ON AUTO RACING: LATEMODEL RACER EYES BIG PAYOFF

Joey Mack found the perfect combination in the debut for his new GRT-built late model race car Saturday. That same result this week could make him $4,500 richer.

The Benton racer unveiled the new car with the familiar No. 97 Saturday at Poinsett County Speedway in Harrisburg, Ark., and promptly dusted a 15-car field. A bigger turnout is expected when the track holds a two-day event that begins today with a $1,000-to-win race and wraps up Saturday with a $3,000 top prize.

The driver that wins both would earn another $500.

"We'll go into it with some confidence," said Mack, 23. "We're pretty happy with where we stand right now."

Mack's success Saturday hardly reflects the early part of the season. In his first race of the year at a Batesville, Ark., track, Mack made contact with another car in a qualifying race and rolled his car. The damage wiped out a scheduled three-day racing weekend and his chances to pursue the rookie of the year title with the Mid America Racing Series.

Mack nursed the patched-up race car and its twisted frame through a few more events before the new chassis arrived last week. The engine, transmission and other parts were transferred to the new car in six days.

"It was disappointing to work four months on a brand new car, then one mistake costs you thousands of dollars," Mack said. "But with the new car, to go out that first night and to be that close to perfect is incredible. We were tickled with how it turned out."

The win was the 45th for Mack, who two years ago won 24 events as part of a double-championship season at two western Kentucky tracks. This is his first season racing in the late model division, having graduated from the limited late model class last season.

Bouncing back

Chalk it up to the safety of race cars.

Terry Johnson of Benton and Alex Shanks each rode their cars through flips in Saturday's feature races at Auto Tire and Parts Racepark in Benton. Both walked away with plans for a quick return: Johnson said he'll be back at the track this week, while Shanks raced Sunday and finished eighth at a track in Haubstadt, Ind.

Quickly ...

* Sikeston racer Jerrod Hull, second among the Benton track's winningest sprint racers with 12 wins, competed twice over the weekend with the World of Outlaws traveling series. He finished 21st Friday at a track in Terre Haute, Ind., and 10th Saturday at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill.

The series makes its next area stop June 12 at Paducah (Ky.) Raceway.

* Terry James of Scott City continued his mastery of the late model division at the Granite City track Saturday. His feature race win moved him into a 12-point lead over Craig Nordan in the division standings.

* Billy James, a four-time season champion at the Benton oval track who now competes in late models, finished 10th Saturday in the MARS-sanctioned event at Little Rock, Ark.