Feb 27-28: Pelican 100 at "The Land of 3-Wide"!

[hook]

***Pelican 100 RESCHEDULED for March 6th & 7th!***

Practice Thursday March 5th.

Sorry for waiting this long to make this call. We had planned on waiting till tomorrow but even if the forecast suddenly improved it would be a struggle to get the pits ready to handle all the big rigs now as it is with the snow, sleet & ice that's already fallen. On top of that, some services are calling for more snow Wed morning even and the forecast for Sat & Sun calls for more showers. Still cold and cloudy on Thu & Fri too so no drying out in site yet.

So, we'll go with our weather dates. See you then!

[hook]

Ark-La-Tex Speedway is happy to announce that Ben Shelton will once again be behind the mic for the Pelican 100 in 2015!

[hook]

Not only have their been 4 different winners of the Pelican 100 but they've come from 4 different states as well.

Ray Moore of Haughton, Louisiana won the first one for the home state but only led the last 2 laps that year. The next three Pelicans got a little slim for Ray but then he led almost all 50 laps in last year's inaugural Lucas Oil Late Model race at Ark-La-Tex before ending up 2nd behind Scott Bloomquist who won with a last minute pass. Moore followed that up by winning the COMP Cams SDS Late Model show, the last time Late Models ran at Ark-La-Tex in 2014 after a terrific duel with Bub McCool. Is the mojo back for #93 in 2015?

[hook]

Jesse Stovall of Galena, Missouri brought 'The Bird' home for the Show-Me state at the 2nd annual Pelican 100 in 2012. Other southwest Missouri drivers have done well at Ark-La-Tex Speedway. Terry Phillips of Springfield is the defending COMP Cams Doug Murphrey Memorial Modified champion collecting $10,000 last May after winning a $5000 version two years earlier. Phillips also has a 3rd place finish with a late Model from the 2013 Pelican. Jeremy Payne -- another Springfield racer -- also has $10,000 Murphrey Memorial Modified win.

After 2 years of runner-ups, it was finally Mohawk Nation time in the Pelican 100 victory lane of 2013. Bub McCool took the bird home to Vicksburg, Mississippi! Bub seemed to struggle a little in the rain shortened version last year and again at the Lucas Oil show last April but got his stride back in the May COMP Cams SDS race as he and Moore -- the two who battled at the end of inaugural Pelican 100 -- put on a crowd pleasing, lead-swapping duel through the middle stages of that one. Like 2011, it ended Moore 1st, McCool 2nd. That was 35 laps. Could be different if we get all 100 in later this month!


And that brings us to last year's event...

After a successful Thursday night practice with a pit full of Late Models (51!), everyone was facing a horrible forecast for Saturday. Given the forecast, it appeared that it would be late Sunday to get both race days in. So a quick poll of the racing teams early Friday morning came back with a 90%-plus being in favor of racing a one-day, 50-lap, $5000-to-win race. Word went out Friday morning to the fans that if you wanted a race, it was going to be done that night. Sure enough at around 5PM on Saturday, the skies cut loose. Good call.

On the track, it appeared that Billy Moyer would add trophy #2,654 to his collection and this one would have a bird sitting on it. I'm kidding on the number but no doubt Mr. Smooth has a bunch of wins. Timothy Culp of Prattsville, Arkansas just wouldn't give up though and stayed with the #21 throughout the early laps and then, lo and behold, the #C8 Bob Pierce Chassis was the best car this time. Culp pulled away for the win. Moyer, 2nd. Jack Sullivan was having a strong third place run until some contact from Ryan Gustin flattened a tire. The Reaper ended up third while 12th starting Billy Moyer, Jr. charged to 4th. Chris Wall edged Jared Landers at the flag for his 3rd Pelican 100 top 5 in three tries.

Less than 10 days till the Thursday night Pelican 100 practice!

[hook]

Don't let the weather forecasts get you down yet folks. It's too early for that!

We still plan to have a race as scheduled THIS WEEKEND!!!

[hook]

***Pelican 100 RESCHEDULED for March 6th & 7th!***

Practice Thursday March 5th.

Sorry for waiting this long to make this call. We had planned on waiting till tomorrow but even if the forecast suddenly improved it would be a struggle to get the pits ready to handle all the big rigs now as it is with the snow, sleet & ice that's already fallen. On top of that, some services are calling for more snow Wed morning even and the forecast for Sat & Sun calls for more showers. Still cold and cloudy on Thu & Fri too so no drying out in site yet.

So, we'll go with our weather dates. See you then!