division are welcome to practice.
On Saturday, pit gates open at 3 p.m. with the drivers' meeting at 6 p.m. and racing to follow.— From series reports
THREE DRIVERS GUN FOR CAROLINA CLASH ROOKIE HONORS: Travis Yow, Chad Paxton and Arlene Pittman have announced their intentions to chase the Rookie of the Year title on the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series. Yow, of Fayetteville, N.C., won the '08 modified championship at his hometown track and moved from Limited to Super Late Models in 2010. Paxton, of Troutman, N.C., is a brake-system specialist for NASCAR's Red Bull Racing and won the Limited Late Model title at I-77 Speedway in Chester, S.C., winning 12 of 21 features. He's also a two-time champion at Lancaster (S.C.) Motor Speedway. Pittman, of Vidalia, Ga., has racing experience on asphalt and dirt and is aiming to become the first woman to compete a full Carolina Clash season. The tour schedule is set to kick off Saturday at Carolina Speedway near Gastonia, N.C., for the $4,000-to-win Skyler Trull Memorial. — From series reports
DELAWARE TRACK CONTINUES PART-TIME SCHEDULE: The half-mile Georgetown (Del.) Speedway plans a part-time schedule for the fourth consecutive year with Super Late Models and Crate Late Models among divisions running at the Jay James-owned track. Supers are in action April 2 and July 1 while Crates are in action May 29, Sept. 4, Oct. 9 and Nov. 12. Overall the track plans seven events at Bridgeport Speedway's sister oval. The April 2 Spring Fling is the lone event feature Super Late Models and big-block modifieds. — From track reports
PEORIA'S BOHLANDER 50 BENEFITS PARKINSON'S RESEARCH: Peoria (Ill.) Speedway, under the new ownership of Curt Mottaz, will open its season April 3 with the $4,000-to-win Don Bohlander 50, a race honoring one of the track's all-time great drivers and benefitting Parkinson’s research. Bohlander, who will be inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in August, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2001 and the Bohlander family has become passionate about raising money for research with more than $40,000 donated by Team Bohlander to Peoria's Bradley University. The group is seeking $25-per-lap sponsors and T-shirt sponsors at three levels: $500, $250, or $100. The team kicks off fundraising efforts March 19 with Pasta for Parkinson’s at Goodfellas Pub and Pizza in Pekin, Ill. For more information, call (309) 347-6929. — Jeff Adams
SERIES SCHEDULE UPDATES: The Nebraska-based Super Late Model Racing Series has released a tentative schedule with 13 races at five tracks, including first-time visits to Eagle (Neb.) Raceway and Dawson County Raceway in Lexington, Neb. Other dates may be added at Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kan., Park Jefferson (S.D.) Speedway, Riviera Raceway in Norfolk, Neb., and Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa. ... Crate Late Model racing's National Dirt Racing Association has announced its 10-race Road Show presented by Heintz Performance. The tour visits eight tracks in the Carolinas, including the Dirt Track at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. The season opens April 9 at I-77 Speedway in Chester, S.C. ... While the complete schedule hasn't been released on the WISSOTA Dart Challenge Series, so far 13 tracks are spread among 15 dates, including the $5,000-to-win opener June 4 at Dakota State Fair Speedway in Huron, S.D. — From series reports
ODDS AND ENDS: Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway, which closed in July last season, will reopen in April under co-promoters Jeff Hammer and Kyle Logue, an area Dirt Late Model racer. Hammer is the cousin of former track promoter Don Hammer. The first practice is set for March 27. ... 311 Motor Speedway in Madison, N.C., has boosted the purse of its April 2 Ultimate Super Late Model Series event to $5,000-to-win. In addition, any driver sweeping the Ultimate race along with the $2,000-to-win Crate feature gets a $500 bonus.
Correction: Fixes name of 311 Motor Speedway.
