SOUTH BOSTON, Va. -- A new month begins Saturday and, for the third straight weekend, South Boston Speedway's competitors will be battling on the four-tenths mile asphalt oval.

A three-week run of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing events will conclude Saturday, Aug. 1. at America's Hometown Track with the running of the Image Halifax 150. The first race of the night will get cranked up at 7 p.m.

Highlighting the racing action will be a 150-lap race for the drivers in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Late Model Stock Car Division.

Nick Smith, who has reeled off five wins this season, including a triumph last weekend, has worked his way into contention for the 2009 Late Model Stock Car Division championship.

Smith is currently fourth in the championship standings and is only 17 points behind current leader Deac McCaskill, who finished third in the title chase last year.

McCaskill posted a third-place finish last weekend to continue his lead over 2008 track championship runner-up Justin Johnson, who placed fourth last week. Johnson is five points behind McCaskill and only one ahead of third-place David Quackenbush.

Also scheduled to compete Saturday night are the Limited Sportsman Division drivers, the competitors in the Budweiser Pure Stock Division and the touring Legendary Flathead Ford Series.

Brian Pembelton continues to set an impressive pace in the chase for the Limited Sportsman Division championship. The multi-time winner leads second-place Jeb Burton by 56 points.

Tommy Peregoy is third in the points battle, eight points behind Burton and six ahead of Danny Willis Jr., who won one of two 50-lap races for the Limited Sportsman competitors last weekend.

Chris Crosby leads the point race by 25 in the Pure Stock Division. The battle for second place in the standings is much tighter as Courtney Crosby, the current runner-up in the standings, is only two points ahead of third-place Jack Milam. Mickey Cassidy is fourth in the standings and trails Milam by only two points.

Pit gates will open Saturday at 12 p.m. Practice for all divisions will be held from 2:15 p.m. until 3:45 p.m. Grandstand gates will open at 5 p.m. and qualifying time trials will get underway at 5:15 p.m.

Admission is $10 for adults. Youth, ages 7-12, will be admitted for $5 when accompanied by a paying adult and children, ages six and under, are admitted free with a paid adult.

For more information, visit the track's Web site at www.southbostonspeedway.com or phone the track at (434) 572-4947 or toll free at 1-877-440-1540.