LUCAMA, NC – Limited Late Model racing will be the highlight of the Halloween Spooktacular at Southern National Motorsports Park on Saturday afternoon with a strong field of over 20 cars chasing victory and the possibility of winning $2,700.
The Limited Late Model field consists of championship drivers, old and new, as well as racers who find themselves in contention for race wins. Limited Late Model racing isn’t the only thing on the card for Saturday. A strong field of U-CARs, Legends cars and Bandoleros are all set to converge on the 4/10-mile oval in Lucama, North Carolina and a 10 lap all-female Powder Puff Shootout will leave plenty of people with a lifetime of memories.
Clay Jones Sets Sights on Victory
Goldsboro, North Carolina’s Clay Jones has not been as active on the Limited Late Model scene this season as he has been in the past. The veteran racer has been focusing on Super Late Model racing, but, when he has raced in his blue and black no. 15 car, he’s every bit the threat he has always been. Jones has recorded victories this season at Wake County Speedway in Raleigh, North Carolina and at Carteret County Speedway in Swansboro, North Carolina. Now, in his first Southern National appearance of the year in a Late Model, he expects to bring home a win.
Moody Getting Back on Track
2014 Southern National Motorsports Park Limited Late Model racer Haley Moody has not been able to duplicate the success she had one year ago. Last year, she scored three wins. This year, the 20-year-old from Kinston North Carolina has only two top-five finishes. Despite having enjoyed tremendous success at Southern National Motorsports Park, Halloween Spooktacular will be Moody’s second Southern National appearance of 2015. Last year, she finished third in the Halloween Spooktacular. This year, she believes she is willing and able to win.
Wertz Hoping to Make a Mark
Two-time Langley Speedway track champion and popular veteran Mark Wertz is one of the more than 20 drivers who will be competing on Saturday. Wertz is making his first Southern National appearance since the 2013 Thanksgiving All-Star Classic and he comes in with momentum on his side after snapping a five year winless streak earlier this year out at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Virginia.
McCaskill Dynasty Continues
Ashlyn McCaskill, the 14-year-old daughter of four time Southern National Motorsports Park track champion Deac McCaskill, will be making her racing debut in the all-female Powder Puff race. Deac McCaskill has spent several weeks preparing the car for Ashlyn and has high hopes for her.
Entry List
The following drivers have all pre-registered for the Halloween Spooktacular (as of 10/22/2015): #05 Alex Fleming, #07 Ronald Renfrow, #2 Amber Lynn, #3 Frankie Dominick, #4 Bobby Morris, #7 Bradley McCaskill, #15 Clay Jones, #16 Mack Little III, #16 Rusty Daniels, #17 Zachary Marks, #24 Mason Diaz, #29 Robert Bruce, #29 Paul Williamson, #32 Jerry Miracle, #50 Haley Moody, #51 Cory Walker, #55 Mark Wertz, #82 Mike Ganoe, #98 Malik Koonce and #99 Zach Henshaw.
Family Fun
Along with the racing action, Southern National Motorsports Park will have a costume contest during pre-race ceremonies, free monster truck rides for kids (with paid admission) before the race, a haunted house exhibit (which is also open on Friday night) and free candy for kids.
Race information
Ticket Prices: $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, active/retired military (with ID), students (with ID), $5 for kids (ages 6-12), kids five and under free.
Time: Pit gates open at 9:30am, spectator gates open at 12:30pm. Practice begins at 11:00am, Quaifying at 12:45pm, racing begins at 2:30pm.
Race order: U-CAR (30 laps), Bandolero (15 laps), Legends (25 laps), Powder Puff (15 laps) and Limited Late Model (70 laps; 10 minute intermission at lap 35).
Last Race
Lee Pulliam clinched his third NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championship in the final regular season race of the 2015 Southern National Motorsports Park season back on September 13th. Pulliam and Bradley McCaskill staged a classic duel in the first 35 lap race, with Pulliam getting by McCaskill on the final lap to score the win. In the second race, McCaskill again made Pulliam work hard but, this time, Pulliam also had to deal with 18-year-old Kate Dallenbach. Pulliam went on to complete the sweep while McCaskill scored a pair of second place finishes and Dallenbach scored a pair of third place finishes.
Jonathan Findley clinched the Late Model track championship, his first of any kind. Robert Arch scored the win in the Charger feature in his first race since suffering a workplace injury in 2014 while Michael O’Brien clinched the division championship. Tyler Horne clinched the U-CAR division championship while James Stroud won the race. Dillon Spain won the Legends feature while teammate Will Bristle scored the championship. Josh Kossek clinched the Bandolero division championship while Kailey Murray scored her third consecutive race win.
Next Race
The Thanksgiving tradition returns on Thanksgiving weekend. The Thanksgiving All-Star Classic will feature three days of racing from November 27th through November 29th which will be headlined by the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock Car winter highlight. More details about the Thanksgiving All-Star Classic will be announced in the coming days.
For more information about Southern National Motorsports Park, check out SNMP’s website at www.snmpark.com, “like” Southern National Motorsports Park on Facebook or “follow” @SNM_Park on Twitter.
