Sunday Racing, with Cold Winds!

"GONE RACING AT THE BURG, ON SUNDAY"

What would you expect, when you have a race with the weather, that still has the cold chill in the air, and the winds just did not want to stop blowing, every now and then the sun would come out then back behind the clouds, shine and then head back. I know why there were no fans in the stands, most likely the cold weather or because it was Sunday and some folks go to church on that day, and be around their families. But those that were there had to have that strong cup of hot coffee to heat their bodies up. Racing fan's and drivers are some strong folks..


I know we could have all stayed home and watched Martinsville, and seen those Nascar boy's run tough on the track that is called a hairpin, but I really like watching those men that dare and brave the temperatures as well as the track that is known for beating you, called West Georgia Speedway of "The Burg".

I mean this is the track, that some drivers can win on ,and some can't, but if they ever do win they are always tempted to return back. I guess they feel like they want to temp their fate against this "Historic" track, built by Sammy Duke, a legend of his own.

There should be a sign posted before entering the race track, "IF YOU WIN HERE YOU CAN WIN ANYWHERE".

Sunday was strange, because it was so cold, but you know there sure were a lot of race cars, and that's all that matters. The only class that really did not show was the Full size cars, who run last at West Georgia Speedway, so to make it a better race Sammy had the Street Stocks run in the Enduro class race, and that race was crazy in itself as the winner of last Saturday Nights race car #91 driven by Lee Owensby was running good but something happened and he dropped out of the race. That left 3 other cars, and would you believe one more car dropped out leaving 2 cars racing for the win, well since one was on the backstretch and the other on the front stretch, they decided to call the race and end our misery. Taking the win was car #16 driven by I believe Kevin Horton, and taking 2nd place was the car #65 driven by Charlie Brown.

Racing can bring out the Legends of the sport, I mean, when you talk with Richard Bagby who drives the #6 Modified Mini car and he wins, you have to remember that Richard has won in Sportsman, and a few Late model races, before returning to his roots.

Then there is the "HILL", as I call him, his real name is Joe Hillman, and he drives the #92 hobby car, he also has won many races, but he continues to race in the hobby car features, and you know he is still as fierce as he was when both men, Richard Bagby and Joe Hillman were racing at the now closed 7 Flags Speedway in Douglasville.

They are the true dirt track drivers, and each man I feel happy to say is my friend.

Racing can be fun on Sundays, except when the winds make it feel like you should have stayed home, then again, you have to remember race car drivers and their families are a different breed of folks, and they come from all walks of like. Most of them are family men, with wife's and children they take care of, but some how you can't get the racing fever out of their bodies once they have felt the action, and cracked a win in a dirt track race.

The RESULTS for Sunday afternoon racing is as follows:

Modified Mini Winner # 6 Richard Bagby
2nd #11 Charles Lancaster
3rd #9R Evan Lancaster

Enduro with Street 1st place went to #16 Kevin Horton
2nd #65 Charlie Brown
3rd place was given to #91 of Lee Owensby

Hobby car races : Winner 1st place #01 Blant Duke
2nd place #92 of Joe Hillman
3rd place #47 Jason Causey

Crate Car Winner 1st place #16 Tony Kemp
2nd place #19 of Jeremy Hall
3rd place #89 of Carey Smith

Sportsman race Winner #99 Rucker Orr
2nd place #13 Roger Cassell
3rd place #114 of Steve Segars

NEWS: We now have 22M of Driver Mark Sims, in a Sportsman car, so he has come all the way up, from those pure mini days, to modified mini , to a Crate car, and now to the Sportsman class. All in all did a good job, he missed a pile up by a fender, but the track beat his car and he broke a axle or something. Any way Mark was moving and his car looked great from where I was filming, he has some talent, just watch him.

That was the running order of the races that were held on Sunday, now next Saturday night, "The Burg" is going to have better weather, with temperatures in the day time in the 70's and going down to 50 at night, so maybe we can all enjoy some great racing on Saturday.

News: #3 of Jeff Carter never made the show do to a rocker arm stud breaking during hot laps.
Jeff would have made the hobby feature a real show, with cars like Blant Duke, Joe Hillman, and Jason Causey, we should have seen a real finish.

More later:

Thanks ,

Tino Patti
a Freelance Photographer/ Video Journalist

Sometimes You can Meet the nicest drivers!

RAINING AND IT'S SATURDAY, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN....

Yes Saturday rolled in, but along with it came heavy rain, and that is not good for racing season.

Even knowing that the race would be called that does not mean that you can't meet some super drivers, like the young man that came from Temple Georgia to pick up a DVD of Saturday nights race,the young Darrell Fricks driver of the white #28D, that was black flagged for causing 4 yellow flags to be thrown during the Sportsman feature.

Let me tell you about this outstanding young man, he has been a champion riding Motorcycles and has 7 wins under his belt at the outstanding race track in Bremen, Georgia. You have to remember that riding a motorcycle is a lot different than having 4 good wheels under you. He has suffered severe pain, from racing but never let that stop, that is a sign of courage. He has raced with or along side of Sportsman driver #89 Carey Smith, now that Carey has 4 wheels under him, who knows what will happen, he is also a driver to be watched in the Crate races.

I met Darrell, at the local Walgreen's parking lot, it was strange because when he pulled his green F-150 ford in to the parking lot I was just coming in, now that is timing.
Drivers come in all sizes and shapes and some are friendly and some you really don't want to be around because they carry such a arrogance about them. Well Darrell is not that way, he seems like a driver that has really been through some tough times, and I believe once he has his car right, we could see some checkered flags his way. Of course, lets not ever count out drivers like #99 of Rucker Orr, or #G1 of Glenn McWaters, or so many other top notch drivers. These are the drivers that Darrell, must learn to get by to ever win those big time races, once he does feel the taste of victory in the Sportsman car, he will never look back.

I thought that it was interesting while we were talking under a overcast sky, that Darrell informed me that he had raced the #31 yellow Enduro car with the numbers in orange, at West Georgia Speedway in the 2008 season. So what really makes Darrel tick, I know he loves racing, and from what I have heard his father, Darrell also, was racing when Senoia Speedway was DIRT, in the Cadet division in the late1980's racing season, So you see Darrell has some dirt track roots, and it would be only fitting for the son of a former dirt driver to make it big. Don't say it can't happen because since I have been a photographer and journalist I have meet with some of the best drivers in the sport. Some have gone on to Nascar, and some or driving at those big time race events all over the country.

Like I always tell the drivers, after meeting them in the pit area, keep their eye open for the checkered flag, that is their prize. Also you NEVER win a race on the first lap, I don't care who you are, and if your not rubbing your not racing.

Look for more articles about Darrell Fricks and his white car #28D, who knows what will happen next Saturday night if he has his car ready to ride, just keep a close look at him, I am sure he will gain the respect of other Sportsman drivers as well as the fans.

Good luck Darrell, and I hope to see you win a race or two in the 2009 season!.


Thanks

Tino Patti

A Freelance Photographer/ Video Journalist
contributing writer for MSA magazine

RAIN OUT, NO NO NO

Raining In Georgia, BUT will there be racing?

Well West Georgia Speedway and other places or under water so to speak, I mean it has been raining so much that I don't believe the track needs to be watered for a while, then again who knows what tomorrow will bring.

We do know that Saturday's race at "The Burg" will be canceled, because of heavy storms, but that does not mean their will not be "racing on Sunday at 12 noon," if the weather lets the cars run.

I can not tell you what the turn out will be like on Sunday?, will the fans come out to see Sunday afternoon racing, and if so how many. Will the driver's be there?, these are all great questions, maybe someone can give us a clear answer.

We do have some racing news I found interesting, and that is that car #K17 driven by the super Crate car driver, Mark Knight will be changing car numbers, he will be going from the famous #K17 to #K77, why I have no idea, that is the same as Enduro driver and Crate Driver, Shane Barrett, who was driving the 79 car in Enduro and the #B77 in Crate, both times Shane had bad luck on the track, not of his fault he was just caught up in some wrecks and that is not what Shane was looking for. In the Crate car race, his #B77 was the car that took on the worst damage, after #89 of Carey Smith spun in turn 4 and that is when he collected 3 other cars, Shane being one of the cars.
As for as Mark Knight, he had something for the #89 and maybe #16 of Tony Kemp, but I believe something let go in his car that forced him into the pit area. What ever it was was not good for Mark as he is a charger of a driver, and will not pull in unless something is really wrong with his car. I look for him to win some big races coming up.

As for everything else, all I can say is since it is Friday I hope that all the drivers can get all the pieces they needed after Saturday nights, demolition derby.

Maybe I will be there Sunday to film, then again, maybe I won't since I do have previous engagements that are all ready made, and I hate to break a photo shoot.
Then again I do love racing, well I will make that call Sunday morning when I see what the skies look like, if there is rain anywhere near like it has been, I will be a NO Show, but if I can rearrange my schedule, then I will be at "The Burg" on Sunday afternoon.

Drivers to watch in upcoming races, will be the #3 of Jeff Carter who had to replace several pieces of his car, because of the damage he sustained Saturday Night. I also know that Blant Duke who was driving in the #99 back-up car of Rucker Orr needs some body work, and I am sure that has been done, so I also believe he will be ready to race on Sunday.

Richard Bagby who drives the #6 Modified Mini car should be ready and eager to take home a victory that is if he races on Sunday. We will have to wait and see.

Anyway, hope to see you at the track, and we will continue to bring you the blow by blow action of racing at "Historic" West Georgia Speedway and all the flag to flag action.


Many Thanks,

Tino Patti

a Freelance Photographer/ Video Journalist

THURSDAY , THURSDAY, THURSDAY !!

"RACING NEWS, AND WOES "

Well fan's and friends, it does not look good for racing on Saturday night at "The Burg", I mean these heavy rains just seem to want to continue to mess up racing season at West Georgia Speedway.

It seems so strange now because I am typing this at 5:25 p.m. and the sun is out here in Douglasville, also the temperature is in the high 60's, gee I was hoping this would blow over so that we could see some more exciting racing action, in all classes.

I know that there were so many cars that were wrecked in the hobby race, and also the Enduro race, not to mention the Crate and the Sportsman class features.

I guess the class with the worst damage was in the fast and wild Hobby car races, where driving was not meant for the faint at heart. When Blant Duke gets spun and cuts a tire, and Jeff Carter has two are more major mishaps, you know things are not right.
Blant as we all know went on to win the Hobby race, followed by car #31 of Blake Griffin, and in thrid place was the organge and white #92 of Joe Hillman. Crashing right after the checkered flag and right before me on the front straight was the car #69 driven by a veteran of dirt track wars, Rosco Collins, and into him was car #3 of Jeff Carter who had really no place to go, then there was car #470 of old Bo, who I have not got a last name for, but finding out later that he said that is one reason he never races at West Georgia Speedway, he makes his home track Dixie Speedway.
Well Bo, if you can't drive here then my man, you can drive anywhere. We all know that "Historic" West Georgia Speedway has to be one of the toughest race tracks in the south. When you bring you car to West Georgia Speedway, just remember, you may haul it off in peices before the night is over.

I know this week has been rough on some driver's and their families, I mean they had to go and work during the week, plus peice their race cars back together. That takes some real cash, and I know how hard it can get during a racing season, but you have some of the best drivers tackel "The Burg" every Saturday night, and I know that some drivers can't wait for that 1st win of the racing season, and when they get it, they don't like the taste of 2nd or 3rd, its that winning fever that makes them race every Saturday night.

The modified mini driver that really sticks out is Richard Bagby, in car #6, he is a proven winner and when his night has come he can and will out run every modified mini car on the track including the #07 of Frank Long, who has won 2 races at "The Burg", so he is the man that every other driver is shooting to beat.

The Enduro races are hard to call, because there are so many drivers that have the talent, but do they have the pacience to wait and win. One driver that has always been around the top of this class is #32 of Terry "Sunshine" Finnell, who believe it or not came to the race Saturday night, but never unloaded his car do to engine trouble, which in a way was a good thing because he could have been caught up in several wrecks. By the way who is #91 Lee Owensby, and why could he not be out run?.

When the Crate Cars came out, I knew what I was told in the pit area, by the crew chief of car #89 driven by the young Cary Smith, who raced motorcycles before trying his hand in the dirt cars.
Cary was really doing a outstanding job, but I believe he was nervous knowing that lurking in the pack was the super fact and experienced #16 of Tony Kemp.
Tony has always been a fan favorite and he knows, West Georgia Speedway so well, he plays that waiting game, that can drive some drivers "NUTS", I mean he is there, but when will he make his move, Tony will make that move as soon as you mess up, when you do be prepared to see the #16 car blow past you. Let me make sure that you all understand, Tony is a clean driver, but he will race you, that goes the same for the #K17 of Mark Knight, who will race you hard, but when he see's that opening and can pass you, he is gone and you are history. This is what makes a real driver, one that has patience and one that can wait. As for as Mark Knight goes he got to the track late, so I really have no information as to what happened to his car, he is usually battling for the lead, but not this night. Tony would go on to win, when he saw that brief opening that Cary left open, and Tony took it, the trouble was and I still have know idea what really happened but as soon as Tony cleared the #89 , Tony was slammed in the rear of his race car, which sent Cary Smith into a spin that collected several Crate Cars in the process. After that it was all over, and Tony Kemp won his 1st race of the 2009 season at "The Burg".

At half time, all the fans headed to the concession stands, to grab some food, and then they were ready for the fast and furious Sportsman car feature race.
Tonight was the night that was owned by Rucker Orr in his famous #99 as he blistered the track and took no prisoners, he led the entire race, and that is something Rucker is known to do best, it was as if he was on a mission, and that mission was to WIN and prove his car was back.
Ben Hill was there to race as was the yellow #13 of Roger Casell, who started next to Rucker on the pole. But when the green flag was flying all you could see was the #99 of Orr leading the charge.
One thing is for sure when you ever meet Rucker Orr, you are meeting a super gentleman.
As for as his back-up car, the Black #99 driven by hobby car driver Blant Duke, the car was good, but Blant was maybe nervous, plus he started in the back of the pack and that is never good. So maybe we will see him again in the back-up car of Orr's but first all week he has to really work on the damage he did to the car, I am sure he will be back, and once he has more seat time , Blant could win some Sportsman races, and that might be what he needs.

I look for RAIN this weekend, so I do not expect that there will be racing at the "Burg", but maybe if we all prayed and hoped the rain could bypass us and we could see some racing action.

As for as my Camera I am now the owner of a $3000.00 digital up to date state of the art camcorder that can and will reach out and scratch the drivers back, that is how powerful the lens is, the only trouble I am finding is that the instruction manual reads like the Atlanta phone book, and you have to read and reread it to make sense of what the camera will do.

Remember DVD's are available of Modified Mini, to Sportsman features and the price has never changed it is still $20.00. So if you need a copy of a race just please let me know at 770-361-3019 that's my cell line or call my home line at 770-942-9888 ,or my e-mail apattijr@bellsouth.net

Hope to hear from you soon and good racing gang!

Thanks to all,

Tino Patti

Freelance Photographer/ Video Journalist

Tuesday Morning, it ain't good!

Tuesday Morning, and it ain't looking good, why?

Well we can all relax as the weekend is over, and the fenders and bumpers and motor's that failed are all being replaced, not to mention the tires that were flattened by the continuous amount of wrecks at West Georgia Speedway , this past Saturday night. I mean, lets face it, the race that had the least wrecks was the 1st race of the night, the Modified Mini car class, who battled hard on the track and seemed to have some sense in driving styles.
Richard Dale in his #19 car, took that first lap lead before the 1st caution flag was thrown, and that was do to a modified mini car that went spinning, really no damage except to maybe the driver's pride. When the Green flag dropped again, you knew some thing was wrong because Richard Dales car headed backward, as his motor I later would find out gave away, so that of course left the hard charging #6 of Richard Bagby, chasing the #07 of Frank Long, who has made winning at "The Burg" something of his specialty. Maybe this will happen for a while but I will really say that Richard Bagby will be back in the winner's circle at West Georgia Speedway, he is that type of driver. Prior to the race, I asked him how he planned on getting around the ever fast #19 of his son Richard Dale, and he said "if I have to I will run over him", of course he was joking, but that is just the way Richard is, he is one of a kind.


Those Enduro's cars came out, and it never seemed like anyone was going to catch the green #91 of driven by Lee Owensby and he seemed to never look back, as his car was in the groove all night, even though cars were spinning, everywhere behind him, he was keeping his cool as a driver.
I really excepted the #M4 driven by Winford Minnex, to make a move and get around Owensby but you know Winford was never able to catch him and that is something strange in it self. When the checkered flag was flying in the cool night air, it had Owensby as the winning car, with the purple machine of Winford Minnex in 2nd and following up in 3rd was the #79 of Shane Barrett.

Then the most highly intense race of the night was about to start and it featured some really big name driver's like #3 of Jeff Carter, #69 of Rosco Collins, #01 of Blant Duke and a driver that when he shows up you never know where he will finish, and that is the famous #92 Joe Hillman, who is past decades of racing was always driving the famous, #01J that he said is in his back yard buried and it's life is over. So if you ever wonder what happens to winning race cars, well at the end of their times of racing they are set out into the pasture to rust, and remember. Their was also car #31 driven by a soft spoken man, Blake Griffin, who seemed very nice, but that was all I could tell from meeting him for the first time. I would later film the race and see these giants doing some heavy duty battle, I mean, from lap one to the checkered it was a knock down slug fest that on the opening lap proved to be the true show, and that was when #3 of Jeff Carter hit and spun #01 of Blant Duke in turn 2, both cars would take to the pit area to grab fresh rubber and beat the flagman back out before a restart. On that restart, #01 of Blant Duke, drove in between 2 cars, making it 3 wide down the straightaway and in front of a huge crowd. He hit #31 of Blake Griffin, and nailed the #22 car driven by Brian Clayton causing him to loose control and after rounding turn 2 spun when he rubbed doors with the 92 of Joe Hillman, that is what really caused the #3 of Jeff Carter to slam into the stalled #22 car, I mean there was no place to go except sideways and into the #22's door. What made me laugh and I know it was not funny was that while I was filming from the front of Jeff Carter's car there was puffs of smoke coming from the engine, it was almost like the car was a bull and snorting at how angry it had become.
The hobby race would go on to be a slug fest and continue to be a back in forth race, since Blant Duke was holding a good lead I was panning back to catch the two legendary drivers doing battle and that was of course Hillman and the car #69 or Rosco Collins, now these drivers have been in several battle, and they know each other good. I am not saying they respect each others style of driving, I just know when they are on the track they are super competitors.

When that checkered flag fell, it was #01 of Blant Duke taking 1st place, and in second some how making it was the #31 of Blake Griffin, and some how making it through the scattered debris was car #92 of Joe Hillman, who proved he can still drive. Now what really was sickening was the 3 car pile up on the front straight that included the #69 of Rosco Collins, and the #3 of Jeff Carter and the #470 driven by a driver who the last time I saw him race was at 7 Flags Speedway in Douglasville, his name was Bo ?. (Help me out here please).

The Crate cars would take the track, and the gutsy driver of mainly motorcycles, Carey Smith in his car #89 was looking like there were no cars that could beat him, but there was one and that was the fast #16 of Tony Kemp, one of the cleanest drivers in the sport. The race was basically the #89 of Smith, making his way around the track at a good clip, but there were times he would go high, and get loose, it was really a matter of time before Tony Kemp would make a move, but it was going to be when Carey got loose, and sure enough rounding turn 3 and coming out of turn 4 , Carey slipped up and Tony slid in front of him, that is when I can't figure out what Carey was think as he tapped the rear end of Kemp's car, which did not hurt Kemp's car, but when the dust was settling Carey had collect up the remaining 4 cars in that Crate race, and he was not pleased.

This weekend Tony Kemp is not supposed to be coming to the track, so that should give Carey if he is there a better chance in winning, but I would not count it a win yet because there is another outstanding and fast Crate Car driver and that is the fast #17 of Mark Knight.

Who will show up for the super Sportsman feature, I am sure #99 of Rucker Orr will be there, plus maybe #18c of Shane Criswell who won opening night, when Rucker's car motor seized up, and of course we will see the #13 of Roger Cassell. Then again you never know who will show up at this "Historic" race track to battle it out, in the ever exciting Sportsman car feature, I mean you might see Craig Scott, then we may see G1 of Glenn McWaters , you never know who will be there, so my advice is just to make plans to get there early so that you can find out who will be in the Sportsman race of the night.

Sammy Duke is trying his best to put on some great shows for the fan's, I believe that we should at least respect that and enjoy racing, because there could be a day that West Georgia Speedway could be closed as 7 Flags Speedway was and then where will you go to watch some great racing action.

So come on Fan's lets get behind West Georgia Speedway, and lets make this track grow for the better!!.

Many Thanks,

Tino Patti

Freelance Photographer / Video Journalist
an a MSA Magazine contributing writer.

This blog is updated daily so hang in there, times can get tough.

"Thunder" at the Burg, and Parts everywhere!

The "Burg" Results for 3-21-09 where cars were loaded in pieces

Thunder at the "Burg" on Saturday night, as cars were making their way around, and some were getting into what looked like a Demolition Derby, but it was really just Southern Style racing, with a little extra. Car's took the track looking pretty clean, but after the race had began, car's started to look like they needed to head to the junk yard. It was that kind of night at West Georgia Speedway, in Whitesburg, Georgia.

The Modified Mini cars took the track to run there feature, and when the green flag dropped, #19 of Richard Dale, took the 1st lap, only to see the "Yellow" flag flying. Which meant it was time for a restart.
That restart was more than enough, as #6 Richard Bagby charged toward the front trying to catch #07 driven by driver Frank Long, the race was going to become a royal battle, and you know things did not look good for #19 of Richard Dale's car, as he started to go backwards, and that is not the way Richard drives. In the whole mix was car #11 driven by Charles Lancaster, who battled hard to catch and grab a 3rd place finish. You know the race seemed to go on, and Richard Bagby did all he could to sneak around #07 of Frank Long, but that was not happening. So, again, Frank Long in his #07 Modified Mini car took the second win of the season, and proves he is the driver to beat in this heated race. As for as "King" Richard Bagby, he would go on to finish in 2nd behind the #07 of Frank Long, something Richard is not known as doing, I mean finishing 2nd to anyone.

Then the Enduro cars took to the track for their feature of the night, and again we had several wrecks, and spins, I admit the track was dry, but it seems to this reporter that these driver's have not made it past the winter mold, and are waiting for some warm weather. The race was a really battle but car #91 of Lee Owensby in his green car, took the victory. He was followed in 2nd by the "Purple People Eater" of the M4 car of long time hard charging driver, Winford Minnex, a legend at West Georgia Speedway. With all the cautions, I was sure that Winford Minnex was going to make a charge to get a win, but his car was off, or the #91 was just to powerful. In 3rd place finished the #79 of Shane Barrett, who is good friends with Crate car driver, Mark Knight.

Then the Hobby cars took the track, and that was a real show, not only because of all the hard racing, but the cars that were being torn up, and some were driven by legends of the racing sport. One driver that made the show, was the #92 of Joe Hillman, who was a standout driver at 7 Flags Speedway before it closed down, this time he would be racing the orange and white #92 and it was nothing like the famous #01j that made him a legend, even though Joe Hillman battled hard and got around several wrecks, and finished in 3rd place at the "Burg". When that green flag dropped we knew we were about to see some hard charging racing, because you get this much talent on a track, and some thing has to give, as it did it coming out of turn 2 on the 1st lap, when the #3 driven by Jeff Carter spun the #01 of Blant Duke, both cars cut tires and would have to hit the pit area, get fresh tires so that they could return to the track before the flagman dropped the green flag again. They did and the battle was on again, it was almost like a heavyweight prize fight. On one of the restarts, Blant Duke split the middle making it 3 wide in front of the grandstand to gain the lead, he bumped car #22 Brian Clayton and also car #31 of Blake Griffin, I mean it was a gutsy move. He grabbed the lead but in the process car number #57 was spun on the backstretch and #3 of Big Jeff Carter had no where to go except into the side of his car, so that added more damage to Jeff's car. The restart would prove more exciting, as cars were spinning everywhere, and famous driver's like the great #69 of Rosco Collins, was just battling to stay a live in the race, I mean there were times that Joe Hillman in his #92 and Rosco where having some great duels, and it was like old times.
But the end was so fantastic, that would you believe I never saw the checkered flag flying, all I saw from where I was at was #3 of Jeff Carter against the inside fence, tangled up in a mess of 2 other cars, I found out later that the #01 of Blant Duke would go on to win, but there was something that I missed and that was some how #69 of Rosco Collins, got tied up with Blant Duke, that I did not see, because I was watching the 3 cars that had crashed on the front straight, making sure that all the driver's were alright.

When the Hobby car race was over, I am sure the fans had their money's worth, but there were some driver's that were over heated regarding the driving styles. Well, we will see what happens next Saturday Night at the "Burg". Order of finish was the #01 of Blant Duke and in 2nd place was the #31 of Blake Griffin, how he survived I have know idea, and finishing in 3rd place and some how missing all the wrecks, was that of car #92 of Joe Hillman. All in all there were a lot of torn up race cars, and very upset drivers, but this is what happens when you try to race at "The Burg". What will happen next Saturday Night?, by the way, did anyone see Blant Duke being spun by car #3 of Jeff Carter at the start of the race, I mean that was incredible.

Then the Fast Crate cars, took the track and that is when we were about to see some real racing action, and a young man whose name is Cary Smith in his super fast #89 would put on a show, until the end of the race, then he would make a mistake, that took out several cars, and let the ever charging #16 of clean driving Tony Kemp take the lead, it was this lead change that for some strange reason, coming out of turn 4 had Cary hit the rear end of Tony Kemp's car, and that triggered a chain reation of cars behind, taking out maybe more than 4 cars. I spoke with the hard charging Tony Kemp as I figured he was just waiting for Cary to make that mistake, and you could see that was about to happen as he was climbing high on the banks and not getting any grip under his tires, he was probably thinking where is Tony at, when all he had to do is take a slight look back and he could see that every lap Tony was giving it his all and it was a matter of time. I hate it for Cary Smith, but one day he will take the checkered flag and win at "The Burg".

Ok fans could stretch, and get some food from the concession stand and get ready to watch the most antispasted race of the night, those Sportsman car. 13 cars would start the race but that is not how many would finish, this was also the night the Blant Duke was getting his chance to drive the famed #99 back-up car of Rucker Orr, the car was the Black with silver numbers, and looked intimidating. It was also the night that Rucker Orr would be sitting on the pole after blistering the track in Qualifying with a time of 14:39, a time no one could match.

When the race started, we had some surprises, as #1 of Ben Hill was behind the wheel ,and we had not seen Ben in a while at Whitesburg, welcome back Ben. The car that won last weeks race #13c of Shane Criswell was racing in Alabama, so that left #13 of Roger Cassell, to sit beside pole leader Rucker Orr. The Sportsman feature was rocked and rolled by Rucker Orr, as he seemed as if he was "Locked and Loaded" and was not looking back, more so after his car motor troubles on opening night, when his more seized up and gave away, that is one reason he never made the race. But tonight even with Blant Duke driving his back-up car, he was focused and no one was getting in his way. That's the way Rucker Orr is focused, and when he is racing he is another animal, that takes no prisoners. All kidding aside, I had about as bad a night as the drivers, I had camera trouble, nothing that would interfere in the capturing of the race, just minor headaches, so I want you all to know that I have sunk $3000.00 into new camera equipment so that I can capture every exciting win, and victory, and all those wrecks better. So if you need a DVD please let me know, and the cash will go back into a fund for camera payments. Hope to see you all at the "Burg" next Saturday Night in Whitesburg, Georgia.


Right now my plans or to only film, Modified Mini to Sportsman car features, drivers in the Pure mini class, will have to pay $20.00 up front for me to stay and film their races, because I have a full schedule as it is, the $20 is non-refundable, that means if you make the race do not finish, or wreck I have no control. Those are the new rules sorry if this offends any driver.







Many Thanks, Tino Patti

a Freelance Photographer/ Video Journalist
an contributing writer to MSA magazine