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Steve Hixson
RINGGOLD, Ga. (January 24) - The TARHEEL TIGER Ray Cook made it two for two on Saturday, winning the "MID-NITE OIL RACING FUEL 50" at Boyd's Speedway on the Tennessee/Georgia border outside of Chattanooga. A field of 32 Super Late Models, from 8 states, braved the cold temperatures and entered the touted BIGGEST RACE EVER at the 1/3 mile sweeping dirt track, thats over 50 years old. Once the checkered flag waved, fans realized the recent ICE BOWL winner, was making a dominating statement for his new D&R Motorsports raceteam. "The good lord has really blessed us" praised Cook once outta the racecar and in victory lane. "I mean he's always done that, but now with such a good team, people and everything. I am just really thrilled. These guys have worked real hard and I just want to thank everybody, especially Keith and Tader Masters for providing such a great car."
To kick off the BOYD's BLAST event, the SLM's took to the track for qualifying time trials. Ray Cook came close to setting a new track record, but Tommy Kerr's 13:504 set back in August 2008, still stands as the red # 53 "Hicks & Ingle Co., A+ Moving & Storage, Real Racing Wheels, PRC Racing, PPM Racing Products, Star Grafix" sponsored MasterSbilt, Race Engine Design powered machine clocked a 13:816 official lap. Precision Products of Tunnel Hill, GA set up a QUIK SIX FAST DASH race for the 6 fastest qualifiers. Inverting the field put local Soddy Daisy, TN veteran racer Brian Hickman on the pole, with Council Bluff, IA's Mike Collins on the outside. Hickman held on for half of the 12-lap affair, until Rick Rogers raced by on the inside. Hickman continued to fade, allowing Cook, Tony Knowles and Skip Arp past, setting the starting grid.
"B" Main Last Chance winners tallied up the remainder of the field starting with the 7th row of Chris Wall and Robert Stutts. Among some of the "B" Main transferee's included David Earl Gentry, J.J. Nye, The AXE Kevin Gibson and most nobably Ronnie Johnson. As the field took the green, the back-part of the field JAKE-BRAKED off of turn two, which collected and killed some of the racecars in the rear. Anthony Burroughs, Wall, and Charles Zimmerman were a few of the casualties. Wall was reportidly injured (right-hand) but didn't require immediate medical attention on-site. With a few less machines, Cook took the green flag again, leading Rogers, Knowles, Arp and Hickman for the first few circuits. The DIRTY WHITE BOY Anthony White first began buzzing, battling Hickman and entering the Top 5 on lap 7. Yellow would first appear on lap 11 as Nye slowed. Arp had his "proverbial" mirror full of the DWB and battle ensued for the next handful of circuits.
By this time all eyes were on the man known the world-over as THE CHATTANOOGA FLASH and for obvious reasons as the black # 5 "American Billet, Austin Trucking, VP Racing Fuels, Turner Excavating, Miller Bros. Coal, Hoosier, Intrigue Salon" sponsored MasterSbilt, Vinson powered shark began surfing the open waters of fellow competitors. One by one, Johnson picked off positions and by lap 22 was knocking on the Top 5 door. White answered the call and the duo danced the dirt-track disco, rite passed Rogers and eventually the # 26 "SAE Parts Inc, RS Enterprises, All-Star Graphics, GW Performance" sponsored Rocket, Custom powered runner-up Knowles. Late yellows for Brandon Roberts slowed the field a few times setting up "null" opportunities to glimspe the leaders spoiler. Other than that, Cook was "on-rails".
Eric Turner of Springfield, MO making a GOLDEN GEORGIA debut, put his #99T "Swaffords Amoco, Rushin Towing, SR Motorsports" sponsored GRT, Hatfield powered machine in the best seat in the house, passing Knowles and Rogers for view of the WHITE/RJ bout, with a handful of laps remaining. With 2 laps remaining RJ brought the cold-crowd to their feat once again, making a stout move, when the backmarker machine of Jerry Trotter stuttered the roll of the DWB off of turn 2, allowing the two-time Dirt Track World Champion to take 2nd place. Knowles held off 23rd starting Gentry in the waining laps for 5th, just behind Turner. Rogers, Gibson, Jamie Oliver and Kayne Hickman rounded out the Top 10 finishers. Boyd's Speedway's next event is the long awaited return of the CABIN FEVER event slated for February 28th that will be a $3,000 to-WIN event for Super Late Models. For more information visit the tracks web-site www.boydsspeedway.com.
Mid-Nite Oil Racing Fuels 50
Boyd's Speedway
Chattanooga/Ringgold
1/24/09
1. Ray Cook (# 53) of Brasstown, TN
2. Ronnie Johnson (# 5) of Chattanooga, TN
3. Anthony White (# 2X) of Clinton, TN
4. Eric Turner (# 99T) of Springfield, MO
5. Tony Knowles (# 26) of Tyrone, GA
6. David Earl Gentry (# 56) of Lewisburg, TN
7. Rick Rogers (# 44) of Knoxville, TN
8. Kevin Gibson (# M45) of Ringgold, GA
9. Jamie Oliver (# 38) of Murphy, NC
10. Kayne Hickman (# H3) of Soddy Daisy, TN
11. Robert Stutts (# 302) of Murfreesboro, TN
12. Ben Reed (# 07) of Memphis, TN
13. Jerry Trotter (# T7) of Cunningham, TN
14. Brandon Roberts (# 10) of Oxford, AL
15. Brian Hickman (# 41) of Soddy Daisy, TN
16. Skip Arp (# 31) of Georgetown, TN
17. Mike Collins (# 3) of Council Fire, IA
18. Brad Coffey (# 88) of Maryville, TN
19. JJ Nye (# 55) of Talking Rock, GA
20. Robby Mason (# 1S) of Hixson, TN
21. Anthony Burroughs (# 121) of Muscle Shoals, AL
22. Chris Wall (# 71) of Holden, LA
23. Charles Zimmerman (# 7M) of Cunningham, TN
24. Bruce Taylor (# 8) of Toccoa, GA
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