By DAVID MILLER
Special to The Dispatch
Jeremy Shaw has taken detailed notes of races in divisions in which he hasn’t even competed this season.
And for good reason.
The veteran Crate Late Model driver has paid extra attention to the Super Late Model races, particularly the Cotton Pickin’ 100 and the Clash at The MAG – 100-lap races that provide extra challenge to race teams’ tire selections and setups.
Shaw and other NeSmith Crate Late Model drivers will face the same test this weekend when they compete in the Possum Town Grand Prix, a $10,000-to-win, 100-lap race at Magnolia Motor Speedway that will be the most lucrative race for the division in recent memory.
“We just try to watch and keep up with who is on what tires, try to keep tabs on who runs what compound and kind of compare how they’re running,” Shaw said. “We pay attention to how they do on a long run versus short, how their cars run on re-starts. Some of the stuff we run on tires is different than the options Super Late Models guys have, but you can still get a general idea off that.”
The Possum Town Grand Prix, formerly held at Columbus Speedway, will span two days, with qualifying and heat races slated for Friday and features in Crates, Super Late Models, Street Stocks, 602 Late Models and Factory Stocks. An “old timers” race that will include former champions Don Hester and Jerry Inmon will also be held Saturday. Drivers in that race will compete in either Street Stocks or Factory Stocks cars. Racing begins at 3 p.m. Saturday.
The NeSmith Crate Late Model race will have a unique twist that the major Super Late Model races haven’t featured at Magnolia: a fuel break. Track owner Johnny Stokes said the NeSmith Late Model cars have smaller fuel tanks, and that the fuel break will occur at the midway point of the race. Drivers who leave the track will move to the rear of the field, he said.
The fuel break will provide an extra element of strategy in that it will essentially be an extra caution flag. And for drivers running at the end of the lead lap, leaving the track to address any issues with the car could actually benefit them.
“You don’t have a lot to lose if you come off – lose your spot, but get new tires,” Shaw said. “There are going to be some many factors to consider in this race. We’re basically running two 50-lap races.”
Shaw said a top 12 qualifying run is vital to a sold starting place in the feature because of the number of heat races the Mag will feature this weekend. A top 12 qualifying run will yield a front-row spot in a heat a race.
“You really want that – it gives you some flexibility and kind of takes a bit of pressure off because there’s a higher car count, compared to a weekly show,” Shaw said. “We have some tough competition on weekly shows down there, so you have to be on you’re A-game regardless. I try to make my first lap be that one solid lap, and on the second, if I get that first one good, I’ll push it a little harder. But you don’t want to go out there and throw the laps away trying too hard. It’s a fine-line on how much you want to push it.”
Shaw will once again drive for Brad Logan, a friend and fellow Millport native. Stokes drove for Logan for several years prior to Logan and Shaw linking up toward the end of this season. Shaw has two third-place finishes in as many races at the Magnolia while driving for Logan.
“I’m looking forward to running with this team,” Shaw said. “Going into this race, it’s some of the best equipment I’ve run. [Logan] and I have spent a ton of time in the shop to prepare.”
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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