that's my story..... RAY COOK WINS GOBBLER 23

**Gibson Motorsports** · 11-20-2011, 02:51 PM

Good update Steve. It was a great race by Ray and the D&R team in leading from flag to flag.

One inaccuracy you have is David Payne spinning in water. He was actually pushed into the wall by Ogle the length of the back straight on the restart. Billy even stated after the race over the PA system he wrecked him as he could not allow anyone to finish between Thomas and himself. This gave him the SAS championship and his teammate the 3rd place points by taking David out of the race.

The most egregious aspect was the qualifying and how SAS/Brad Byrd allowed Billy to go back out to take another lap after he hit the wall. They did not even follow their own rule book. Their reasoning changed numerous times when trying to explain it. Ultimately, this most likely cost William Thomas the championship.

The TN Thunder Series collapsed under this type of selective rules enforcement and it will be interesting to see what the long term holds for SAS.

**clayman2** · 11-20-2011, 04:05 PM

southern allstars screwed william thomas out of the championship period!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**ga racer** · 11-20-2011, 07:45 PM

yes SAS screwed william over big time, that just shows how sh/ty they are along with brad byrd , no reason for them to do that. where did all the water come from when david wrecked?

**stilhead** · 11-20-2011, 09:43 PM

Brad Byrd

Brad Byrd's stupidity ran the Tn. Thunder Series into the ground. Will the SAS be next?

**Gibson Motorsports** · 11-20-2011, 10:16 PM

Originally posted by ga racer View Post

yes SAS screwed william over big time, that just shows how sh/ty they are along with brad byrd , no reason for them to do that. where did all the water come from when david wrecked?

The radiator was knocked into the fan when he was hit bu the following cars, which then broke off and went thru the hood.

**Steve Hixson** · 11-22-2011, 06:57 AM

I saw water on the track rite after the spin by Payne is where
I got that from.... I could be wrong - but that was my perspective

As for BB... he made the call over the PA to the fans at my
Request for a Ruling on it OGLE will get an opportunity for
A single lap at end of qualifying..... Which he stated SAS rule
Says NO since he took the green flag....

But.... After the 33 flipped during qualifying
He and Morrow discussed if track condition mighta played
A factor in him hitting the wall..... So BB made a judgement
Call and allowed OGLE to qualify 1lap

......this is my account of the situation of which I have no dog
in the hunt - Billy and WillieT are both friends of mine...

**RacedudeGa** · 11-22-2011, 12:22 PM

It doesnt matter what the track conditions had to do with Ogle hitting the wall. Everyone else qualified on the same track. Using this argument then everyone else who had a bad lap should have been allowed to requalify since i'm sure the track conditions played a part in their times also.

I'm sure Ogle would have been able to start in the rear of the feature had he not secured a spot thru the b-mains due to his points total. SAS shot themselves in the foot by making this decision and lost some respect of the drivers & fans by going against their own rule book. Had it not said in bold letters NO EXCEPTIONS then it wouldnt look so bad and they would would some sort of argument to justify their decision. It doesnt surprise me in the least that Monty was involved in this decision.

Bottom line: William Thomas got screwed and SAS lost a lot of respect & credibility with the racing community.

**rb2441** · 11-22-2011, 07:35 PM

The rules state and this is copied from the Southern All Stars Rule Book

As in hot laps, drivers must qualify as in order of pill draw. Drivers must be in staging and in proper order when called for. If the driver is not in prescent when his designated spot comes up the designated driver will forfeit his qualifying run and will start from the rear of his heat races or last chance races. NO EXCEPTIONS

Billy was present and took the green flag, crashed after taking the green flag but before taking the white flag so i feel he was entitled to one more lap just as they did after qualifying was over. It would have been different if he was not able to qualify at the end but he did.

I am not a favorite of either driver but i see nothing wrong with what they did.

**statesboroblues** · 11-23-2011, 08:26 AM

OK RB say first 5 cars that drew 1-5 make one lap then stop on track you going to give them all a lap on end of qualifing cause the track wasnt fast enough. He didnt miss qualifing he took the GREEN flag and that was his turn therefore he SHOULD NOT get one lap. They just as well throw rulebook in trash can like other series and build a fire with it cause its not worth the paper its printed on.

**RacedudeGa** · 11-23-2011, 12:43 PM

Originally posted by rb2441 View Post

The rules state and this is copied from the Southern All Stars Rule Book

As in hot laps, drivers must qualify as in order of pill draw. Drivers must be in staging and in proper order when called for. If the driver is not in prescent when his designated spot comes up the designated driver will forfeit his qualifying run and will start from the rear of his heat races or last chance races. NO EXCEPTIONS

Billy was present and took the green flag, crashed after taking the green flag but before taking the white flag so i feel he was entitled to one more lap just as they did after qualifying was over. It would have been different if he was not able to qualify at the end but he did.

I am not a favorite of either driver but i see nothing wrong with what they did.

since u copied & pasted the rules that means u have read them. i cant see how u can justify your statement that he should have gotten another lap. how would it have been different if he hadnt take the extra lap.?

**Southern Allstars PR** · 11-23-2011, 04:48 PM

First let me say I appreciate the passion I see here regarding this issue. Maybe I can shed a little light on this subject and explain how the decision was made to allow Ogle to get a lap at the end of qualifying.

Our rule book doesn't actually cover the scenario we found ourselves in on Saturday night. The rules that were copied and pasted above only cover being in proper order by way of the draw, which Ogle was. He was the first qualifier out and hit the wall in turn one just after taking the green flag.

My initial call was, Ogle would have to start at the rear of a B-Main. When Michael Evans, who came out fifth in the qualifying order, also hit the wall in turn one and flipped, track officials went onto the speedway and discovered water on the track in turn one which explained each car's demise.

We then pulled the next five cars from the starting grid onto the race track to pack the track in turn one and where fluids were left by Evan's car in the middle of the turn. These cars were awarded a few hot laps for helping us out. I then concurred with my officials and we unanimously felt it would only be fair that Ogle and Evans (if they were able to get their cars back together) would be deserving of one lap at the end of qualifying.

Admittedly this decision wasn't well received by all but as I told the race teams who questioned the call, I would have made the same call if it had been them in that situation.

Our rules do state that we can make amendments to the rules when necessary to promote fair competition and our decision was made simply in the fairness of competition. I, along with my officials, stand behind the call without regret.

The only thing I may change if faced with the same set of circumstances would be to allow the second, third and fourth cars out the option of an additional lap at the end of qualifying as well, so to them I apologize.

Hope this helps.

Brad Byrd

**acetone** · 11-23-2011, 05:46 PM

well said sir

**ga racer** · 11-23-2011, 06:59 PM

thats bullsh/t evans didnt hit the wall because of water he broke center out of a wheel. that was nothing but some knoxville home cooking and now your trying to justify it with rediculous story , you shafted william and you know and so does everybody else, he should drag yalls azz to court for this. it was even announced that ogle took the green and would start tail of a B main.

**black ice** · 11-23-2011, 07:55 PM

i cant understand how people keep saying that call cost william the championship. all he had to do is pass cars thats what billy did and won the championship. sorry but if your not going forward you will get passed in racing. william and billy are both good racers and it was exciting watching them battle it out on the track.

that's my story..... RAY COOK WINS GOBBLER 23

that's my story..... RAY COOK WINS GOBBLER 23

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