LUCAMA, NC :: Andrew Grady was one of several drivers who broke out the brooms during the race weekend with his sweep of two very wild Limited Late Model races at Southern National Motorsports Park on Saturday night.
Grady’s win accompanied teammate and mentor Mike Darne’s sweep of the Late Model features, something that Grady said was exciting for both drivers. Both Grady and Darne scored poles, Grady’s first career pole, in a night where their race team was absolutely dominant.
“Last night was really exciting,” Grady said. “I can’t believe Mike got the pole, led flag-to-flag, I got the pole led flag-to-flag, we both won and we both came from the back and doubled down. This car, she was on a rail. Dennis Brock, Mike Darne and my dad (Tony Grady), they’ve got this thing working. Every time we go to a track, it’s a rocket whether we’re on stickers or scuffs.”
After the race, Grady’s team reflected at their campers.
“We were at the campers hanging out last night and it was very special for both of us,” Grady remarked. “I got my first pole, I dominated and Mike Dominated and it was very special.”
The weekend was not without adversity for Grady. During open practice on Friday, Grady blew a brand new engine and the team scrambled on Friday night to change motors ahead of Saturday’s race.
The victories came in what were Grady’s 50th and 51st career starts. To date, Grady has scored seven wins on the season in his first full season of racing. Five of those wins have come at Southern National while two of them have come at Wake County Speedway in Raleigh, North Carolina.
“We are competitive wherever we go. Mike and my dad have a lot of experience. When I went to Caraway, I was in the top three. As long as we can travel around, be competitive and contend for wins, that’s all I ask of my guys. Put me in the hunt and I’ll do the rest.”
Grady’s ultimate goal on the season was to win the Limited Late Model division championship at Southern National Motorsports Park but disqualifications from twin races on May 24th knocked him out of contention for the championship – one Grady felt like he could have wrapped up. He took the adversity in stride.
“I would have it locked up right now as we speak but you top-three people to death all year and you’ll win the championship. It’s aggravating. I got disqualified, they caught us on something questionable but we’re still winning races. We wanted to win the championship.”
Grady plans on returning to Wake County Speedway on Friday night to chase a $1,000 bounty that’s been placed on Clay Jones, who has won six consecutive races at Wake County. Grady beat Clay Jones on Opening Night at Wake County Speedway and he feels confident that he can do it again.
“Clay’s hit on something there but we’ve beat him twice. I really want to go back this Friday. They’ve got a $1,000 bounty on him and there’s nothing more I’d like to do than go out there and take that money.”
Grady also plans on running in the Southeast Limited Late Model Series race at Myrtle Beach Speedway in November and is also considering racing in the Mischa Sell Memorial at Ace Speedway in October. On top of that, he could make his Late Model Stock Car debut at Southern National in the Thanksgiving Classic in November.
Race Results
Race 1 (Official): Andrew Grady, Rusty Daniels, Chris Chapman, Boo Boo Dalton, Dillon Spain, Haley Moody, Randy Renfrow, Tyler Matthews and Josh Bryant.
Race 2 (Unofficial): Andrew Grady, Rusty Daniels, Dillon Spain, Boo Boo Dalton, Ronald Renfrow, Tyler Matthews, Josh Bryant, Chris Chapman and Haley Moody (DQ?)
EDITOR’S NOTE: The disqualification of Haley Moody from the second Limited Late Model race for being “too light” is “under review”. RACE22.com will have more on this story when it becomes available.
