Six days removed from one of the most heart-wrenching losses in dirt late model history, Kyle Strickler (# 8) of Mooresville, NC picked up where he, for all intensive purposes should've left off, in Rossburg, Oh. Saturday losing a $50,000 payday at Tony Stewart's Eldora Speedway, by winning Thursday night's $7,000 Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model series preliminary at I-80 Speedway.
Overtaking the "Georgia Giant" Shane Clanton of Zebulon on lap 11, the proverbial "Highside Tickler" had no trouble with his right rear (like Saturday) and dominated the remainder of the 30 lapper.
Tennesseean current LODLM points leader Jimmy Owens of Newport 5th just behind Chris Madden of South Carolina.
As for the Brandon's (Sheppard and Overton) two of the three hottest racers in America currently, they were a dismal 9th and 12th respectfully.
Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, who won the $50,000 Intercontinental Classic that Strickler so infamously lost Saturday finished 14th overall Thursday.
Friday night in Tennessee the Crossville Speedway is racing with a $5 Fan Appreciation Night at the Cumberland Plateau track. Full show plus Mini Late Models are on-tap. Races start at 7 p.m. CST.
Saturday Fort Payne Motor Speedway in Alabama and Mountain View Raceway in Dayton/Spring City Tn., both wrap up their respective track points championships.
No racing this weekend at I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater nor North Georgia Speedway in Dalton/Chatsworth.