CHRISTIAN FRIENDS

Tuesday, May 27, 2008


"Blant Duke, West Georgia Speedway's tough gun"

Blant Duke is West Georgia Speedway's "Top Gun" in the hobby car division that he races in every Saturday night down in Whitesburg, Georgia.

Blant is also the grandson of owner and promoter, Sammy Duke, who is a man that pulls no punches with any driver. Sammy has a flare for the dramatic. I have heard his gravely voice speaking with the scorekeepers, and also the flag men and other officials, in a tone that can only come from Sammy Dukes voice.

His Grandson, Blant Duke drives a fast hobby car and makes a race worth watching.
Blant's #01 hobby car, is always running on the pole, and that has so many drivers saying that the line-up is fixed. Some have said that "Blant has the magic poll pill in his pocket and that is why he always starts in front". To be honest Sammy shows no favoritism when his grandson races, as a matter of fact, not long ago, in a race Blant finished first in the running order. After the top cars were all checked, I heard Sammy over the intercom saying to the scorekeepers "Disqualify Blant"
That seemed to be a shock, but Blant has to run under the same rules as all other cars. To me that made a real statement and I will never forget it.

But to be honest every time Blant does run his #01 car on to the track, he gives it his all.
Something else strikes me amazing, every time the command is given "for all wide tires to come onto the track to iron it out", Blant Duke is the first of the many cars that is on the track. He always makes a statement when racing and I look for him to move up in the racing world. I spoke with his mother and asked when Blant would move up to a crate car division, and she said never, crate cars are too expensive.
In the Hobby championship race held May 24th, 2008 at West Georgia Speedway it looked like it was going to be amazing as so many cars showed up and Blant was one of the elite cars that was a real threat.
Then it happened, Blant did not make the show do to car trouble, of all things why on the Championship night.
But Racing is a strange game, and you never know what can happen around every curve or front or back straight away. Motor's give up, tires blow, wrecks happen,
or just plain bad luck with racing equipment.

But Blant is still young and has a career ahead of him that seems not to have a end in sight. I believe if he keeps driving the way he does every Saturday night then you could see Blant Duke somewhere down the road driving in some big time races and making some big cash.

Remember Blant Duke, and watch his #01 car, race every Saturday Night at West Georgia Speedway in Whitesburg, Georgia.

Tino Patti (an MSA reporter)


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