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Bama Bash 2011
Late Model Mark
Pinson, Alabama. (March 7, 2011)
The racing season is starting up down here in Dixie and it's about time, I'm ready for some action and some noise. After a cold Ice Bowl in January, the first night race kicked off at Green Valley Speedway with the 14th Annual Bama Bash. This event kicks off Green Valley's specials only season and it happens to be the tracks biggest and richest paying event. It also is Alabama's second highest paying show. So this round of the Red Clay Report will have some highlights of my two days at GVS.
The ole Dodge hit the road at 2:30pm. for the scenic 50 mile drive to Green Valley, hot laps were scheduled as soon as the sun got off the track so I would have plenty of time to walk around and see who was there and what was happening. Right at 3:30pm. I was at the pitgate, with cupcakes in hand, I can't get into the track without them, chocolate works wonders with the ladys in the booth. Shortly after the wristband was slapped on the wrist I sauntered around talking to various drivers and track officials, looked like a nice full pit area as nearly 200 teams showed up. The Supers had 42 cars while the Crates had 33, and the Limiteds had 38, a nice field of 111 cars.
Saturdays events would prove to be a rough one and a long one, it's just the way it goes sometimes. The track was good, the track crew worked very hard to keep things going but it just was a long night. Hot lapping all the cars, then qualifying all three Late Model divisions took a lot of time. Some fans mildy griped about timing in the Crates and Limiteds, some saying a pill draw would be better, their words, not mine. Hot laps started at 5:40pm. There were 3 features on tap tonite in between time trials and heats, thankfully there were time limits in place as the Outlaw Thunder and Street Stock events were wreckfests that took forever it seemed. Crate heats started near 10:45pm. and then the Super Heats around 11:30pm followed by the Limited heats and closing the show was the Modified feature, wrapping things up around 1:30am. A long night for sure but a fun one. I must mention that the crowd was easily the best Saturday crowd in many years. Had a lot of fun this night as it was nice to be at the track again.
Sunday, what a day, a long one but the time flew by. It started early as the ole Dodge was on the road at 8:00am. heading to Southside, Alabama, to shoot an episode of Late Model Rewind. The show was done inside the business at Old Man's Garage, a company that supplys many parts for Dirt Late Models. This one would be fun as I had the privledge to interview Columbus and Magnolia Speedway announcer "Big" Ross Tingle and World of Outlaw Late Model Series announcer Rick Eschelman, that was dang cool!! From 9:00-11:00am. we filmed the show followed by some great bench racing. At 11:15am. it was a short drive to the track, First thing upon arrival was walking on the track watching track prep guru Scott Morris work the dirt with the grader towing a sheepsfoot. Scott really takes pride in his work and his effort today payed off large. Then it was off to the campground to hang with superfan Dickie Glenn and his entourage, Dickie always has a cookout and draws a crowd, the time flew by and before you know it it was 2:30pm. I had asked Scott if I could help run in the track in one of the Crown Victoria packer cars that are equipped with Hoosier tires from a Late Model. I was waiting by the 4 packer cars when everybody showed up to help. all the cars needed air for the rear tires, come to find out, nobody but me had ever done it before as the other three guys were "newbies." Imagine that, ole Orange shirt is the lead packer dude. packing the track is not so easy on a greasy and wet high-banked track, a fine line is needed with speed and cornering lines. Had a young fan who had never done this before and he enjoyed it during our 90 minutes of doing laps.
On to the race, hot laps started at 5:40pm. before a very nice Sunday night crowd. The track was smooth, and very fast, it stayed fast yet turned very racy later on. The Crate Late Model event had a number of yellows but was a nice race as winner Jason Hiett held off Kenny Compton for all 35 laps. The Mini-Stock race was a mess as wrecks and spins dominated the event. Right around 8:40pm. the 75 lap, $10,000-to-win, Bama Bash feature got the green with booming fireworks overhead. What a race! The hands-down best Super Late event I have ever seen at GVS. Side-by-side, three-wide action was the norm, passing all thru the field on a very wide and very fast surface. The track was about as good as ya get. A couple of cautions, one for a wreck that collected leader Jesse Stovall and Ray Cook slowed this entertaining race, the story of the race was the charge by Ronnie Johnson who came from 13th, passing, slicing and dicing his way to the front, dueling furiously with Todd Morrow, William Thomas and Chris Wall all the while working traffic. Johnson got the lead with a brilliant move on the inside and took the checkered in a very popular win. The grandstands were buzzing with excitement after the race, lot's of smiles from the fans, they had seen a magnificent race.
After the winner circle awards there was still another race, the Limited Late Models, ole Ronnie Johnson led the whole thing to take his second win of the night, RJ placed 4th in the Crates, won the 75 lap Super race, then capped off the night winning the Limited 35 lapper, some night. All the racing concluded by 10:00pm.
Green Valley's owner Dennis Harker and staff did a fantastic job during the weekend, a very good event that had great racing on the final day. Green Valley is such a good facility that has great views from all areas for the fans. A very well prepared track that provides very fast and exciting racing in a cool atmosphere. Next years event wil be one week later on the calendar and will conclude on Saturday night instead of Sunday. If you happen to be in the South next year, check out a show at GVS, you'll leave with a smile, just like everybody did last Sunday night!!
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