North Georgia Opens 2008 Season

CHATSWORTH, Ga. (Mar. 22) After being postponed by weather for two consecutive weekends the third time was the charm as North Georgia Speedway finally opened the 2008 season Saturday night. With 24 Super Late Models and 34 Limited Late Models making up part of the 89 cars in the pits the fans were treated to an action packed night of good competitive dirt track racing.

"You never know how opening night is going to go, but this one was pretty smooth," said promoter Monty Morrow. "We were able to do what we want to do throughout the season and that is run a fast paced entertaining show and get the fans and competitors out in a timely manner. Thanks to everyone we were done at 10:05."

When the green flag dropped for the 30-lap Late Model feature the front row of Randy Burrows and Todd Morrow dove into the first turn battling for position. Burrows would win the drag race with Morrow and take the lead on the first lap. Morrow tucked in behind Burrows with Gary McPherson, Kevin Gibson and Bobby Mayse in his wake.

On a black ice track Morrow would continue to dog Burrows and was able to make a couple of credible runs at the leader but couldn't close the deal. While the leaders toured the high bank clay over McPherson, Gibson, Mayse, Jake Knowles and Robert Gant would fight for position. On lap 20 Gibson would relegate McPherson to fourth while Mayse held off Knowles for fifth.

Burrows would lead Morrow across the stripe with Gibson, McPherson and Mayse rounding out the top five. Knowles was sixth with Gant seventh, Shon Flasse eighth,  Lee Sutton ninth and Billy Mayo tenth.

In the Limited/Crate Late Model/Sportsman feature it was J.J. Nye taking the lead and never looking back as he wired the 20-lap event. While Nye was in control, the racing for position among Brian Burke, Randy Hill, Don Jacobson, Jeff Smith, Henry Ward and Craig Burrows was intense as positions changed with regularity.

When the checkered flag flew is was Nye taking the win. He was followed across the stripe by Burke, Hill, Jacobson and Burrows. Allen Green took the B-Main win.

In Hobby action Tim Ford took the win over Greg Brant. Tanner Works was third, John Clark fourth and Todd Hernandez fifth.

A light field of Ponys saw Jimmy Elliott take the win over Mike Truelove, Chris DeFore Scott Hogan and Caleb Howard.

David Beam led from wire to wire to win the Econo Bomber feature. Following Beam across the finish line were Daniel Breman, Jimmy Millard, Tom Peters and Jeff Jacobs.

Racing at North Georgia Speedway moves to Friday nights next weekend with the SAS Ernest Young Memorial. This event will be the first half of the SAS double header and pay $5,000 to win. The second half will be the SAS Shamrock at Cleveland Speedway on next night.

Located in Chatsworth, Ga. North Georgia Speedway is a third-mile clay oval featuring dirt track racing at it's best from March to October. The track address is 300 N. Georgia Rd. Chatsworth, Ga. 30705. Coming south on I-75 take Hwy. 52 (Exit 333) east approx. 11 miles to Hwy. 225. Go south on 225 approx. six miles. Track is on the right. Coming north on I-75 take Hwy. 225 (Exit 317) north 13 miles. Track is on your left. For more information including area motels go to www.northgeorgiaspeedway.com