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Steve Hixson
RINGGOLD, Ga. (May 22) - Current TENNESSEE THUNDER series points leader Billy Ogle Jr. (known for over 20yrs as BILLY THE KID) a second generation racer who's surpassed his fathers East TN racing hey-day, rode into BOYD's SPEEDWAY and stole the THUNDER Friday night of the GEORGIA MEMORIAL RACE at the Tennessee/Georgia stateline bordered dirt track. Against thirty-one (31) other competitors and an unforgiving surface Ogle and ROCKETBOY Tommy Kerr battled epically for the $4,000. payday of the 50 lap "A" Main Feature race. "Last year was a re-build season and I just wanna say a special thanks to my crew and owners." Stated Ogle from JODY MILLARD PEST CONTROL Victory Lane. "It feels good to get a win, being as hard as this teams worked and these AMERICAN RACER TIRES were awesome" Ogle continued his celebration with series director Brad Byrd stating how the bottom was coming to him, but he had to be patient, especially on that last caution. Kerr would finish second, with Robert Gant coming from 20th would finish third.
PRECISION PRODUCTS INC. Qualifying Time Trials set the stage for the Super Late Models first-up. Ogle drew the #1 pill and tripped the clock with a 13:320, which set a NEW TRACK RECORD. The James Kilby owned # 201 "Calhoun's Restaurant, Grandy King Construction, Kilby's Equipment Sales, Mike Kittrell Motorsports" sponsored GRT / Competition Racing Engines powered, Pontiac Gran Prix would not be bested and would earn the bonus $100. from PPIPARTS.com. Recent TTDCS winner Ricky Arms would get closest to Ogle, with a 13:593, with Kayne Hickman leading the local racer charge, clocking third quick, with a 13:637 mark. Tommy Kerr whom held the track record, coming into the event, qualified fourth and Randy THE DREAM Weaver rounded out the Top 5 fastest. The Top 12 qualifiers were locked into the two SUNOCO DASHES; which were won by Ogle and Arms, to earn FRONT ROW JOE starting grid honors for the feature. Two WEST HAVEN SPEED EQUIPMENT "B" Mains transferred the rest of the field. Mike Hill and Jake Knowles won those races respectfully.
Ogle and Arms brought the BOYD's crowd to their feet as they took the green flag from flagman Chuck Christopher. With Ogle leading, Jeff Neubert exited first as Arms battles Kerr for second. Back-marker traffic came into play quickly before caution appears for the first time on lap 5, as Todd Morrow stalled in turn 4. Brian Hickman, Knowles and Mike Weeks were all infield bound, not able or willing to continue. The restart had Ogle leading Arms, Kerr, K. Hickman and Ronnie Johnson for the next five circuits, until Joe Armes shreded his left rear tire to rear a yellow flag. K. Hickman and RJ advanced as Arms wained backwards giving Weaver his entry into the Top 5. ROCKETBOY took advantage on the restart and passed Ogle for the lead on lap 12. To the delight of his crowd, the CHATTANOOGA FLASH took third, but a puff of smoke billowed from underneath the hood of the racecar and Johnson quickly shuts-it-down. A barrage of cautions plague the race that see Hill spin, Billy Mayo stall, and Dan Tipton all have woes, all coming before the half-way point.
All seemed well for the # 4T "Blount Excavating, Explosive Specialist, Arnold Trucking" sponsored Rocket / Custom Race Engines, Chevrolet Monte Carlo who's leading the field, as Ogle continues to bottom-feed in second place. The events biggest caution hits when Dan Tipton collects DOUBLE H BUMPER award recipient David Payne, Mayo and Jamie Perry. K. Hickman seems to be the races dark-horse in third as Kevin Gibson enters the equation. Unfortunately neither would see the 3/5th's mark and exit quietly to the full infield. The FLATROCK FLASH Robert Gant is piloting his # 22 "White's Logging, Carl Gregory Ford" sponsored MastersBilt / Cornett powered Ford Taurus now within the Top 5 late in the going, as Kerr and Ogle rage on. Gant would obtain the Hard Charger nod at the conclusion after starting 20th. Derek Ellis in the # 99 "Ellis Contracting, AutoZone, Wilson Welding, Gene's Racing Parts" sponsored Rayburn / Racetek, Chevrolet Impalla SS has kept Gant within his sights while Kerr and Ogle lap the remaining racers.
Ogle has kept the pressure, keen on the bottom of the track and with assistance from key back-markers and surface conditions, Kerr relinquishes the lead for good on lap 37. Attrition whittles the field to only 8 racecars as the FAT-LADY began tuning up for Ogle. Payne marches on giving his # 8 "Gibson Motorsports, Payne Tire, PPM Products, Anderson Woodworks, American Race Tires" sponsored MastersBilt / Racetek, Pontiac Gran Prix a Top 5, despite being the first car a lap down to the leaders. Lapping all but the 4th place racecar Ogle takes the commanding victory, pulling away from ROCKETBOY at the end of 50. Behind Kerr was Gant and Ellis respectfully. In other racing action Blake Stewart got his 1st checkers at BOYD's of the season in the stout 25-car Crate LM field, Stewart wisely stepped to the high-side and passed race leader LIL' John Owenby coming from 8th to take the win. James Gamble, Rick Hixson, Jerry Coffman and Brian Jackson rounded out the Top 5 finishers. Grady Stokes won the DOUBLE PURSE Pony feature, while Michael Arp took the DOUBLE PAY FWD feature. The A & B - Hobby will run DOUBLE PURSE PAYOUTS next Friday, due to time restraints. For more info. visit www.boydsspeedway.com.
Boyd's Speedway
Chattanooga, TN/Ringgold, GA
Friday, May 22, 2009
TENNESSEE THUNDER series
Super Late Model: Official Finish
1. Billy Ogle Jr. (# 201) of Knoxville, TN
2. Tommy Kerr (# 4T) of Rockford, TN
3. Robert Gant (# 22) of Flat Rock, AL
4. Derek Ellis (# 99) of Chatsworth, GA
5. David Payne (# 8) of Murphy, NC
6. Mike Hill (# 11) of Rockwood, TN
7. Chuck Proctor (# 27) of Charlotte, TN
8. Gabe Wilson (# 12W) of Andrews, NC
9. Doug Smith (# 45) of Somerset, KY
10. Kevin Gibson (# M45) of Ringgold, GA
11. Kayne Hickman (# H3) of Soddy Daisy, TN
12. Dan Tipton (# 12T) of Kingston, TN
13. Jamie Perry (# P16) of Ringgold, GA
14. William Thomas (# 16) of Phenix City, AL
15. Billy Mayo (# 115) of Cleveland, TN
16. Randy Weaver (# 116) of Crossville, TN
17. Ronnie Johnson (# 5) of Chattanooga, TN
18. Joe Armes (# 77) of Petros, TN
19. Ricky Arms (# 4) of Moss, TN
20. Todd Morrow (# T16) of East Ridge, TN
21. Mike Weeks (# 25) of Friendsville, TN
22. Jake Knowles (# 66) of Tyrone, GA
23. Brian Hickman (# 41) of Soddy Daisy, TN
24. Jeff Neubert (# 30th) of Rockford, TN
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