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Steve Hixson
RINGGOLD, Ga. (April 24) - Nobody would have thought a better ending could come after last weekends KING of CRATE race last lap pass for victory. Friday night, the STEEL-HEAD BORDER WARS race at Boyd's Speedway came down to inches at the flagstand, producing some post-race drama for all involved. Jason Cardwell of Knoxville, TN lead 39 and 7/8's of a lap, of the 40 lap, $2,000. to-WIN feature. Even the scoring tower wasn't sure which racecar crossed the finishline first. Thanks to photographer Nick Nicholson and owner/promoter Richard Harvey the original call from the scoring-tower (in favor of Cardwell) was reversed and correct credit was given to Jason Welshan. The Maryville, Tennessee racer set fast time over the thirty-two (32) car field, being the only racer to break the 15second mark during single lap qualifying. An inverted DASH RACE set the Top 8 for their feature starting position and Welshan would finish 5th after starting last. Passing pole sitter, Mark Leach and inheriting second from Bobby Mayse, Welshan would hold off late race SMACKDOWN by Brad Lowe, before edging Cardwell for a 1-2-3 East Tennessee BORDER WAR victory. Of the entries only eight (8) racers were from Georgia, giving dominance of the Top 10 finishers from Tennessee.
Piloting the # 29 "Seiler Bros. Lumber, Welshan Excavating, The Miles 411 Restaurant, Mastercraft Boats, Caughron & Co., Tennessee RV" sponsored Trak*Star / Nick's Race Engines racecar, Welshan clocked a 14:919 to be locked into the FAST DASH - 12 lap race. The inverted field was won by 8th qualifier Leach, whom along with Cardwell, took FRONT ROW JOE honors for the BORDER WARS main event. Two "B" Main last chance races made up the remainder of the twenty-four (24) car starting grid. Brandon Williams won the first consi., with Charles Hurst and Brian Pritchard finishing second and third. In consi. # 2 it was Rick Hixson dominating, with Chip Brindle and Ruben Mayfield following. A four (4) wide salute set the battle-flag to green as Cardwell overpowered Leach and Mayse at the start. Kayne Hickman briefly battled Welshan and Mark Rosner and would be the war's first casualty of the event. Just outside the Top 5 the two top producing racers of the 2009 Boyd's Speedway season; Rosner and Hixson seemed complaisant, as Welshan began to petal towards Mayse in the runner-up spot. Lowe would trail Leach early, as it seemed Mayse had something for Cardwell.
Pre-halfway point exits from Andy Miller, Shannon Bearden, Brindle and others whittled the field down, as Mayse began pressuring Cardwell for the lead. Then it was all over for the 2007 ICE BOWL CHAMP. Mayse hit a hard knock in turn 4, on the 25th circuit and ended his run stalling towards turn 1. This moved everybody up a notch behind Cardwell with Welshan in the runner-up spot. Eleven laps later and Scott Jackson laid some oil down on the low-line to rear the events final caution and set-up probably the tracks closest finish in its long-storied history. Welshan and 3rd running Lowe got a good restart and raced side-by-side into turns 1 & 2. On lap 37 the duo tangled and allowed Cardwell a cars-length of breathing room. Somehow Weshan and Lowe switch lines and Welshan finds some traction on the outside. As the white flag flies from Chuck Christopher, Welshan is at Cardwell's quarter-panel. Drawing along side Jason vs. Jason draws to the checkered flag and Welshan literally by 6inches (or less) noises Cardwell for the $2,000. payday. While at the infield scale-house Welshan is weighed twice and given the "all-clear" as it's announced the # 07 "Competition Racing Equipment, B&M Concrete" sponsored Stinger / Jim Ford Automotive powered racecar of Cardwell is the winner.
A hasty infield conference ensues with track owner Richard Harvey, who personally witnessed the photo-finish, thus ordering a corrected reversal. "That would've been a $2,000. mistake and I wasn't gonna stand by that." stated Harvey, whom double-checked his own account, with a shot from track photographer Nick Nicholson, whom was stationed a few yards away from the flagstand. "What a RACE!!!" claimed Welshan, after climbing from the racecar in JODY MILLARD PEST CONTROL Victory Lane. "I already had in my mind, what 2nd place was going to pay. You just can't give up at this place. Jason (Cardwell) drove a heck-o-va race and I wanna thank all the fans for coming out tonight." Welshan concluded in victory lane thanking everyone whom helped out in his crew, family and circle of friends. The # 16L "Lowe's Auto Parts, Cross Creek Stables, Rick's handy Man Service, Quality Lawn Care, Burnett's Auto Repair" sponsored Trak*Star / B&B powered racecar of Lowe finished a close 3rd. Eleventh starting Hurst and polesitter Leach rounded out the Top 5. Rosner and Pritchard headed up the second setted Top 5 in 6th and 7th, with Hixson, Robert Stutts and Ty McGee rounding out the Top 10 officially.
Boyd's Speedway
Chattanooga, TN/Ringgold, GA
Friday, April 24, 2009
BORDER WARS (ROUND 1 of 6): Official Finish
1. Jason Welshan (# 29) of Maryville, TN
2. Jason Cardwell (# 07) of Knoxville, TN
3. Brad Lowe (# 16L) of Knoxville, TN
4. Charles Hurst (# 1H) of Knoxville, TN
5. Mark Leach (# 66) of Andersonville, TN
6. Mark Rosner (# 17) of Maryville, TN
7. Brian Pritchard (# 3) of Harrison, TN
8. Rick Hixson (# 16) of Soddy Daisy, TN
9. Robert Stutts (# 302) of Murfreesboro, TN
10. Ty McGee (# 71) of Ooltewah, TN
11. Rusty Ballanger (# 29) of Seymour, TN
12. Clint Lee (# 4) of Cleveland, TN
13. Scott Jackson (# 80) of Chatsworth, GA
14. Ruben Mayfield (# 00) of Lenior City, TN
15. Brandon Williams (# 0) of Crossville, TN
16. Mike Price (# 77) of Lenior City, TN
17. Mike Lewelling (# 00) of Seymour, TN
18. Bobby Mayse (# 22) of Harrison, TN
19. Andy Miller (# 17M) of Dunlap, TN
20. Shannon Bearden (# 32) of Cherry Log, GA
21. Chip Brindle (# 38C) of Chatsworth, GA
22. John Parker (# 19) of Chatsworth, GA
23. Pat Castleberry (# P14) of Ringgold, GA
24. Kayne Hickman (# H31) of Soddy Daisy, TN
In other racing action the A-Hobby finally saw a new winner. Last weeks runner up Larry Higgins kept last weeks winner and early season dominator Tod Hernandez behind him in the 15 lap feature. Early leader Dewayne Wilson and a front running Scott Boyd fell from competition early. Arva DADDY Brooks finished 3rd, with Len McNeese and Todd Stafford rounding out the Top 5. In the Crate Late Model division James Gamble took some much needed retribution after last weekends KING of CRATE loss. The B-MAN Brian Jackson was 2nd of the 21-car field, with Craig Burrows finishing 3rd. Chad Smith and Danny Pippin rounded out the Top 5. In the final feature of the evening Wendall Ingram defeated Grady Stokes and Jimmy Elliott in the Pony Stock race. Randy Stanfield and young Jordan Rodabaugh finished 4th and 5th. Next Friday night, May 1st the Super Late Model's return; when the SRRS tour racers invade BOYD's SPEEDWAY for the $3,000. to-WIN "MAYHEM 50". All classes (except the STEEL-HEAD LM's) will be in competition with Crate Late Models topping the undercard, with their $800. to-WIN regular racing feature. A-Hobby, B-Hobby, Pony and FWD will all compete for 2009 points. Information can be obtained at the web-site www.boydsspeedway.com or on-line with the SRRS web-site at www.southernregionalracingseries.com.
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