Queen of the Tracks in Georgia

"Southern Loving Family, they can survive"

This is dedicated to the hardest working young lady I have ever come in contact with, if only her Father were alive to see her he would be so proud of his little girl. Mark Duke her father was her role model and he made sure she was taken care of, she has the heart I am sure he had.

I am talking about Tonya Lynn Duke, or someone special

Her kindness, and her concern make her one of the best fans in dirt track racing, she has all knowledge and can be a mover and a shaker.


This song is dedicated to Georgia's finest "Redneck Woman", and sung by Gretchen Wilson, as a matter of fact I call Tonya "GW" some times just something between her and me.
.

Does this remind you of some Dirt track queen, that try's to make it to every race at Senoia Raceway, and sit and watch, some of the finest drivers in Georgia and Alabama, she is just a "Redneck Woman" and I call her "GW" but we all know her as sweet Tonya Lynn Duke.


Tonya Lynn Duke has been a racing fan for years and years, and having 2 children growing up watching the best drivers in the South makes it more enjoyable for her. How could we leave out her pure sweet Mother, who makes her way to see the drivers run at both West Georgia Speedway or The New Senoia Raceway on Saturday nights from March until the gates close.

Here she is is holding her eldest daughter Madison, who loves racing, just like her mother.

Where did Tonya dig up that old West Georgia Speedway shirt?

Her smallest little girl Marissa just listens to the cars crank their huge engines, on a cool night at West Georgia Speedway.

She seems to like racing, but I think she will have to grow into it.

She is smart as a whip, then again how smart is a whip?

If you have never met Tonya you don't know what you

are missing, she has helped me unload and load my camera gear at New Senoia Raceway and never complained, she has been there with "Water" when I needed some refreshment. She has been encouragement, when I have been down.

Tonya is special, and she helps everyone, I guess that was the way her Father brought her up.

She is simple and doesn't need the most expensive things in life and she is just a joy to hear on the other end of a phone when I am feeling down and blue.

This is a Self portrait, that Tonya took with her camera phone, you can see the kindness in her eyes.

Tonya Lynn Duke is one of those go getter's, she is not afraid of work and she is determined in everything she does from raising her young girls, to making sure her bronco is in running order. She is a beautiful lady with lots of love in her heart.

Her mother Belinda Duke, is a precious "BEAR" , on cold nights at West Georgia Speedway she bundles up with blankets and you can see her cute nose, she is amazing, and her daughter must take after her.

You got to love any woman, who can bring home the fish to fry so the family can all eat good. I mean look at this great catch, by the Redneck Queen of Racing.

How many men had to help you pull this fish in?, oh it was only your hands, amazing.

This was one of the last photo's taken of Tonya father Mark Duke before he passed away, you can see by his smile, he passed her attitude on to his precious daughter.

Some times, GOD takes the best from us, and we hurt so bad, but remember when its all done and finished down here, we can be with them again.

Tonya always ready to go out to the club, as long as its not race night!

or can she

PLAY ON YOUR BALL TEAM ??

Many Thanks

Tino Patti

A Freelance Photographer/Video Journalist

With a world wide racing BLOG following!

OLD BLOG LINKS on the right, and please add some comments !

NEW YEAR IS ALMOST HERE, CAN YOU WAIT, OR YOU READY !
















What you getting for Christmas, a new toy for you to ride around and win at the dirt tracks on Saturday night, or as we say at Senoia "Play in the Clay".

Or maybe your just thankful to have your health and good family members by your side, friends that care.

Maybe you are lucky enough to have your parents still alive and above ground for another year, you don't know how much a parent is missed when they are gone from your life.


Then again maybe you have some new children born to you and you have the great task of raising them, schooling them and making sure they turn out for the best. Children can be so much fun, if they are brought up right. "Yes Sir, or Yes Mam" goes a long way then some child that back talks their parents.


What ever happens, I want you to know that you all have made me and my wife's life so good during the past racing season of 2010, and I am looking to seeing you all and getting to know you better.




IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, AT THAT BOTTOM, WHY NOT LEAVE SOME COMMENTS I KNOW YOU CAN SEE LEAVE A COMMENT, BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN I WRITE AND WRITE AND WRITE AND NEVER GET ANY FEEDBACK, I WONDER IF WHAT I WRITE IS OK, OR NEEDS SOMETHING ELSE SAID.





REMEMBER LEAVING YOUR COMMENT, WILL
HELP ME TO TRY AND CONTINUE TO WRITE THE WAY YOU THINK I SHOULD.....NOT ASKING MUCH JUST SOME THING FROM YOU.






My daily grind is "THINKING" about the next subject that needs to be written about.



So when a hot cup of "JOE" , I start the morning grinding thoughts of every kind,
not knowing where I will end up, but before the long day is over I have something that sounds half way decent and something that I hope you enjoy.







And will you all have a very Merry Christmas, and thank you everyone that has blessed me and my wife during this holiday season, your reward is coming, so be ready.






Merry Christmas!




Thanks




Tino Patti




A Freelance Photographer/Video Journalist




With a WORLD Wide racing Blog following!

Merry Christmas,,,,,from our small family

To every Driver, Family member and fan, with my deepest love and thoughts!

From the young dog "J.R." HE wishes every one a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Dog on the left is "Trouble", the mother of JR and she also is a kind dog, that wants nothing but love, and she also wishes you a "Merry Christmas".

What I am looking forward in 2011 is HOPE, the Hope of meeting new people and showing how much I care for them, and their families. The Hope that my wife will make it through her serious illness. Her going on Dialysis, that means three days a week for over 3 hours at a time. I can think of so many things that would make me not want to take care of my wife but it could be a blessing, it will be healing my wife, and give me a couple of hours away to come home and write blogs and stay on my "A" game. GOD knows and he is in control, and I know he works in ways that we don't really know why.

LOVE, for everyone, sharing and giving and teaching and proving you can LOVE each other.

PEACE, something we all will be needing, the peace of knowing that everything will be alright, and the Peace that is with us every day and every place we go. Peace in our homes, on our jobs and in our world.

Christmas can bring out the best of everyone, from racing friends to fans who love the sport.

You know Christmas is also a time of thinking of others and not just themselves, and you know that is where LOVE, HOPE, and PEACE really shine.

People that we do not know, do things to bless us and they are so special. Racing Teams come to our aid, drivers become real and more down to earth people. This is what gives Christmas, our joy that we all need.

I have met so many people filming short track racing, I have met fans , drivers and everyone in the field of racing. I never have had a unkind word for anyone no matter who they are because I believe that we should LIFT PEOPLE UP. Never turning your head and walking away from people just because you think you are better than they are,

I want everyone to know that in my heart I LOVE EVERY DRIVER and their families, and I know GOD would want it that way.

Before long we can all go back and "PLAY IN THE CLAY" in 2011 and may the wins be more than you as a driver could ever want. May you see the checkered flag more often than you had in 2010.

And last THANKS for being my friend, so many of you have taken the time to ask if they could help me unload my camera gear, offered me water, and just let me stand in there air-cooled racing trailer and that means so much.

Tell you what, I want to personally thank every driver and fan that purchased a DVD in 2010, you don't know how much it means to me, because of your help in purchasing DVD's I am able to keep medicines available for my wife. You are all the best, and I thank you down deep in my heart.

Well enough said, "Just Thanks, and have a Merry Christmas" and I hope that we can become closer friends in 2011 at some of the best race tracks in Georgia.

Tino Patti

A FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEO JOURNALIST

With a World wide racing BLOG following!

Jr.vs Sr. come on.....

Jr.vs Sr. come on, what

will happen when Billy Bright Jr. runs in the same B-Cadet class as his father Billy

Bright Sr. will they block for each other, will they determine who is ever in

the lead will

not be passed by another car. Will Jeff Carter have to run a different line, or will Rusty Johnson try and be the spoiler.

Will they try and pass each other, or will Billy be happy to hold down

2ND place and give his father the win, I don't think so, first off because these are 2 racing legends.

Can a father and Son, team work in dirt track racing?

Will they work with each other or against each other ?

And what about Tim Bright, you know Tim won't be

backing up, he will be hard and charging to the front of the racing action.

Drivers are to me "Supermen" who dare to drive into turn one and hope they don't get sideways and take out a mess of competitors in the process.

Most of the great drivers, have come to realize that the race in not won in turn one, it is won when you see the white flag and are headed out of turn four.

Billy loves holding a

checkered flag,

don't all drivers ?

Something about those "Orange" cars seem to make them always end up taking a checkered flag. Maybe because they are "Bright" Cars.

Whatever happens on the track I am sure you will be seeing a "Bright" car some where near the front if not winning the race.

We can talk about the Brights all year long, but what will Jeff Carter have to say?

Carter has been a long time B-Cadet driver and knows how and when to push his car, he is a proven winner and that's what it takes it this hard core racing world.

Will Jeff have his famous #3 ready for the 2011 racing season at Senoia Raceway?

Then you have the Late Model drivers like Shane Criswell, who is a top notch wi

nning driver and never backs up, Shane is one of those drivers I never got to know close up, but when I am filming him through my camera lens he is amazing.

Never leave out Scott Sherrer, a hobby car champion and broke all of Senoia raceways records in 2011 with 12 wins.

He got ruffed around a few times, but was always ready for the task at winning the next Saturday night of racing.

The number #41 and his name plaster all over the back of his car tells here is a champion.

Here Scott is checking

his car out, making sure it is ready to run with the "Big Dogs".

When it all comes down to the real part of racing,it is when a driver takes the time to sign a piece of paper for a little boy, a boy that is amazed that he is getting a autograph from a driver, some one maybe he can look up to. I shot this photo of this young man who was amazed the Rucker Orr would

take his time and sign the paper for him, I am sure Orr has a life long racing fan now.

What can you say about look a like, Rocky Johnson who drives in the pure mini class, and has that Dale Earnhardt Jr. look in his face.

Here I caught him and I told him he was doing a "Lays" commercial, so smile big time, he gave me that shy grin like always.

Many Thanks to everyone, and pass this BLOG information on please.

Thanks Tino Patti

A Freelance Photographer/Video Journalist

With a world wide racing blog following!

Santa Claus Bailout Hearings

Well it's true, if the car companies can get a bail out, why not Santa Claus ?



Laugh and know he has and over head just like everyone else. He has so much work around Christmas Time I mean he and his elfs work so hard getting everything ready for Christmas for all your boys and girls, and also your parents.


Hey We LOVE YOU SANTA,


Thanks, enjoy Tino and "Merry CHRISTMAS" to all and all a good night!

Monday Morning Coming Up....

Money brings Big Name Drivers to New Senoia Raceway as well as Historic West Georgia Speedway, Georgia's two top tracks.

Morning are a cup full of Java to get my motor running, then its off to see what I recorded on my DVR and maybe look over how much time I have remaining, I have always been big on recording TV shows of all types and later watching them.

Then I have to make sure my wife is alright which is a daily routine. She will be going to get set up for dialyses. That will be a three day a week ordeal, I will be taking and picking her up 3 times a week, maybe Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.

So my life will change, more so than it has ever changed, lots of things will have to change and my life style will be altered big time.

What ever happens we know who is in control, and his name is GOD.

Thanks to all my racing friends and families, drivers and crews and everyone in between.

Time is ticking, and soon we will at least be having practice in Feb, 2011, I believe West Georgia will have practice in February and they will begin racing in March.

Practices for New Senoia Raceway, will be held in March 2011, with racing set to begin April 2, 2011 that's when the green flag will drop at Senoia.

So drivers have time between now and then to tweak their cars and make sure they look good for opening race night. The drivers will always bring some of the best looking cars to the track, and end up taking it home with donut holes on the sides of it, if not worse. Who will get in the first wreck of the season, before even finishing a race. Who in turn one will be taken out of a race at the start of the season, something that makes every driver upset.

Will Shane Fulcher, be ready to win some big time races at senoia raceway, he has always been a winner no matter where he goes.

Fans at one time had books that told about the drivers and gave their car numbers, but that was then, now fans are so knowledgeable that all they have to look down in the pit area see a number on the side of a car and know who the driver is and what class he runs.

Will Kip Stanfill, return to the clay tracks in 2011 in Georgia and race against the best of the best Hobby car drivers, like Scott Sherrer, or Winford Minix or others.

If you are wondering who Kip Stanfill was he was a giant in the racing world with wins at 7 Flags Speedway and one of the most outrageous drivers.

Check out this old winning photo of Kip in his famous #K1 car from Douglasville.

Stanfill should give every one at Senoia Raceway and Scott Sherrer a run for his money, a proven winning in racing, Kip is also one of the finest drivers and friends.

He also owns Kip Automotive Inc. located in Douglasville, Georgia and you can reach him by calling 678-715-1357, give him a call and he will get your car/truck running in top shape.

Kenny "Quick" Collins will return to New Senoia Raceway this 2011 season, he now knows the track and that's all it takes for this young gun racer.

Collins is one of the premier late model drivers that makes the rounds at tracks all over the state, and is a consistent winner.

Owner of his own Sign company, Collins is a busy man, young but busy and that is great for him. Also drivers if you need your car lettered he also does all the graphics, so if you want that spectacular looking car, call Kenny Collins and he will hook you up.

Can you believe Fox News Channel. Megyn Kelly from hard working reporter to one of the top models in the United States and at her age is not ashamed of her beauty.

"FAIR AND BALANCED NEWS"

Tim Moses says the track will be ready for some real high class racing action in this upcoming 2011 racing season.

It will be like we said Tim and Tony Moses now taking over the track and all that goes on.

Good Luck Tim and Tony I know you will bring some of the best racing action to New Senoia raceway in Georgia in 2011.

Many Thanks to everyone,

Tino Patti

A Freelance Photographer/Video Journalist

With a world wide racing Blog following !