|
Steve Hixson
CHATSWORTH, Ga. (May 30) - Friday night, Derek Ellis of Chatsworth, GA filed his career first Super Late Model victory at his home track, the North Georgia Speedway in Dalton/Chatsworth. Many racers entered the 1/3 mile high banked clay oval, to serve as a final test n' tune before the Lucas Oil Dirtcar series invades in two weeks for a $10,000. to-Win national touring stop. Ellis career first ever SLM victory came a year ago at N. GA's sister track the Cleveland (TN) Speedway, but Friday's win comes extra special with it being the track that he began racing at. The evening of racing picked up where it left off, the previous week when mother-nature intervened during SLM qualifying time trials. Nineteen (19) teams signed in for qualifying with the TARHEEL TIGER Ray Cook, blistering a 12:806 lap, in an unmarked # 9 red racecar. The confirmed shakedown of NASCAR legend Bill Elliott PRELUDE ride set on the pole for the first of two (2) heat races. Third overall qualifier Jake Knowles, who picked-up his first win of the season last Saturday night at Cleveland Speedway, took command, regulating Cook to fend off multi & reigning track champion Gary McPherson. In the second 10 lap heat, second fastest qualifier Kevin Gibson had motor problems, giving the lead to 4th overall qualifier Preston Graves. Ellis grabbed the lead from Graves with two (2) laps remaining putting the # 99 'Wilson Welding & Fabrication, Auto Zone, Ellis Contracting Inc., Gene's Racing Parts' sponsored Rayburn / Racetek, Chevrolet Impalla SS on the outide 'cat-birds' spot for the 30 lap 'A' Main feature.
As FRONT ROW JOE starters, Knowles and Ellis took the green flag for the feature, caution appeared quickly as David Payne soloed on the 1st lap in turn 4. With Ellis leading, the single file restart took form with Knowles, Cook, Graves and G-MAC following. The restart would prove gravely for Graves as THE WHITE KNIGHT in a BLACK RACECAR pulled up lame with a flat Hoosier. After the restart, McPherson went to work on Cook in third. GMAC got by Cook on lap 9 for 3rd, as Ellis still controlled the field. Knowles began getting pressure from McPherson as Scott Hall reared a lap 13 yellow in turn 2. A rare occurrence followed 6 laps later when GMAC spun his racecar for no apparent reason in turn 2, thus giving up his Top 3 run. The DIRTY WHITE BOY Anthony White also ended his run in turn two stalling his DWB racecar after a mid-pack run. Payne reared another caution in turn 4 at the races 2/3rd's mark. Cook looked high a few times on the restarts and even tallied an lap or two in second 'offically', but Knowles would pull away. The FLAT-ROCK FLASH Robert Gant strutted to a Top 5 finish in 4th as Lamar Scoggins and Brian Hickman battled for 5th. At the checkers Scoggins tallied the 5th place nod, behind Ellis, Knowles, Cook and Gant. McPherson could only rally to a 7th, behind Hickman. Johnny Chastain, Jeff Smith and Paul Hollander rounded out the top 10. Gibson and John Winge were unable to start the 'A' Main feature.
In other racing action: the stakes were high for the Limited/Crate/Sportsman division as the 25 lap, Mid-Season Championship took to the track. Of the thirty-three (33) racers signed in Rick Hixson set fast time turning a 14:094 lap. Hixson won the first of three (3) heats, but it was heat # 2 winner Devon Dilbeck, trying to steal the show. Dilbeck lead from the green until lap 16, when he drifted high enough for Hixson to get the # 16 'Austin Trucking, Gene's Racing Parts, B.J.'s Flooring' sponsored MasterSbilt racecar underneath in turn 4. Dilbeck held off 2008 ICE BOWL champ Bobby Mayse for second as 3rd heat winner Doug Kilgore and Craig Burrows rounded out the Top 5 finishers. In the Pony feature Grady Stokes was victorious, while Tim Ford got the Hobby 15 lap feature. Next Friday and Saturday nights (June 6th & 7th) the Monster Trucks invade the North Georgia Speedway. Discounted tickets are available at area O'Reilly Auto Parts stores before Friday. The next racing program at N. GA is Friday, June 13th (2 weeks) when the Lucas Oil Dirtcar series comes looking to take the $10,000. first place prize. For more information log on the the tracks web-site www.northgeorgiaspeedway.com
SLM Results 5/30/08
30 Laps $1,200. to-Win
1. Derek Ellis (# 99) of Chatsworth, GA
2. Jake Knowles (# 66) of Tyrone, GA
3. Ray Cook (# 9) of Brasstown, NC
4. Robert Gant (# 22) of Flat Rock, AL
5. Lamar Scoggins (# 32) of Cleveland, TN
6. Brian Hickman (# 41) of Soddy Daisy, TN
7. Gary McPherson (# 29) of Dalton, GA
8. Johnny Chastain (# 00) of Murphy, NC
9. Jeff Smith (# 22) of Villanow, GA
10. Paul Hollander (# 13) of Calhoun, GA
11. Lee Gray (# 11) of Tunnel Hill, GA
12. Brad Kennedy (# B15) of Chatsworth, GA
13. David Payne (# 8) of Murphy, NC
14. Anthony White (# 2X) of Clinton, TN
15. Preston Graves (# 105) of Murphy, NC
16. Scott Hall (# 07) of Calhoun, GA
17. Davy Davis (# 11) of Tunnel Hill, GA
|
