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Steve Hixson
CHATSWORTH, Ga. (May 9) - What was estimated to have started back in September or even August of 2007 has finally ended for multi & reigning North Georgia Speedway track champ Gary McPherson. Friday night the Dalton, GA native, collected his first victory in some eight months (including off season time) in the top carded Super Late Model division. G-MAC was the cream of the crop of the sixteen (16) teams signed in for action Friday evening, though it wasn't a cake-walk, by no mean. In qualifying Kevin Gibson clocked the field with a 12:655, which is 4/10ths of a second shy of a N. GA track record. In the two heat races, outside pole sitter Jake Knowles took the lead and earned the 'A' Main / Feature pole, by defeating Gibson in the 8 lapper. McPherson's # 29 'Carpet Discount Center, Valvoline Classic Quick Lube, Bob's Auto Sales & Towing, Base Racing Fuels & Oil, Extreme Graphics' sponsored Rayburn / Racetek powered, Pontiac GTO backed-up the NGS bossman's 2nd fast-time by winning heat # 2 from the pole. Cody Barnett took the nights wildest ride, while racing Todd Morrow for second. Arcing the back straight-away wall on lap 6, Barnett climbed the wall again on the white flag lap and violently flipped his racecar taking down a large section of fence for good measure. Barnett was uninjured, though the racecar wasn't so lucky.
Much like last weekend at the Cleveland (TN) Speedway sister track, disaster laid in for the opening bell as Brad Coffey and Jerry Bradley collided in turn one of the initial green flag. The result was an almost flipped racecar of Coffey and an early end to all involved, including Lee Sutton and John Winge. With only eight starters taking the green flag, McPherson sped away from Knowles quickly. Morrow, was struggling early with Mike Hill on his heels as Gibson was trying to mount a charge on Knowles and the runner-up spot. With the top 3 racecars tightly wrapped on the track, Gibson began pushing under Knowles for 2nd. Gibson made a key mistake on lap 12, when he got too much of a bite in turn one and spun the racecar. On the restart McPherson began pulling away from Knowles. Back marker traffic was no problem for G-MAC as the laps waned towards the 2/3rds mark. Morrow began having mechanical problems and slipped from the top 5, when Paul Hollander slipped by on the back-side. Morrow ended his night pitting before the race was complete. McPherson's strong run, took the checkers, just narrowly missing putting a lap on 5th place racer Hollander. Knowles, Hill, and Gibson finished behind G-MAC.
In other racing action: Rick Hixson took his third in-a-row LLM/Crate division feature race, besting 16 other racers. 'This racecar is absolutely great down here.' stated Hixson after the race, 'but getting it (running good) to Cleveland (Speedway) it's like a whole different car.', commented the driver of the black #16 'Austin Trucking' racecar, regarding his N. GA success. The Hobby feature was won by Tim Ford after an early race tangle knocked out pole sitter Evan Long. The Pony race was won by Grady Stokes over Jimmy Elloitt. The Bomber feature was taken by Tom Peters, whom lead flag to flag. Many SLM racers from around the Southern region will be invading the North Georgia Speedway track, next Friday night (May 16th) for the 'MAYHEM 40', $2,000. to-Win race. It serves as a warm-up event to Cleveland Speedway's highly anticipated return of the O'Reilly Southern All-Star series, Saturday night, May 17th, with a $5,000. to-Win 31st Annual Coca-Cola Tennessee Memorial Race. The track is also gearing up for the LUCAS OIL DIRTCAR SERIES $10,000 to-Win race, Friday night June 13th. For more information, including a full field rundown in all classes and other scheduled events visit the tracks web-site at www.northgeorgiaspeedway.com
Official Results: Friday, May 9, 2008
SLM Feature: 30 Laps
1. Gary McPherson (# 29M) of Dalton, GA
2. Jake Knowles (# 66) of Tyrone, GA
3. Mike Hill (# 11) of Rockford, TN
4. Kevin Gibson (# M45) of Ringgold, GA
5. Paul Hollander (# 13) of Calhoun, GA
6. Chris Barnett (# 21) of Ringgold, GA
7. Scott Hall (# 07) of Calhoun, GA
8. Todd Morrow (# T1) of Cleveland, TN
9. John Winge (# J17) of Chattanooga, TN
10. Lee Sutton (# L7) of Taylorsville, GA
11. Jerry Bradley (# B25) of Dalton, GA
12. Brad Coffey (# 88) of Maryville, TN
DNS:
Jeff Smith (# 00) of Villanow, GA
Cody Barnett (# 18) of Ringgold, GA
Billy Reeves (# 22) of Chatsworth, GA
Lee Gray (# 11) of Tunnel Hill, GA
Bob Appleget
CHATSWORTH, Ga. (May 9) - Defending Late Model Champion Gary McPherson ended his winless streak with a dominant Late Model victory Friday night at North Georgia Speedway.
McPherson, who won the 2007 Late Model Championship, ended his winless streak with a dominant flag-to-flag run. Jake Knowles kept McPherson honest for all 30 laps crossing the line in second. Mike Hill was third, Kevin Gibson fourth and Paul Hollander fifth.
Rounding out the top 10 were Chris Barnett, Scott Hall, Todd Morrow, Jerry Bradley and John Winge.
Soddy Daisy's Rick Hixson continued his dominance of the Limited/Crate/Sportsman division with his third consecutive win in the ultra competitive class. Hixson took the early lead and held off Craig Burrows for the first eight and J.J. Nye for the last 12 laps to notch the win. Nye would finish second, Burrows third, Brian Burke fourth and Darrell Ownbey fifth.
Tim Ford shadowed leader Evan Long before taking advantage of Long's misfortune and moving into the lead on lap 11. When Ford took over the lead Gary Johnson moved into the second spot and Randy Lilly third which is the way they took the checkered. Long was fourth and Jeff Kile fifth in the final tally.
Grady Stokes took the Pony feature win over Jimmy Elliott. Terry Smith was third, Jim Duggard fourth and Ralph Langston fifth. Last weeks winner and season point leader had problems and did not start the feature.
After finishing in the runner up spot last week Tom Peters moved up to the top spot and a trip to the Econo Bomber victory lane. John Bingor would move into second on lap 12 of the 15-lap event and go on to take runner up honors. Donnie Price would finish third, Timmy Millwood fourth and Bill Peters fifth.
Next Friday night there will be a $2,000 to win special for Super Late Models with a bonus of $200 for the fast qualifier from Hebling and Brown Construction Company. If Friday night's winner also wins the SAS Coca Cola Tennessee Memorial at Cleveland Speedway the next night he will pick up an additional $1,000 bonus for a total of $8,000. On the same bill will be racing in all divisions, Limited/Crate/Sportsman, Hobby, Pony and Econo Bombers.
Located in Chatsworth, Ga. North Georgia Speedway is a third-mile clay oval featuring dirt track racing at it's best from March to October. The track address is 300 N. Georgia Rd. Chatsworth, Ga. 30705. Coming south on I-75 take Hwy. 52 (Exit 333) east approx. 11 miles to Hwy. 225. Go south on 225 approx. six miles. Track is on the right. Coming north on I-75 take Hwy. 225 (Exit 317) north 13 miles. Track is on your left. For more information including area motels go to www.northgeorgiaspeedway.com
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