Auto racing: Ponderosa Speedway hosting consecutive nights of racing

JUNCTION CITY — Ponderosa Speedway will host a doubleheader of weekend racing competition with full programs Friday and Saturday nights.
The weekend will be capped by the 17th annual Pete Abell Memorial late models race Saturday, with a number of other races scheduled for both nights.
The Pete Abell Memorial first appeared on the Ponderosa schedule in 1995, with Darrell Lanigan of Union winning the inaugural event at the 3/8-mile red-clay oval. Last year Justin Ratliff of Campbellsville repeated as champion to become only the second two-time winner of the race, joining Lanigan, who also won in 1997.
Other recent winners include Mike Marlar of Winfield, Tenn. (2009), Victor Lee of Danville (2008), Aaron Hatton of Mount Sterling (2007) and Chris Combs of Isom (2006).
There will be a full program of racing Friday, featuring a $1,200-to-win late models race. There will also be races in the modified ($600), sportsman ($300), street stock ($200) and front-wheel drive ($200) divisions.
Saturday’s program features the Abell memorial, which pays $2,000 to win and $200 to start and also includes modified ($600), sportsman ($300), street stock ($200) and front-wheel drive ($200) divisions.
The late models, modifieds and sportsman cars will time trial, while street stocks and front-wheel drives will pill draw for starting positions. The highest-finishing late model driver in the feature race utilizing a Crate engine will receive a $100 bonus, with the next-highest-finishing Crate-engine car and driver receiving a $50 bonus.
The current track points leaders are Michael Chilton of Salvisa (late models), Elliott Despain of Campbellsville (modifieds), Donnie Sullivan of Stanford (sportsman) and Brandon Holt of New Haven (front-wheel drives).
Practice laps beginning at 7:15 p.m. on both nights, with time trials at 7:45 and green-flag racing at 8:30.
Admission Friday is $12 for adults and $5 for ages 6-12, with children 5 and under admitted free with a paid adult. Pit passes are $30.
Admission Saturday is $15 for adults and $5 for ages 6-12, with children 5 and under admitted free with a paid adult. Pit passes are $35.
For more information, visit www.ponderosaspeedway.net or call the track at (859) 854-6808 on race day.