South Boston Speedway notebook

Sellers blowing up

Danville resident and 2005 South Boston Speedway track champion and Whelen All-American Late Model Series National Champion Peyton Sellers took a break from his Nationwide Series schedule and was scheduled to enter today’s Bailey’s 200. During one of his practice runs, Sellers’ motor in the No. 21 Taco Bell Chevrolet blew up entering Turn 1, forcing the 25-year-old to pack up the car for another weekend.

Sellers could only describe the motor failure as “bad luck” since it had only been raced once before. He will be in the No. 77 SFP Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series on July 25 for the Kroger 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Ind.

New look for national champ

Two-time Whelen All-American Late Model Series National Champion Philip Morris is still driving the Clarence’s Steakhouse No. 26 car, but instead of the orange and white paint scheme, Morris’ car is now completely black and has a Toyota Camry body.

The new paint scheme will debut at SoBo tonight after finishing eighth and second in twin 75-lap races at Motor Mile Speedway last Saturday in the all-black. There is a possibility, though nothing has been confirmed, that NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin could drive Morris’ Camry in a July 18 race at Motor Mile while Morris pilots the familiar colors.

Morris was at SoBo’s last race, the Dad’s Night 150, on June 20 and learned a lot for the 200-lap race.

“This is encouraging to me because we’ve got something to build on next time we come,” Morris said. “We know what we have to do now. We’ve just got to get a little more front grip.”

Keith Rocco, whose home track is the Waterford Speedbowl in Waterford, Conn., leads the national standings at 681 points, 30 ahead of Morris.

Tight battle for the track title

Deac McCaskill, winner of last year’s Bailey’s 200, leads Justin Johnson by two points entering tonight’s race. Both drivers said Friday that their respective cars were getting better — typical for two drivers who have constantly battled for victories this season at SoBo.

Johnson made the move from Taylor Bros. back to Frank Deiny Jr. three races ago, despite leading the points at the time. After a broken wheel hub in the first race, Johnson has finished third and fifth in the next two races on his march to a track title after finishing second a year ago to Wayne Ramsey.

“That’s the goal. We just need to stick in it, stick in it. I guess the pressure will be on me the last couple of races,” Johnson said. “We want to win races, but we’re working towards a points title all in the same. We’re getting better, it’s just a work in progress. Just see how it turns out.”

David Quackenbush sits third in points, 25 behind McCaskill and 14 in front of fourth-place Nick Smith. Quackenbush has yet to visit Victory Lane while Smith won the race June 20.

“We’ve just got to pray for the best,” Smith said. “We’ve had a hilly season so far, up and down. Running good, wrecking, getting wrecked — and every time we’ve been up in the front. We’ve been fast all year and it’s paying off for us.”