By By Steve Swogetinsky / special to The Star
March 17, 2004
Something for everybody.
That's what Charles Thrash, manager of the Queen City Speedway, promises the drivers who compete in the different divisions at the dirt track located just south of Meridian.
If you look at the lineup of races in the season opener Saturday night, you'll see what Thrash is referring to. In addition to the regular slate of races which includes Pure Stock, Pro Street, Mini and two-person Cruiser divisions the Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series will be run in the Late Model Division.
Many of the top Late Model drivers will follow the 22-race schedule from track to track this summer, seeking the points championship. Races are scheduled in Long Beach, Columbus, Jackson, D'Lo, Hattiesburg, Baker (La.), north Alabama and Baldwyn. Other drivers will compete locally and race in the series when it comes to their home track, or one nearby. The series will be back at the Queen City Speedway June 4 and Aug. 7.
The series actually got underway in Long Beach on March 6 at the South Mississippi Speedway, with Jimbo McDuffie placing first, according to the series' website. David Breazeale placed second and Marty Hardy came in third. Scott Slay, the defending Mississippi series champion, placed eighth overall in the race.
The winner of Saturday's 50-lap race at Queen City will claim a $2,500 prize.
Some of the drivers who competed last year in the Late Model Divisions and are expected to make an impact this year in the division include Mike Boland, Rodney Wing, McDuffie, Wiley Williams, Johnny Barber, Slay, Kyle Thrash, Anthony Rushing, Darin Dorsey, Dennis Duncan and others.
And while many consider the Late Models the main event of dirt racing, the competition and interest can prove to be just as intense in the other divisions. In addition to regular points races each weekend, there are special races for each division:
On May 15, June 12 and Sept. 11, Queen City will host the Summer Sizzler 50 plus MS Modified Series;
On June 19, the Cruiser Clash 30 is scheduled with $500 to win;
On July 3, the Street Stock 30 is scheduled with $500 to win;
On July 17, the Mini Stock 30 is scheduled with $500 to win.
With the exception of NASCAR's Talladega weekends in April and October, the schedule will run through the end of October with the Fall Classic 100 set for Oct. 28-30.
Pit admission is $25 with gates opening at 4 p.m. General admission is $15 with gates opening at 5 p.m. Racing is expected to begin at 7 p.m.