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Steve Hixson
RINGGOLD, Ga. (July 16) - On a night where the dice were rolled and the gamble paid off... BOYD's SPEEDWAY owners made the rite call Friday night when a 5:45PM Thunderstorm threatened to cancel the nights SuMMeR SLaMMeR 40: Southern All-Stars event. The Harvey Bros. and GM Gar Dickson forged on and fans were treated to one of the best Super Late Model events of the season. Qualifying time trials took to the track after some heat racing action from the local divisions. Making his BOYD's SPEEDWAY debut RIGHT-FOOT Ronnie Lee Hollingsworth of Northport, Alabama not only set fast time among the 29-entrants, but set a NEW TRACK RECORD in doing so. Hollingsworth tripped the clock at 13:179, beating Billy Ogle Jr's 2009 mark of 13:320 by almost two-tenths of a second. July 16 Race Photos
Joining Hollingsworth, turning also a faster track record lap, would be local Ringgold, GA racer Kevin Gibson, as the racer know as AXE, smashed the qualifying clock at 13:247. David Payne, Jake Knowles, Derek Ellis, Mike Weeks, Kentucky's Brandon Kinzer, Louisiana's Scott Creel, Shane Clanton and Texian Chris Brown were all locked in on their qualifying lap respectfully, leaving a host of top notch S.A.S regulars looking at having to race into the "A" Main thru a pair of "B" Main Consi's. In the first 10 lap race Randy THE DREAM Weaver took the checkers, earning himself the 11th overall starting position for the feature. Chad Ogle and KY's Chris Wilson followed. In Consi #2 it was Mark Vineyard holding off 1999 S.A.S Champion Jamie Perry and East Tennessee sensation Shanon Buckingham.
A four-wide SALUTE to the SuMMeR SLaMMeR fans and Hollingsworth rocketed forth into the lead, leaving Gibson to grapple with Knowles and Weeks. Knowles settled things quickly and was following Hollingsworth's lead, til Weaver decided to join the fray with a fourth of the way home. Former 2008 BOYD's OCTOBER-FAST winner Shane Clanton was marching towards the front but the GEORGIA GIANT was overpowered by Consi. #1 runner-up Ogle, as the SEVIERVILLE ASSAILANT began knocking off position after position. With Gibson falling from the lime-light of the Top 5, the DITCHDIGGER came to a close on the front straight-away. Skip Arp and provisional starter Freddy Smith's night came to an end simultaniously as Weaver hounded Hollingsworth lap after lap.
Finally with a little over a handful of laps remaining the #116 "BKW Disaster Relief & Rebuild, The Bailey Co., Byrd's Radiator" sponsored Bloomquist / Race Engine Design powered past Hollingsworth, whom would fall from the runner-up finish with less the 2 laps remaining for a disappointing 11th place nod, due to a fan-belt demise. Weaver rejoiced in JODY MILLARD PEST CONTROL Victory Lane and told S.A.S series announcer Travis Scott all about it:
1. Randy Weaver (# 116) of Crossville, TN
2. Chad Ogle (# 10) of Sevierville, TN
3. Jake Knowles (# 66) of Tyrone, GA
4. Shane Clanton (# 25) of Locust Grove, GA
5. Ronnie Johnson (# 5) of Chattanooga, TN
6. David Payne (# 8) of Murphy, NC
7. Chris Wilson (# 17) of Louisa, KY
8. Rick Hixson (# 16) of Soddy Daisy, TN
9. Chris Brown (# 21) of Spring, TX
10. Doug Smith (# 45) of Somerset, KY
11. Ronny Lee Hollingsworth (# 18) of Northport, AL
12. Mark Vineyard (# 4) of Powell, TN
13. Riley Hickman (# R1) of Ooltewah, TN
14. Skip Arp (# 31) of Georgetown, TN
15. Freddy Smith (# 00) of Seymour, TN
16. Mike Weeks (# 22) of Friendsville, TN
17. Kevin Gibson (# M45) of Ringgold, GA
18. Derek Ellis (# 99) of Chatsworth, GA
19. Shannon Buckingham (# 50) of Morristown, TN
20. Daniel Baggerly (# 16) of Rural Retreat, VA
21. Jamie Perry (# P4) of Ringgold, GA
22. Kerry Jones (# 6) of Bristol, TN
23. Scott Creel (# 31) of Franklinton, LA
24. Brandon Kinzer (# 18) of Allen, KY
DNQ: Jason Welshan, Travis Varnadore, Todd Morrow, Charles Hurst and Jamie Oliver
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