National notebook
Notes: Owner's death closes Lake Cumberland
Long-time Late Model track Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside, Ky., has been closed indefinitely following the death of owner and promoter Harold Hardgrove, who died suddenly early Friday morning at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital. He was 54.
Hardgrove, a former racer and sometimes polarizing promoter, was in his 12th season at the 3/8-mile central Kentucky oval, a 26-year-old track that has regularly hosted a Late Model division throughout Hardgrove's ownership.
The track has hosted unsanctioned specials, O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass DirtCar Series races and Northern Allstars Late Model Series events during the Hardgrove era. The richest event in track history was the Coca-Cola 100 on Nov. 24, 2002, a $10,000-to-win event captured by Johnny Wheeler of Campbellsville, Ky.
The funeral is scheduled for Monday, Aug., 31 at Morris & Hislope Funeral Home in Science Hill, Ky.; visitation is scheduled for after 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Among survivors are Hardgrove's son Brandon, driver of the No. H22 and the leader in the track's Late Model points chase. — Chris Tilley
DTWC ADOPTS UMP-STYLE TIRE RULE: The 29th annual Dirt Track World Championship has adopted a UMP-style tire rule for the Oct. 16-17 event at Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway. The all-Hoosier Racing Tire rule allows LM20, LM30 and LM40 tires, a rule used commonly at UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned events, including Eldora (Ohio) Speedway's biggest events. The $50,000-to-win DTWC is among Dirt Late Model racing's richest events and most prestigious titles. — Terry Young
FEGER STRETCHES UMP POINTS LEAD: Jason Feger of Bloomington, Ill., stretched his UMP DIRTcar points lead to 29 points over two-time and defending champion Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill. Two victories in three starts from Aug. 21-23 helped Feger expand the lead he's held for three weeks in his quest for the $20,000 championship. Feger's 15 UMP victories ties Dona Marcoullier of Houghton Lake, Mich., for the division lead. — Kevin Kovac
CRATE NOTES: Southern Raceway has rescheduled its annual Derek Henley Memorial for Sept. 12. the unsanctioned Crate Late Model event pays $4,400 to the winner. ... Cleveland County Speedway in Lawndale, N.C., will host an NDRA touring event on Sept. 11. The Crate Late Model feature pays $1,500 to the winner. ... Tait Davenport leads the UMP Crate Late Model standings with 2,128 points over Bobby Dauderman (2,091) and Nick Bauman (2,003).
ODDS AND ENDS: Advance ticket discounts for the Hillbilly 100 weekend at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va., are available at the track website. The weekend features the $41,000-to-win Hillbilly 100 for Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series competitors. ... Minneapolis (Kan.) Raceway hosts a rare Late Model event Sept. 19 for the track's season finale. The MidwestDirt Late Model Series is sanctioning the $1,000-to-win race. ... The O'Reilly MSRA has once again shuffled its schedule. The tour will join the O'Reilly MARS tour during the Sept. 18-20 season-ending weekend. ... Midway Speedway in Crooksville, Ohio, has scheduled the inaugural Dorus Wisecarver Memorial for Sept. 26, a $4,101-to-win event.
Editor's note: Updates with funeral arrangements for Hardgrove; corrects that he died at hospital.
