COAL GROVE — One of the biggest races to take place in Lawrence County will occur Friday as the Independent Racing Series Late Models will compete at the Rocky Top Raceway for the “Engines Inc./Carl Grover Motorsports 50.”

The race will pay $5,000 to win with an overall purse of $24,100. To make the event even larger, RTR management decided to add the “Bomber Bash 25” as the support race for the event.

This race will pay $1,000 to win for Bombers in one of the largest paying races ever held for that class in the Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia region.

To add to what is already a large event, FM 93.7 “The Dawg” radio will be at the track from 4-6 p.m. for a live remote in which there will be several RTR giveaways.

Also, San Diego Chargers rookie offensive lineman Jeremy Sheffey will be in attendance to sign autographs and be the honorary starter. Sheffey is a resident of Catlettsburg, Ky., who was a four-year starter at West Virginia before signing with the Chargers.

The Independent Racing Series has races scheduled in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Some of the best Dirt Late Model drivers in the country race with the series as National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame driver Rick Aukland leads the current point standings over Wayne Chinn, Ryan Markham, Dave Hess Jr., and Rick Bond rounding out the top five.

Race winners on the tour this season include Dave Hess Jr., Marty O’Neal, Robbie Blair, Doug Dodd, Paul Wilmouth Jr., and Eddie Carrier Jr.

For more information on the Independent Racing Series visit www.irsracing.net.

Gates open at 4 p.m. on Friday with track action starting at 7:30 p.m. Free camping will be available as fans can come and setup on Thursday evening and stay until Saturday.

General admission is $20 with pit admission $35. The Rocky Top Raceway offers grandstand seating along with places for spectators to bring lawn chairs and watch the races from vehicles.

For more information visit www.rockytopraceway.net or email rockytopraceway@yahoo.com.