IRVINGTON, Ala. (August 9, 2014) – An enthusiastic crowd of racing fans of all ages converged on Mobile International Speedway (MIS) Saturday evening for the facility’s annual Back to School night at MIS. Despite the enthusiastic crowd, Mother Nature also converged on MIS, and judging by the end result, it is safe to say that she wasn’t a fan of racing on this particular occasion.
Following the bottom falling out, and rain soaking Alabama’s fastest half-mile, officials were forced to postpone the event until Saturday night, Aug. 16 at 7pm. Tickets sold on Saturdaynight will be honored for the new date and racing action is set to resume right where it left off prior to the rain.
As promised, children will still have the opportunity to ride in race cars during intermission – and racing fans will be rewarded with features from the Pro Truck, Super Stock, Sportsman and Bomber divisions in what is sure to be an action-packed night. On top of that, a 30-lap feature for the Pro Late Models will serve as a night cap.
Despite the rain, there was a silver lining to the shortened evening on Saturday, however; as track officials were able to squeeze in the scheduled 20-lap feature for the Pro Late Models – and it did not disappoint.
Starting second, 15-year-old Garrett Jones wasted no time when the green flag waved to start what was to be the first of two races for the division on Saturday night. Emerging from turn two lead with the lead after passing polesitter Josh Bragg, the Mooresville, N.C. driver appeared to be on his way to a win. As the race reached its halfway point, however; Super Late Model star Mike Garvey was on Jones’ tail. Cutting to the inside of Jones as the two entered turn one, Garvey quickly dispatched the young driver and set sail with the lead.
Despite a late-race surge from Bragg, Garvey cruised to the win and asserted his presence as a threat to not only win the second PLM feature of the night, but as an early favorite for the Lee Fields Memorial later in the month.
Now, Garvey and the rest of the drivers at MIS will have to wait a week to pick up where they left off.
Can the former NASCAR driver sweep the double feature despite an extra week for his fellow competitors to adjust on their cars? That question, and many more, will be answered in the continuation of Back to School night on Aug. 16.
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About Mobile International Speedway: Mobile International Speedway is the longest continuously operating sports facility in Mobile County. It was built in 1964 and has presented weekly motorsports events every year since then. As an indication of increasing community acceptance and enthusiasm, both the Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Mobile Sports Authority became MIS partners beginning in 2013.
Family attendance and participation have been the keys to the track’s continued success. Kids five and under are always admitted free to the grandstands. Family nights and family-oriented shows have always been staples of the annual MIS schedules. Over 30,000 people will attend the 14 scheduled MIS events in 2014.
