The Southern All Stars

EAST Super Late Model Dirt Racing Series is gearing up for this season’s biggest doubleheader event – beginning at Harris Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 4, and ending Sunday, Sept. 5, at Cherokee Speedway.

Dubbed ‘Labor Day War,’ both speedways are working together on support divisions and will feature a combined $14,000 in first place money for SAS EAST events.

Harris Speedway’s Saturday night show will feature the $4,000 to win SAS EAST Inaugural Clyde Dedmon Memorial.

Dedmon was the former owner and promoter at Harris Speedway in the 50s and 60s. He promoted Shelby, Rutherford and several other speedways. He was credited for starting the Hobby Racing Association (HRA), one of the first organized traveling series in the Carolinas to use a points system.

The HRA was years ahead of its time and helped fuel the careers of dirt racing legends like Bobby Gossett, Johnny Halford, Tommy Eskew and Bob Pressley (father of former NASCAR driver Robert Pressley).

SAS EAST Series Point leader Johnny Pursley has a slim four-point lead over Casey Roberts of Toccoa, Ga.

Pursley will have his hands full with hometown favorite Ricky Weeks, who lives just five miles from Harris Speedway. The last time these two drivers raced at Harris they battled side by side for first 10 laps. Weeks went on to win that event with Pursley finishing a disappointing eighth. Weeks has won the last three Super Late Model races at Harris Speedway and currently holds the track record.

The SAS EAST will run a complete show featuring qualifying, heat racing and 40-lap main event as well as main events for Stock 4, Xtreme 4 (fwd), and Pure Stock divisions.

On Friday evening, Harris Speedway will hold an open practice for SAS EAST Late Models and run heat races for all classes with main events for Limited Sportsman and Super Stock 4 only.

Harris and Cherokee speedways are working together to offer bonus money, trophies and bragging rights for cars racing both speedways in Stock 4 , Xtreme 4 (fwd), & Pure Stock divisions.

Harris Speedway is located 12 miles southeast of Rutherfordton.