| National Late Model Series to Visit East Bay Raceway Park | From Series Reports
 Two-time National Late Model Series Champion Ivedent Lloyd Jr. of Ocala Florida is ready for the Corteco sponsored "Southern Dirt Tour's" return to the popular East Bay Raceway Park located in Tampa Florida.
The series will make its return to the Raceway on April 23 and 24th. Lloyd Jr. ventured off from the series to race other divisions in 2003 made his announcement to return for the 2004 season.
"Its great to have a driver like Ivedent to tour with our series" said Steve Howell, PR Director with the Series. "He brings a lot of experience and knowledge with him, and is very popular with the race fans" added Howell. Ivedents crew is his crew-chief Steven Sims, along with his father Ivedent Lloyd pretty much make up his team.
The National Late Model Series "Southern Dirt Tour" whose home office is located in Houston County Ga. was founded in 1994 with events being held within the state of Georgia where its rules and regulations were adopted. The series initially named the National Late Model Sportsman Series raced at three tracks and in 1995 took its series on the road, racing in the southeast. Since that first year the series has grown to 22 to 24 races a year.
"We put together a series in 1994 that was affordable and also competitive for the short track Saturday night racer" said Ray Miller series director. "We have a team of eight officials that travel with the series to each event." added Miller.
Miller also added that "after requests from loyal race fans that follow our series from track to track about driver and series merchandise, we developed a souvenir trailer that travels with us that carries several of our regular drivers merchandise, NLMS merchandise".
The series has rapidly grown over the last six years making it the premier racing series of the southern United States. With the series going into its ninth season of Late Model Racing, it continues to be economically feasible and highly competitive.
All events, except a select few, are two day affairs having a race length of 100 laps and paying $5,000 to win, $325 to start. As of 2003 three events paid $10,000 to win with that number to increase in 2004.
Since its inaugural season the series has produced seven different champions in its eight years. Having toured in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina, over 200 late model cars have competed in the 2003 series with 144 drivers earning points.
Drivers that have competed with the series have came from all over the region and have competed in all different type racing from NASCAR/Busch/ARCA/to being track champion at there home track.
East Bay Raceway Park is 5 miles south of I-4, (3 & 1/2 from cross-town expressway), off Hwy-41(50th Street). Look for the Big Sign in the sky on the West side of Hwy-41 and turn left onto Old Hwy-41. Go one mile to Burts Road and the East Bay Raceway Park signs. Turn left on Burts Road and follow the parking directors to an ACTION packed night of entertainment and Great Family fun.
Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board!
<news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!
|
