Local drivers to race in national event

WASILLA -- Four top competitors of North Star Speedway's full throttle Saturday night legends division will make a long-haul trek to Southern National Speedway in Kenly, N.C., for the 12th Annual Legends Asphalt Nationals, Oct. 23-25.

The event will feature state champions and drivers from all over the United States and Canada, including four racers from southcentral Alaska in the semi pro, pro, and master divisions competing for national titles and points.

Three of the four drivers representing Alaska in Kenly, Al Palma (semi-pro), and Doug Johnstone (pro) from Anchorage picked up a provisional for the A-main during nationals at the Alaska regional qualifier event held in August at North Star Speedway in Wasilla.

Palmer's Mike Thomas, the 2003 full throttle Saturday night champion, also won a provisional during the qualifier. The provisional allows Palma, Johnstone and Thomas to start the A-main if they cannot qualify on their own merits.

This is not the first time Alaskans have competed at a national event. Thomas and Johnstone both have previous experience racing at the high stakes event. Thomas finished fourth in 1999 during the race of champions and had strong showings in other national events in 2000 and 2001.

"This track (North Star Speedway) really prepares you for bigger tracks. Its really challenging," Thomas said. "All of us Alaskans are pretty excited about this event, I think we may have a chance."

Al Palma driver of the GCI/Horizon Lines No. 2 legends will be competing for the first time in a national event and shares the same optimistic outlook as Thomas.

"I think we could come back with a trophy," Johnstone said.

Anchorage driver Michelle Kyte will also attend the event as the only female competitor from Alaska for the seventh year.

Kyte has finished third in the women's race for the last four years and will compete as a pro driver this year.

Legend cars are five-eighth scale old-fashioned NASCAR modified cars manufactured by 600 Racing Inc. a subsidiary of Speedway Motorsports

Inc.

For more information about Southern National Speedway, log onto their Web site at www.southernnatlspeedway.com.

North Star Speedway's total access will be providing free, non-subscription based, near live coverage of the weekends events including video and audio

clips online at www.northstarspeedway.com.

In addition, total access will follow Palma with a behind the scenes look as he prepares for the nationals.