utvolsracer
09-24-2011, 01:07 PM
(Ringgold,Ga) With fall officially here and the season winding down, the racing was still just as hot as ever at Boyd’s Speedway Friday night. With a full field of racers signed in for each competitive class, racing quickly got underway with qualifying heats. Heat race winners were in B-HOBBY-Dallas Brooks and Jimmy Smith: CRATE LATE MODEL-Riley Hickman and Jeff Smith: A-HOBBY-Len “Gatorman” McNeese and Matthew Moor: STEEL-HEADED LATE MODEL-Mike Tinker and Jake Knowles: FWD-Richard Hickman and Thomas Gilbert.
With the qualifying heats over and the nights Feature Line-ups all set it was time to get down to some racing for the nights top prize money in each division. First out would bring the B-Hobby racers to the front stretch for their 15 lap $170 to win Feature Event. With Dallas Brooks and Jimmy Smith bringing the field to the green, Brooks would take the early lead until a lap 3 caution for a couple of cars that had made contact in turn 4 and were hooked together by bumpers. Taylor Sewell night was ended early with heavy front end damage and a busted radiator. Once racing continued Brooks would continue to lead but now closing in on his slim lead would be the #8 of Jimbo Breland. A lap 12 caution for the blown engine of Michael Brooks would set the field for a 3 lap shootout. On the restart Brooks would hold a slim lead, but Jimbo wasn’t going to be denied on this night making a last lap pass of Brooks and held that lead to the finish. Following Breland and Brooks across the checkered flag was Jimmy Smith, Corey Sanders and Ronnie Kerr.
Next up brought the ever competitive CRATE LATE MODELS to compete in the 20 lap $800 to win feature. But on this night the racers would find themselves making more laps under caution than under racing conditions. With Riley Hickman and Jeff Smith bringing the field to the green it didn’t take long for the yellow flag to fly. A lap 1 problem for pole sitter Riley Hickman sent his #16 machine to an early pit. It didn’t take long for the yellow to fly once again as a lap 2 caution that saw a turn 2 crash between Jason Deal and Jimmy Elliott ending both of the frontrunners night. As track officials continued to clean the track of debris the fans hoped the racers would settle in for some nights good racing, but as the green flag flew it wasn’t long until the yellow flew once again for the #71 Brian Courtney in turn 4. Having only raced 3 laps and caution laps around 20, track officials would once again let the green flag fly. This time we would get only three laps in before the yellow flag flew once again. OH! By the way did I say Jeff Smith held a slim lead on Jason Welshan during the short caution filled race? Another lap 7 caution for the #111 of David Tindell and the #F4 of Kenny Kizzar in turn 4 brought the field back to the slow caution lap pace. It was at this time track officials made the hard decision to shorten the race due to time restraints and having made only 7 laps of the caution filled 20 lap feature. The field was given the green/white together and Jeff Smith would take yet another Boyd’s Speedway Feature as he held off the hard charging Maryville native Division Points leader Jason Welshan. Rounding out the top five was Craig Burrows, Andy Picklesimer and David Tindell.
The A-HOBBY’S were up next and the fans were hoping the Crate Late Model division had gotten the nights cautions out of the way and they could settle down to some hard fought racing. With Len McNeese and Steve Tate bringing the field to the green, Steve Tate would take the early lead looking for his second feature win of the season. Tate would hold a slim lead over last week’s winner Blake Armitage until the caution on lap #7 for the #03 car driven by Joe Gibbs. Racing was heating up between Tate and Armitage until a late lap caution for the slowed Pole sitter of Len McNeese as he had come to a halt in turn 4 with mechanical problems. Tate would go on to capture the night’s $250 top prize money and a week’s worth of bragging rights. Following Tate would be Armitage, Gary Johnson, Matthew Morr and Ricky Peek.
It was now time to bring the night’s Feature Event to the racing surface for the 25 lap $1000 to the winner Steel-Headed Late Models. With Ringgold’s Mike Tinker bringing the full field to the green alongside of Jake Knowles. Knowles would take the lead at the drop of the green over Tinker and Point’s Leader Jamie Perry. A lap 2 caution would slow the field. As racing got back under green Knowles held a slim lead as he used the top side of the racing surface to hold off Tinker’s charge from the bottom. A lap #7 caution for #P14 Pat Castleberry that saw his driveshaft come out as he rolled to a stop down the backstretch. The cautions would continue to fly once again on lap #11 for the car driven by Ruben Mayfield. It didn’t take long for the yellow to fly once again as the car driven by Pierce McCarter would spin in turn 2 on lap 13 and then once again on lap #15 sending him to the pits for his second caution. Jake Knowles would now hold a slim lead over Perry as Perry had made his way around Tinker on lap 13. Perry went in to tonight’s race holding a slim 2 point lead over Lamar Scoggins for the years Division Points Championship. A late caution saw Scoggins hopes for another Championship to add to his resume look a little slimmer as he pulled in with engine problems on lap 18. Jake Knowles would go on to hold off Perry for yet another victory. Perry had his hands full at the finish with Brad Hall who found a burst of speed late. Following Knowles, Perry and Hall across the finish was Tinker and Paul Tims.
The night’s last Feature Event would bring the FWD racers to compete in their 12 lap feature. With Hickman and teammate and Points Leader Thomas Gilbert bringing the field to the green it would be Hickman taking the early lead. In what might have been the nights “Good Sportsmanship Award”, the fans saw Gilbert masterfully tuck in behind his car owner Hickman (seeking his first ever Feature Win) and keep the field at bay. Gilbert held the field back allowing Hickman to stretch his lead over the field and on his way to the First Victory. Following Hickman was Gilbert was Daniel Burnette, Haily Cresswell and Matt Patton.
The nights racing action was over and the fans were treated to another night of good racing with a few cautions thrown in for good measure. A “Special Thanks” goes out to Track Owners Richard and Robert Harvey and Track Promoter Gar (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)son for allowing my daughter to complete her High School Senior Project of driving a competitive Race Car around the 1/3 mile clay oval after the night’s racing action was over. What a thrill for a 17 year old to drive a race car for the first time. Also a Special Thanks goes to Crate Late Model Driver Robby Mason for tutoring her during the once in a lifetime experience and keeping a very nervous “Dad” until control.
With the qualifying heats over and the nights Feature Line-ups all set it was time to get down to some racing for the nights top prize money in each division. First out would bring the B-Hobby racers to the front stretch for their 15 lap $170 to win Feature Event. With Dallas Brooks and Jimmy Smith bringing the field to the green, Brooks would take the early lead until a lap 3 caution for a couple of cars that had made contact in turn 4 and were hooked together by bumpers. Taylor Sewell night was ended early with heavy front end damage and a busted radiator. Once racing continued Brooks would continue to lead but now closing in on his slim lead would be the #8 of Jimbo Breland. A lap 12 caution for the blown engine of Michael Brooks would set the field for a 3 lap shootout. On the restart Brooks would hold a slim lead, but Jimbo wasn’t going to be denied on this night making a last lap pass of Brooks and held that lead to the finish. Following Breland and Brooks across the checkered flag was Jimmy Smith, Corey Sanders and Ronnie Kerr.
Next up brought the ever competitive CRATE LATE MODELS to compete in the 20 lap $800 to win feature. But on this night the racers would find themselves making more laps under caution than under racing conditions. With Riley Hickman and Jeff Smith bringing the field to the green it didn’t take long for the yellow flag to fly. A lap 1 problem for pole sitter Riley Hickman sent his #16 machine to an early pit. It didn’t take long for the yellow to fly once again as a lap 2 caution that saw a turn 2 crash between Jason Deal and Jimmy Elliott ending both of the frontrunners night. As track officials continued to clean the track of debris the fans hoped the racers would settle in for some nights good racing, but as the green flag flew it wasn’t long until the yellow flew once again for the #71 Brian Courtney in turn 4. Having only raced 3 laps and caution laps around 20, track officials would once again let the green flag fly. This time we would get only three laps in before the yellow flag flew once again. OH! By the way did I say Jeff Smith held a slim lead on Jason Welshan during the short caution filled race? Another lap 7 caution for the #111 of David Tindell and the #F4 of Kenny Kizzar in turn 4 brought the field back to the slow caution lap pace. It was at this time track officials made the hard decision to shorten the race due to time restraints and having made only 7 laps of the caution filled 20 lap feature. The field was given the green/white together and Jeff Smith would take yet another Boyd’s Speedway Feature as he held off the hard charging Maryville native Division Points leader Jason Welshan. Rounding out the top five was Craig Burrows, Andy Picklesimer and David Tindell.
The A-HOBBY’S were up next and the fans were hoping the Crate Late Model division had gotten the nights cautions out of the way and they could settle down to some hard fought racing. With Len McNeese and Steve Tate bringing the field to the green, Steve Tate would take the early lead looking for his second feature win of the season. Tate would hold a slim lead over last week’s winner Blake Armitage until the caution on lap #7 for the #03 car driven by Joe Gibbs. Racing was heating up between Tate and Armitage until a late lap caution for the slowed Pole sitter of Len McNeese as he had come to a halt in turn 4 with mechanical problems. Tate would go on to capture the night’s $250 top prize money and a week’s worth of bragging rights. Following Tate would be Armitage, Gary Johnson, Matthew Morr and Ricky Peek.
It was now time to bring the night’s Feature Event to the racing surface for the 25 lap $1000 to the winner Steel-Headed Late Models. With Ringgold’s Mike Tinker bringing the full field to the green alongside of Jake Knowles. Knowles would take the lead at the drop of the green over Tinker and Point’s Leader Jamie Perry. A lap 2 caution would slow the field. As racing got back under green Knowles held a slim lead as he used the top side of the racing surface to hold off Tinker’s charge from the bottom. A lap #7 caution for #P14 Pat Castleberry that saw his driveshaft come out as he rolled to a stop down the backstretch. The cautions would continue to fly once again on lap #11 for the car driven by Ruben Mayfield. It didn’t take long for the yellow to fly once again as the car driven by Pierce McCarter would spin in turn 2 on lap 13 and then once again on lap #15 sending him to the pits for his second caution. Jake Knowles would now hold a slim lead over Perry as Perry had made his way around Tinker on lap 13. Perry went in to tonight’s race holding a slim 2 point lead over Lamar Scoggins for the years Division Points Championship. A late caution saw Scoggins hopes for another Championship to add to his resume look a little slimmer as he pulled in with engine problems on lap 18. Jake Knowles would go on to hold off Perry for yet another victory. Perry had his hands full at the finish with Brad Hall who found a burst of speed late. Following Knowles, Perry and Hall across the finish was Tinker and Paul Tims.
The night’s last Feature Event would bring the FWD racers to compete in their 12 lap feature. With Hickman and teammate and Points Leader Thomas Gilbert bringing the field to the green it would be Hickman taking the early lead. In what might have been the nights “Good Sportsmanship Award”, the fans saw Gilbert masterfully tuck in behind his car owner Hickman (seeking his first ever Feature Win) and keep the field at bay. Gilbert held the field back allowing Hickman to stretch his lead over the field and on his way to the First Victory. Following Hickman was Gilbert was Daniel Burnette, Haily Cresswell and Matt Patton.
The nights racing action was over and the fans were treated to another night of good racing with a few cautions thrown in for good measure. A “Special Thanks” goes out to Track Owners Richard and Robert Harvey and Track Promoter Gar (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)son for allowing my daughter to complete her High School Senior Project of driving a competitive Race Car around the 1/3 mile clay oval after the night’s racing action was over. What a thrill for a 17 year old to drive a race car for the first time. Also a Special Thanks goes to Crate Late Model Driver Robby Mason for tutoring her during the once in a lifetime experience and keeping a very nervous “Dad” until control.