FORTUNA, California -- Luke Hall, driver of the No. 36 Turnbull Motorsports Chevrolet, got his season off to a fast start April 28th at Redwood Acres Raceway, but the team’s joy in turning the fastest qualifying lap soon faded to disappointment after getting caught up in two crashes in the North State Challenge Series Presented by Scottfield Executive Hotels season opener.
After garnering the fastest lap and finishing third in the Trophy Dash, Hall started 10th in the Main Event after the invert. With the field taking the green flag, outside pole sitter Blair Aiken veered into the outside wall causing a pile up in his wake. Hall sustained some damage but was able to continue. Before the midway point, Hall was then involved in a spectacular crash through the grass that left his No. 36 atop the driver’s side roof of Mike Lovell’s #75, causing a red flag on lap 45. Neither driver was injured, and Hall was able to grind out a 12th-place finish.
“We were fast from the start of the day, and I knew we had a great car. It’s just disappointing that we didn’t get to show it,” Hall said. “We were able to battle back and get some points. Now, we just have to regroup and be ready for Altamont and stay focused on our overall goal of running up front and competing for a championship.”
Round two of the NSCS Super Late Model season takes Hall to a place he has never raced, Altamont Motorsports Park in Tracy, Calif., this Saturday. It will be Hall’s first time on a 1/2-mile paved oval.
“I am looking forward to this race, especially running faster speeds and seeing how we stack up against the others,” Hall said. “Preston O’Dell, our crew chief, and I have been working hard to get the car prepared, and I think we’ll have another fast race car there. This should be an exciting event for all the North State competitors and especially the fans.”
For more information on the team, visit www.turnbullmotorsports.com and on the North State Challenge Series, log on to www.northstatechallengeseries.com.
The 2007 NSCS schedule is:
Date Place Notes
April 14 Shasta Raceway Park Postponed - weather
April 28 Redwood Acres Raceway Fastest Lap; Finished 12th
May 12 Altamont Motorsports Park
June 9 Shasta Raceway Park
June 23 Redwood Acres Raceway
July 14 Ukiah Speedway
July 28 Douglas County Speedway
August 11 Lakeport Speedway
September 1 & 2 Ukiah Speedway
September 28 Redwood Acres Raceway
