DON O'NEAL recovered from a faltered start and rolled to the NALMS season opening win at the Scott County Fairgrounds.

FINISH:
1 Don O'Neal
2 Dennis Erb, Jr.
3 Steve Hillard
4 Steve Casebolt
5 Mike Jewell
6 John Gill
7 Steve Barnett
8 Jim Curry
9 Michael Chilton
10 John Whitney
11 Scott James
12 Mike Hawley
13 Victor Lee
14 CJ Rayburn
16 Bobby Carrier, Jr.
15 Shawn Negangard
17 Josh Allison
18 Doug Smith
19 Joey Kramer
20 Timmy Yeager

STEVE CASEBOLT jumped out to the early lead in the main event ahead of polesitter and fast qualifier O'Neal. O'Neal rebounded from the youngster's early advantage to take a look low coming off two before the first yellow flew on lap 3 for a spun TIMMY YEAGER.

On the restart, Casebolt again pulled out to 3 car lengths in one before the Real Deal rolled up and alongside down the back stretch. The duo danced door to door in three before the Real Deal powered ahead off four for the lead.

As Donnie O rolled out to a half straightaway lead, DENNIS ERB, JR. moved into second after starting sixth while STEVE HILLARD challenged Casebolt for third. While Casebolt and Hillard staged the best battle on the track, JOHN GILL hounded MIKE JEWELL joining the rest of the field on the bottom.

Further back in the field, 16th starting SCOTT JAMES rolled up to the rear of VICTOR LEE to challenge for 11th bringing consi winner MIKE HAWLEY along. In front of them STEVE BARNETT worked under impressive heat winner MICHAEL CHILTON for 7th leaving the 17 year old Chilton to deal with JIM CURRY. Curry worked on the youngster before JOEY KRAMER came to a stop between three and four to bring out the final yellow.

On the last restart, O'Neal again pulled out to a straightaway lead. Gill and Jewell continued to race for 5th while Hawley pulled his four link Rayburn around Lee for 11th. As the laps wound down, Hillard managed to work his way under Casebolt for third as Chilton slipped along the back chute allowing Curry by going into three. Erb nursed his softer tire choice to second as the Real Deal added another NALMS trophy to his collection.

OTHER ODDS AND ENDS...

-JOHN GILL was the winner of the NALMS "Pit Stop Challenge" over Don O'Neal's crew. The new challenge between teams will be held at all of the NALMS races this year with the winning team receiving $100 for their efforts. At the end of the year, each winning team will compete for a $1000 prize.

-Those failing to make the main event at Scottsburg were: Tim Tungate, Bobby Wolter, Jr., Ted Nobbe, Jason Setser, Frankie Coomer, Spencer Watson, Richard Smith, Brad Barrow, Mark Barber, Rohn Moon, Mike Mataragas, Duane Chamberlain, Greg Hicks, Sherry Heckenast, Mike Ruble and Kerry Matthew.

-With a new concept, the NALMS format has changed in 2003. This year the heats and qualifying will be done in groups (like the Rick's series). From there, the top four qualifiers in each group will be inverted. Next, the top qualifier from each group will draw for the first rows for the feature. For time restraints and weather situations, this system can be very effective as heats can be made up very quickly.

So what's the verdict on the newly revamped NALMS? The jury is still out but there are some very good possibilities as the somewhat alignment with the Renegade tour will be a plus as is the BoB tire rule.

From an efficiency standpoint, right now the best thing Gary Herbert can do is take the microphone out of Chris Tilley's hand and put him to doing what he does best, oversee the timing and scoring. This move alone would get the heats to the pits quicker and cars in the right running order during cautions much faster making the fans and drivers both happier. Overall everyone seems to be positive about the 2003 season.

An unclear crystal ball still has next weekend still in the air. Brownstown, Florence and Bluegrass each have possibilities. Friday however is very promising for a trip to the Ponderosa for their season opener. So until then, we'll be waiting for a re-enactment of the BMX Tug of War to take place, and rollin' em around!