Phoenix, AZ — The Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series gets a big stage on Saturday night (June 28), making a hotly-anticipated visit to the famed Manzanita Speedway.
Manzanita’s half-mile oval will host a full points show for the region’s premier dirt Late Model tour, which last raced at the Phoenix track in 2004 while under its former Southwest Dirt Racing Association (SWDRA) banner. Super Late Models have not battled at the track since non-point Western Allstars DIRTcar Late Model Series action was contested during the 2007 Western World Championships.
“We’re very excited to bring the Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series to Manzanita,” said Chris Morgan, who oversees the tour as the director of the DIRTcar Racing Western Region. “We’re working hard to increase the stature of the series and a perfect way to do that is to compete at one of the country’s most well-known racetracks.”
Leading the Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series charge to Manzanita will be Phoenix-area star Lonnie Parker Jr. of El Mirage, Ariz. The tour’s alltime winningest driver and four-time champion, Parker carries a six-race series win streak into Saturday night’s $2,000-to-win event.
The 32-year-old standout will face a strong test in his pursuit of seven consecutive victories, however, with Manzanita’s program expected to attract the toughest Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series field of the 2008 season. With the Western Allstars DIRTcar Late Model Series and Colorado Late Model Series idle this weekend, several top talents from each tour have plans to invade Manzy.
Also joining the field will be Phoenix-area DIRTcar Modified drivers Anthony Madrid and Jason Noll. Both racers will be behind the wheel of Super Late Models for the big show at their hometown oval.
El Mirage, Ariz.’s Madrid, who sits seventh in the current UMP DIRTcar Modified national points standings, will make his Super Late Model debut in the Jeff Manka-owned No. 95. He owns 117 career victories at Manzanita – most on the facility’s smaller track, though he’s had success on the half-mile as well – leaving him one win away from tying Lealand McSpadden for third on Manzy’s alltime win list.
Phoenix’s Noll, who is 13th in the UMP DIRTcar Modified national points standings, will run Keith McKinney’s No. 6 in the Southwest DIRTcar Late Model Series meet.
Gates are scheduled to open at 6 p.m. on Saturday, with racing set to begin at 7:30 p.m.
Additional information is available by logging on to www.manzanitaspeedway.com.
For more information on all of the series, sanctioning and member tracks of DIRTcar Racing, visit DIRTcar.com.
