USAR: South Boston II: Northern Division race preview

WHAT:                         Sponge Absorbent 250

                                    USAR Hooters ProCup Series Race #21 of 30 (Northern Division Race #10 of 12)

WHERE: South Boston Speedway - South Boston, VA (.400-mile, semi-banked asphalt oval)

WHEN: Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 7:00 pm

DISTANCE: 250 Laps/100 Miles

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:

Saturday, August 14, 2004: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm ProCup Practice Opens
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm Allison Legacy Series Practice
2:00 pm - 2:40 pm Late Model Practice
2:45 pm - 3:05 pm Allison Legacy Series Qualifying
3:10 pm - 3:40 pm Late Model Qualifying
4:00 pm Hooters ProCup Series Qualifying
5:00 pm Allison Legacy Series - 50 Laps
7:00 pm Sponge Absorbent 250
To Follow Late Model Race - 110 Laps

SoBo To Host Sponge Absorbent 250

Longs, SC-To say that Mardy Lindley is looking forward to getting back on the track in the Sponge Absorbent 250 at South Boston Speedway would be an understatement, a huge understatement.

After starting the season with two wins in the first three races, Lindley's highest finish in the last seven races was at third a Kil-Kare Speedway on July 2.

"I wish we could lineup right now," said Lindley, driver of the No. 16 Hooters Air Ford. "I'm really looking forward to going back to South Boston. I think we might have the car to beat."

In the season opener at SBS, Lindley did have the car to beat.

Lindley led a race-high 221 laps-and rookie Gary St. Amant-en route to his eighth win in the Hooters ProCup Series.

The Taylors, S.C., swept around the outside of pole sitter Johnny Rumley, driver of the No. 8 Lucas Oil Chevy, in Turn 1 of the opening lap and led until Lap 121.

After making a pit stop, Lindley restarted third behind Benny Gordon and St. Amant after the mid-point of the race. However, Lindley wasted little time getting back to the point, blasting past St. Amant and Gordon, who led 11 laps, to retake the lead on Lap 151.

"The car got a little tight in the first half of the race," said Lindley. "On the pit stop, we took four tires and made a little air pressure adjustment. The car took off from there."

Lindley never relinquished the lead after moving to the point and beat St. Amant to the finish line by .563 seconds.

Lindley backed up his win at SoBo with a win at Indianapolis Raceway Park on May 16, but he hasn't had too many highlights since then.

"We've just been our on worse enemy in the last few months," said Lindley. "We've had some bad luck that hurt us, but we've also beaten ourselves."

In the last Northern Division race, at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway, it appeared the plethora of problems would continue for the Lindley and the Hooters Air team as the No. 16 Ford fell from the pace early. However, with some resilient work by the crew, Lindley made up two laps and finished ninth.

"We didn't give up, and we made it back to the lead lap," said Lindley. "We could have finished 18th and taken a beating in the points, but we didn't."

As it stands, Lindley is third in the Northern Division points heading into the Sponge Absorbent 250 at SoBo.

"We've run well at South Boston and Illiana," said Lindley. "If we can get a win at South Boston and run good at Illiana, we should be in the title chase at Adirondack."

The Sponge Absorbent 250 will start at 7:00 p.m. on August 14. The Allison Legacy Series will run a 50-lap feature starting at 5:00 p.m. Following the Sponge Absorbent 250, the Late Model Stock division will compete in a 110-lap feature race.

For more information, call South Boston Speedway at (434) 572-4947.

-usar-