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Chuck Christopher
RINGGOLD, Ga. (April 30) - With heavy rains threatening the area once again for this weekend BOYD's SPEEDWAY would open its doors to a packed house. With nearly 90 cars signed in to compete on the 3/8 mile clay oval the racing action got under way with the B-HOBBY HEATS. In the first of two HEATS the 4X of Jason Pierce would start from the pole but would only see not one but two #7 pass him for the top spots. The #7 of Brandon Armitage would finish first followed by #7 Daniel Johnston, 4X Jason Pierce would finish third. In the second HEAT #48 Lee Harbon would take the checkered followed by #77 BJ Wilson and B12 Buck Hofman. Next onto the 3/8 mile clay oval would be the always competitive CRATE LATE MODELS in the first of two HEATS. James Gamble would start from the pole position but would have to wait until lap three before taking the lead away from Weston Gantte. Kenny Kizzar A-1 would cross the line second and 23 Craig Burrows would follow in third, but the 23 of Burrows would be placed at the rear of the feature for a tire that was checked soft. In HEAT #2 Chip Brindle and Kevin Gibson would start first and second and would finish that way while #72 of Robby Mason would start last and finish third. Next out was the A-HOBBY HEATS, Steve Bishop would start from the pole but would see the win go to #12 Corey Cresswell followed by #3 Gene Dover and #72 Patrick Wilson. In HEAT #2 the surprize was the J2 of Jeff McKenzie starting from the pole and holding on to take his first HEAT VICTORY over Steve Tate and #148 Booger Brooks. The STEEL HEAD LATE MODELS were called to the track for the first of two of their HEATS. In HEAT #1 and early caution for the crash involving #71,#14 and #5 in turn 2 would later see the #16 Rick Hixson pass T6 Todd Hernandez on lap 4. After their side by side racing he would go on to gain the win and the pole position for the nights feature event. He was followed to the checkered by T6 Todd Hernandez and 22L Mike Lewelling. In HEAT #2 it would be almost a repeat of the first with a early caution on lap #1 the red flag would be displayed for the crash on the #302 Robert Stutts, #357 Brian Hooks, #H3 Kayne Hickman, #55 Brad Allen, #4 Justin Litchford and D11 of Davy Davis. This would end the race for Brad Allen and Justin Litchford with heavy front end damage. When racing resumed the #29 Jason Welshan would take the victory followed by T21 David Tinker and 00 Jeff Smith. The last heats of the evening would bring the FWD's to the speedway. The T9 of Tommy Hughes would hold off #20 Hunter Boyd and V20 Brad Cross for his heat win. In Heat #2 the #31 Michael Arp would pass his way to the front followed by Derrick Forgey and Matt Patton.
Everyone was ready for the money races, each driver had had his turn onto the 3/8 mile clay oval during heats to see what adjustments were needed to improve their cars. First up would bring the B-HOBBY DIVISION to the speedway, but it would come very clear to all those that watched that this group didn't make all the right adjustments. With cautions early and often several cars would be unable to continue, some for mechanical issues. But as the race came to a close it would find the #77 of BJ Wilson taking his FIRST VICTORY of the year. He would be followed by #2 Mike Chapman and #7 Daniel Johnston. It was now the CRATE LATE MODELS turn to rumble in the dirt, with James Gamble and Chip Brindle starting from the pole they would lead the field to the green flag. But to their surprize the first lap would see the A-1 of Kenny Kizzar take the early lead. Kenny would have his hands full holding the entire field behind him for the next 19 laps. Kenny Kizzar would cross the finish line first for his FIRST VICTORY ( since moving up from the FWD DIVISION ). His victory would be short lived as the second place finisher of #38C Chip Briindle was place the money on the table to protest the victor. Kenny would refuse to tear down handing the victory to Chip Brindle ( FIRST VICTORY OF THE YEAR ). He would be followed by James Gamble, Jason MacMahan, Kevin Gibson and Robby Mason. Next out would be the A-HOBBY DIVISION and while many wondered if they had been talking too much with their B-HOBBY counterparts. As the A-HOBBY DIVISION would also see the cautions fly early and often. But the fans would not be disappointed as some of the best racing of the evening woud see the cars of Corey Cresswell, Booger Brooks and Patrick Wilson put on a show for the lead. For the last 8 laps of their feature you could have covered all three cars with a blanket. Racing three wide front one end of the track to the other no one really knew who would come out victorious. With Corey Cresswell holding the slight lead lap after lap it was Booger Brooks trying to be the spoiler. But as he made his move so did
Patrick Wilson as Brooks tried to make the pass for the lead Patrick Wilson slid by them both to take the victory. Wilson would be followed by Brooks, Cresswell, Steve Tate and Jeff Paige. Everyone took a deep breath as the call was made to the pits for the STEEL HEADED LATE MODELS. With a full field of 27 cars getting ready to take to the racing surface the early heat cautions had taken three out for the evening. The 24 car field rolled to the green flag being led by Rick Hixson and Jason Welshan. Jason Welshan would take the early lead over Rick Hixson, but as the laps began to tick off Welshan would continue running the bottom of the track. Hixson must have watched the A-HOBBY division race and saw that you could run three wide around the smooth racing surface. So he jumped to the high side and little by little gain ground on Welshan. On lap 9 Hixson would take the lead away from Welshan only to get caught by slower traffic the next lap giving it back to Welshan. Hixson would not give up the fight continuing to run the top but would only watch as Jason Welshan would take the checkered flag in front of him. Welshan was followed by Hixson, David Tinker, Brad Lowe and Robert Stutts. The last feature of the night was for the FWD DIVISION. It would also see a great race between Hughes, Arp and Forgey battling side by side for the entire race. Arp seemed to have the race in hand only to have a flat right rear end his night four laps from the finish. At the end we would have yet another FIRST TIME VICTOR in Tommy Hughes. Hughes was followed by Forgey, Brad Cross, Matt Patton and Hunter Boyd. SUPER LATE MODELS invade BOYD's SPEEDWAY for the $3000 to win with the S.R.R.S. series.
FULL RUNDOWN:
CRATE LATE MODELS:
1. CHIP BRINDLE #38C
2. JAMES GAMBLE #27
3. JASON MACMAHAN #10M
4. KEVIN GIBSON #87
5. ROBBY MASON #72
6. CRAIG BURROWS #23
7. HUNTER BEST #007
8. DAVID TINDELL #111
9. CHRIS WILSON #10
10. WESTON GRANTTE #14
11. DUSTIN GOLDEN #77
12. SCOTT OHMS #R76
13. TODD MORROW #99
14. CHUCK COOPER #37
15. JERRY COFFMAN #3
16. KENNY KIZZAR #A1 (REFUSE TEAR DOWN)
DNS REX RICHEY #16
STEEL HEADED LATE MODELS:
1. JASON WELSHAN #29
2. RICK HIXSON #16
3. DAVID TINKER #T21
4. BRAD LOWE #16
5. ROBERT STUTTS #302
6. ROSS WHITE #0
7. JEFF SMITH #00
8. KAYNE HICKMAN #H3
9. MIKE TINKER #T22
10. TODD HERNANDEZ #T6
11. BRAIN JACKSON #B4
12. LEE GRAY #11
13. MIKE LEWELLEN #22L
14. RUSTY VALLENGER #29
15. BRIAN HOOKS #357
16. RANDY JUDGE #R7
17. ANDY MILLER #17M
18. BRIAN BURKE #B39
19. BRIAN OWENBY #00
20. MATT SWEATT#5
21. DAVEY DAVIS #D11
22. TY MCGEE #71
23. PAT CASTLEBERRY#P14
24. JOHN BURGER #71B
DNS BRAD ALLEN #55
DNS JUSTIN LITCHFORD #4
DNS DENNY SLAYTON #99S
B-HOBBY:
1. BJ WILSON #77
2. MIKE CHAPMAN #2
3. DANIEL JOHNSTON #7R
4. JASON PIERCE #4X
5. ALVIN SEWELL #1
6. STEVEN BELL #9
7. BUCK HOFMAN #B12
8. RAGAN WILLIAMS #48
9. MIKE RAY #84
10. BRANDON ARMITAGE #7
11. LEE HARBON #48
12. AARON JONES #J2
A-HOBBY:
1. PATRICK WILSON #72
2. BOOGER BROOKS #148
3. COREY CRESSWELL #12
4. STEVE TATE #ST1
5. JEFF PAIGE #P2
6. JEFF MCKENZIE #J2
7. TONY LEWIS #T12
8. WILLIAM (PEEWEE) PHILLIPS #H31 (FIRST EVER RACE)
9. DEWAYNE DAVIS #21
10. ROBBIE GREEN #0
11. BLAKE ARMITAGE #37
12. FORREST GIFFORD #2
13. STEV BISHOP #31
14. THOMAS CAGLE #69
15. CLIFF WEBB #17
DNS GENE DOVER #3
DNS CHARLES WILSON #43
FRONT RUNNERS:
1. TOMMY HUGHES #T9 (FIRST VICTORY OF THE YEAR)
2. DERRICK FORGEY #K88
3. BRAD CROSS #V20
4. MATTON PATTON #53
5. HUNTER BOYD #H20
6. STEVE BOYD #H75
7. HAILEY CRESSWELL #28
8. MARK ARP #48
9. DAVID BRITTON #C88
10. RICHARD HICHMAN #H31
11. TODD WRIGHT #T1
12. SPUNKY BROWN #20
13. MICHAEL ARP #31
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