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Steve Hixson
RINGGOLD, Ga. (August 7) - In what can best be described as HORROR for HIGH 5, Ronnie Johnson (aka. the Chattanooga Flash) had Friday night's $3,000. in the bag, but a back-marker car slowed the multi-2009 BOYD's SPEEDWAY winner, just enough to allow Randy THE DREAM Weaver to capture, the last 100ft., and take the checkers in the Southern Regional Racing series MAYHEM 40 SHORTY. Using the same SUPER-SONIC high groove that catapulted Johnson to the lead on lap 13, Weaver came to life in the late stages and tracked down RJ with the final 5 laps remaining, only to lead the last and most important lap of the "A" Main feature event. "I was really driving in hard..." Weaver told S.R.R.S. announcer Gary Dearing, from Jody Millard Pest Control Victory Lane. "I could get a better bite in turn 3 & 4, but that slow car on the last lap, sealed the deal." Weaver went on to thank his crew, family and friends the help back the # 116 "Glenn's Auto Parts, Jerr-Dan, PPM Racing Products, FastLane Signs & Graphics" sponsored GRT / Race Engine Design powered Chevrolet / Corvette racecar. Event Images
At race-time forty-five (45) Super Late Models were signed in for the scheduled 50-lapper. Due to uncontrollable circumstances S.R.R.S. and track officials decided to cut the "A" Main Feature by 10-laps and made all competitors aware of the changes. Group qualifying set the stage, locking in the two (2) fastest from each of the four (4) groups. Johnson put his familiar/fan favorite black # 5 "Miller Bros. Construction, AFCO Racing Products, American Billett" sponsored MasterSbilt / Vinson Racing Engines powered in the fastest slot of Group 1, turning a 13.571 lap. Weaver would clock second quick to RJ as group 2 took to the track. Young William Thomas would clock his #A19 "Austin Trucking, Tindall & Son's Carpet, Gene's Racing Parts" sponsored MasterSbilt / Competition Racing with a 13:730 lap to be quickest of Group 2, with Kayne Hickman getting locked in also. In Group 3 the overall fastest qualifier would come in the form of Anthony Burroughs. The Athens, Alabama racer would clock a 13:425 with his # 121 "Barclay Auto Parts, ABC Cash Register, Stuckey Enterprise, Mississippi One Call" sponsored MasterSbilt / Wall2Wall Performance powered machine, bringing with him Lee Sutton.
Chris Ragan of Corinth, MS was overall second fastest coming from Group 4, turning a 13:442, earning the outside pole for the feature as Brandon Kinzer tagged along as the 2nd quick of the group. In Consi # 1: Jake Knowles plowed the road to the checkers, passing Brian Hickman around the halfway point. Mike Tinker and Jimmy Tucker also transferred. In Consi. # 2 THE DARKNESS Mike Hill took over the lead from local favorite Todd Morrow. Derrick Ellis earned the third and final transfer spot in that event. A horribly violent flip occurred, when Carnell Parker was slowing for contact, behind his racecar at the start of Consi. # 3. Parker is set to undergo neck surgery at a local Chattanooga Hospital, Sunday. Josh Putnam beat David Payne in that consi. race, with Mike Luna and David Earl Gentry transferring. The FLATROCK FLASH Robert Gant took the checkers in the 4th and final Consi. race, with Terry Jay-Bird Marlin and T.J. Alford transferring. Jay Brinkley and Tyler Landers used series provisionals to set the 23rd & 24th starting slots.
As the tracks curfew drew closer, the cars and stars of the S.R.R.S. touring group staged their respective machines. Before things offically took green from Chuck Christopher, Kayne Hickman's TENNESSEE TORNADO blew his drive-shaft from underneath the machine. That moved everybody up a on the outside line as green struck the BOYD's late night air. From the outside Ragan fired strong and took the lead, with Burroughs, Thomas, RJ and Weaver in-tow. Michael Luna would strike a lap 5 caution match in turn four as Knowles began taking a page from RJ and stepped to the high-side. With Johnson carrying the momentum Ragan's lead would come to an end on lap 12. RJ roared into the lead with the crowd simultaniously roaring their approval on lap 13, leaving young Knowles to battle Burroughs and Ragan. The other Hickman (Brian) ended his run, while Morrow pitted to the infield on lap 14. Lap 23 saw Ragan dominance come to an end as he lost power on the back-side while battling Burroughs and Knowles. One lap after the restart would see Knowles and Burroughs tangle under the flagstand.
Weaver and Kinzer in the #18 "Eastco Supply, Will Kinzer Foundation, Quality Oil & Gas, Kinzer Drilling Co." sponsored GRT racecar were battling for fourth when Thomas slipped up and fell outta the Top 5 for a moment. Weaver used this to his advantage and climbed the top-rope for a power maneuver. Now with Weaver in the runner-up sector it was all up to RJ. Leaving his high-side, Johnson took uncharacteristically to the bottom of the track, allowing Weaver his opportunity for glory. Seemed time to write RJ in the "paid to" line of the big check, but place an ill-handling Jimmy Tucker in the midst of the back-side and you've got the recipe for UPSET STEW. Taking it deep, Weaver edged passed Johnson, bringing the BOYD's crowd to their feet for another photo-finish, giving Weaver his second consecutive (he won the SHRINE RACE June 26th) BOYD's SLM victory. Johnson was followed by Thomas, whom scraped and clawed past Burroughs and Kinzer for third. Gant, Putnam, Ellis, Payne and series points leader Brinkley rounded out the Top 10. The series returns to BOYD's for OCTOBER-FAST excitement, for another $3,000 to-Win event, Friday, October 2nd. Lee Hogan took the B-Hobby checkers. A-Hobby, Pony and FWD will race Double Features, next Friday, Aug. 14th.
Official Results:
S.R.R.S. "Mayhem 40 Shorty"
1. Randy Weaver (# 116) of Crossville, TN
2. Ronnie Johnson (# 5) of Chattanooga, TN
3. William Thomas (# A19) of Chattanooga, TN
4. Anthony Burroughs (# 121) of Athens, AL
5. Brandon Kinzer (# 18) of Allen, KY
6. Robert Gant (# 22) of Flat Rock, AL
7. Josh Putnam (# 212) of Killen, AL
8. Derrick Ellis (# 99) of Chatsworth, GA
9. David Payne (# 8) of Murphy, NC
10. Jay Brinkley (# 10) of Shelbyville, TN
11. Mike Hill (# 11) of Rockford, TN
12. Terry Jay-Bird Marlin (# 14) of Franklin, TN
13. Jimmy Tucker (# 95) of Flintville, TN
14. Lee Sutton (# L7) of Taylorsville, GA
15. Mike Tinker (# T22) of Ringgold, GA
16. Tyler Landers (# 47) of Shelbyville, TN
17. Jake Knowles (# 66) of Tyrone, GA
18. Chris Ragan (# C16) of Corinth, MS
19. Todd Morrow (# T16) of East Ridge, TN
20. Brian Hickman (# 41) of Soddy Daisy, TN
21. T.J. Alford (# 007) of Ball Play, AL
22. David Earl Gentry (# 56) of Lewisburg, TN
23. Michael Luna (# 112) of Sparta, TN
24. Kayne Hickman (# H3) of Soddy Daisy, TN
DNS: Robert Stutts, Carnell Parker, Cale Finley, Jerry Bradley, Patrick Michel, Tony Morris, Ben Kittrell, John Owenby, Andy Pickelsimer, Jamie Perry, James Gamble, Davy Davis, Joe Denby, Tommy Taylor, Jacob Anderson, Brian Jackson, Perry Delaney, James Ward, Corey Posey, Markus McCrary, John Parker
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