Kenly, NC (March 18, 2008) – FOR IMMEDIAT E RELEASE

Matt McCall had to wait almost 19 hours from the official start of the 2008 Southern National Raceway Park season to go green.  Once the flag flew, he checked out.  McCall would lead 44 laps in both 50 lap Kinston Automotive Late Model Stock races to sweep the Opening Day 310.

The weather played a small role in the day, as teams had only one practice on Sunday afternoon after a washout on Saturday night.  McCall said of the weather: “When the sun came out, we started sliding around and I got a bit worried.  We got it covered and it worked out alright."

In race 1, Corey Strickland took the early lead, but would be passed by McCall on lap 6.  Strickland would hang on for second, holding off Sherman Davis Jr. by .003 seconds.  Davis Jr. finishes third, with Ryan Rhodes and Maryland’s Kyle Hall rounding out the top five.

Thanks to a four car invert, Ryan Rhodes would take the pole for the second of the twin 50 lap races, and would lead the first six laps before McCall made it look easy, passing Rhodes on the inside and cruising ahead to victory.  Rhodes would finish second, with Hall, Davis Jr. and Strickland finishing third through fifth, respectively.

In Bobby Murray GM Performance Parts Limited Late Models, Adam Murray took the pole and led the first 19 laps before a turn two spin would end his day.  Wesley Falk would benefit from Murray’s misfortune and lead the remaining 31 laps to win his first race of 2008.  Billy Corey, Taylor Howard, Melvin Langley and Todd Dail would round out the top five.

Keith Edwards won from the pole in Bobby Murray GM Performance Parts Super Stocks, holding off a late run by Duane Walker and David Warren.  In 4 Cylinders, Kevin Pierce made a last lap pass on Lee Kozikowski for the win, with Kozikowski and John Whitley Jr. finishing third. 

Kevin Benton would take the checkered flag in Street Stocks, but that win would be short-lived as himself and Bobby Whitley were disqualified, giving the win to Andy Carter.  Tyler Lamont second and Sonny Jay Fisher third.  Kevin Floars bested Dennis Capps and William Hartsfield in the Mod 4 Cylinder division, coming from starting shotgun on the field.  Before the rain Saturday evening, Albert Lamont won in UCARs, with Cecil Lynn Waller winning in V6 UCARs.

Southern National Raceway Park returns is off this weekend for the Easter holiday, but will be back the following Saturday evening, March 29 with the green flag falling at 6:30 PM.  March 29 will be the Night of Modifieds, with the Nascar Whelen Southern Modified Tour and the Rolling Thunder Modifieds taking over the track.  The Southern Modifieds will be running 150 laps, and the Rolling Thunders running 50 laps.  Also running that night will be the Kinston Automotive Late Model Stocks, Bobby Murray GM Performance Parts Limited Late Models and Super Stocks, Papa Jacks Stores Street Stocks and the 4 Cylinder division.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for children 8-17, with children 7 and under free.  Military personnel are $10 with a valid military ID.  For more information contact the track office at (919) 284-1114 or race to http://www.southernnational.net.