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LATEMODELRACER >> DRIVER PRESS RELEASES >> Ferguson Runner-Up in SAS Coca-Cola Tennessee Memorial
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Message started by LMR on 05/26/10 at 1:03pm

Title: Ferguson Runner-Up in SAS Coca-Cola Tennessee Memorial
Post by LMR on 05/26/10 at 1:03pm

For Immediate Release
May 26th, 2010

Ferguson Runner-Up in SAS Coca-Cola Tennessee Memorial

Cleveland, Tennessee – Chris Ferguson and his Starrette Trucking and Specialized Hauling Race Team made their way down to Cleveland Speedway in Cleveland, Tennessee for the 33rd Annual Coca-Cola Tennessee Memorial. The Southern All Stars sanctioned event, a 50 lapper paying $5000 to win, marked Ferguson’s first ever appearance at the storied southeastern one third mile facility. Ferguson obviously enjoyed his first visit. Ferguson started off the evening by besting the other 36 entries on hand during VP Race Fuels Race for the Pole Qualifying. Ferguson’s lap of 13.324 seconds locked him into the pole starting position for the feature event. “We had a pretty good lap. I didn’t think it would standup because we were the second car to take time. But we ended up beating Madden by a few one hundredths of a second. With the level of competition here I was very happy to set fast time. I had only seen pictures and videos of Cleveland before Saturday.” Ferguson said.

At the start if the race however Madden was able to make his outside momentum work carrying him into the lead. Ferguson stayed with the low line and tried his best to rally back, twice pulling even with the leader. But Madden’s outside momentum once again prevailed. An early caution reset the field in a Delaware Double File restart formation. Ferguson opted to take the inside a decision he would soon question. “When I chose the bottom I probably made a mistake. (Randy) Weaver was able to roll right by me and go after Chris (Madden) and eventually get the lead. But I fell into third and just kind of got comfortable. I moved around a little trying to find a faster line but I kind of stayed middle to the bottom. I wish I tried that top a little earlier. My car was an absolute rocket ship up on the top.” Ferguson added. Ferguson found out his car was good on the top after a late race restart. “Madden chose the inside so I didn’t really have a choice. I rolled off into one and the car was really good and I was able to get to second.”

Weaver opened up about six car lengths on Ferguson and Madden as they fought for second. However, once clear of Madden, Ferguson was able to reel Weaver in. “Once we got going on the top there I really thought I had a shot at winning the race. Weaver was probably a little softer on tires or had used his up a little more than we did.” Ferguson caught Weaver and pulled along his outside several times. Just when Ferguson felt he had a shot to take the lead, the frontrunners entered heavy lapped traffic. “I think without the lap traffic we might have got by for the lead. But that’s a part of racing. Those guys were racing just like us and it’s our job to get around them. But I am stoked about the finish. Weaver, Madden, Arp and these guys they are tough everywhere they go and even more so here at Cleveland. So to run as well as we did, we are very happy.” Ferguson said.

Ferguson’s runner-up finish also landed him an interview on Monday night’s ESPN Chattanooga Racing Zone Show hosted by Cleveland Speedway announcer Steve Hixson and analyst Jessie Williams. “The ESPN Chattanooga radio show was a lot of fun. We had some great calls and Steve and Jessie were fun to work with. They made me feel really comfortable and it was an informative segment. Cleveland had a lot of fans at the track and I think the show has a lot of following from them. I really enjoy doing things like that. If it weren’t for those fans that pay to see us race we couldn’t do what we do. So anytime I can be a part of something extra like that for the fans I get excited about it.” said Ferguson.

Ferguson and his team won’t rest on the laurels as they will swing right back into action this weekend against some of the best racers in Country. Ferguson will enter a pair of events at the World of Outlaws Late Model RaceFest World Championship at the West Virginia Motor Speedway in Mineral Wells, West Virginia. Saturday night May 30th will pay $8000 to win and Sunday May 31st will pay $10,000 to win as the big even tradition returns to the newly re-opened West Virginia Motor Speedway. “I am very excited about the West Virginia. It is another track I have never been to so we are going in kind of blind. But our Rocket Chassis has been great and our Randy Clary Engines have been awesome so we are going to go and put forth our best effort and see how it shakes out. West Virginia is a big 5/8ths of a mile track that’s real wide. Some people have compared it to the old Cherokee Speedway with more sweeping turns so we will see what’s like once we get there.” Ferguson added. For event information visit www.wvspeedway.com or for series information go to www.worldofoutlaws.com/LateModel/ .

Fans can keep up with Chris’ 2010 schedule by visiting his home on the World Wide Web at www.chrisfergusonmotorsports.com Chris would also like to thank his 2010 sponsors for their support: Starrette Truck and Specialized Hauling, Carver and Sons Roofing, Carolina Fire and Security, Hal’s Plumbing, Cable Solutions Inc, Cushman Paint and Body, Big A’s Custom Graphics, Randy Clary Race Engines, FK Rod Ends, K & N Air Filters, J&J Race Cars, KELCAR Motorsports Media, Butler Motorsports Media, Indocil Art, X-Tream Clean Products, R-E Suspension, Hypercoils, Sisco Fire and Safety, VP Fuels, Speedway BBQ, Butlerbuilt Seats, Hooker Custom Harness, Wicked Race Gear, Heintz Performance and Performance Friction Brakes.