ADAIRSVILLE, GA – The Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series and North Alabama Speedway officials are hopeful that the third time will be the charm to present the $3,000-to-win 4th Annual King of the Crates 50 this Sunday afternoon at the Tuscumbia, AL clay oval. The weather forecast is very favorable for Sunday afternoon.
The race has been postponed on two different occasions. The original date was on September 12, and that attempt was rained out just before Boyd Built Fabricators Group Qualifying. The second try for the King of the Crates Race was scheduled for October 10, but that try was rained out by the remnants of Hurricane Delta.
The third try this weekend will also be the second time the race has been contested on a Sunday afternoon. The 2019 National Champion Jake Knowles was ordained as King Jake II on Sunday afternoon, September 30, 2018. The track took rubber from top to bottom under the sun but did not lock down and provided the fans and competitors with some great racing action.
King Jeremy III Shaw of Millport, AL is the defending race winner, and two-time series Champion King Cory I Hedgecock of Loudon, TN won the inaugural race in 2017. Jimmy Thomas of Phenix City, AL won the preliminary 40-lap King of the Crate Race at North Alabama Speedway on September 11 with Shaw finishing second, as he tuned up to keep his crown.
Wil Herrington of Hawkinsville, GA will ride into North Alabama Speedway this Sunday afternoon with a 124-point lead in the National Touring point standings over Cruz Skinner of Oxford, AL. In the first 13 races of the 2020 season, Herrington has 1,194 points after four wins, ten top five finishes, 11 top ten finishes, and three Boyd Built Fabricators Fast Time Awards.
Skinner is in a tight battle for the second spot in the standings with Corey Dunn of Milledgeville, GA. Skinner, with 1,070 points, has an eight-point advantage over Dunn, who has 1,062 points. Skinner has on win, seven top five finishes and ten top ten finishes in 12 races.
Dunn has one win, three top five finishes, ten top ten finishes and two Boyd Built Fabricators Fast Time Awards in 13 races. Dunn is also the Cruise With The Champions Rookie of the Year point leader. T.J. Brittain of Centre, AL is fourth in the National standings with 1,016 points, and Jody Knowles of Tyrone, GA is fifth with 968 points.
There will also be a couple of other point battles within a point battle this Sunday afternoon at North Alabama Speedway. Drivers 18 years of age and younger will battle for VP Racing Fuels Young Guns Challenge Series points, and with Late Model drivers having the option to earn Touring points or Weekly points, some will choose to race for Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA Weekly Racing Series Late Model points.
Trynt Lloyd of Jacksonville, FL is chasing Bryson Mitchell of Russellville, AL for the VP Racing Fuels Young Guns Challenge Series point lead. Lloyd is sixth in the Touring points, and second in the Young Guns points. Mitchell leads the Young Guns points with an 83-point advantage over Lloyd.
Mitchell, who is a regular at North Alabama Speedway in Weekly Racing Series action, is third in the Crate Racin’ USA Weekly Racing Series Late Model points, nine points behind the point leader, 2019 National Champion Shannon Lee of Lumberton, MS, and three points behind the second-place driver, Oakley Johns of Hohenwald, TN.
The gates at North Alabama Speedway will open on October 18 at 12:30 p.m. Central Time, with Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin; USA Dirt Late Model Series Pre-Race Registration and Technical Inspection from 12:30 p.m. until the start of the Drivers Meeting at 1:45 p.m. Hot Laps are scheduled for 2 p.m. with racing to follow.
North Alabama Speedway is located at 12200 Highway 247, Tuscumbia, AL 35674. For more information call 256-702-5852, or visit the track web site at www.northalabamaspeedway.com. You can also Like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/North-Alabama-Speedway-1859023771051856/.
The economical Aluminum Head, Steel Block, Chevrolet Performance 604 Circle Track Engine is the engine of choice for the Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series competitors. The Chevrolet Performance 604 Engine is in stock and available for free next day delivery from Newsome Raceway Parts in Hartsville, SC.
Newsome Raceway Parts gives a portion of the sales from each Chevrolet Performance Circle Track Engine sold back to the Crate Racin’ USA Point Funds in four different Divisions. Each economical Chevrolet Performance Circle Track Engine is built and sealed at the factory to prevent any expensive modifications. To place an order call 1-877-497-3624.
For more information and rules about the Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series, visit the series web site at www.crateracinusa.com, or visit the series on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CrateRacinUSA/. You can follow us on Twitter @CrateRacinUSALM, and at Instagram at crateracinusa.
Newsome Raceway Parts, a Division of Raceway Chevrolet in Hartsville, SC, is the Title Sponsor of Crate Racin’ USA. Chevrolet Performance Parts is an Official Sponsor of Crate Racin’ USA. Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire Sponsor of Crate Racin’ USA. VP Racing Fuel is the Official Race Fuel and Lubricant of Crate Racin’ USA. Knowles Race Parts and Bodies is the Official Parts Supplier for Crate Racin’ USA. Willy’s Carburetors is the Official Carburetor of Crate Racin’ USA. Fullmoon Graphics is the Official Wrap, Banner, and Sign Company of Crate Racin’ USA. Crate Racin’ USA 2020 Chassis Sponsors are Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, and CVR Race Cars.
PHOTO CUTLINE: King Jeremy III Shaw of Millport, AL will be looking to defend his crown this Sunday afternoon in the $3,000-to-win 4th Annual King of the Crates 50 for the Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series at North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia, AL. Shaw came out of a two-year retirement from racing to celebrate last years win in the Bud Coley Trucking Special. (Crate Racin’ USA Media File Photo)