"LAMAR HAYGOOD"
When your hear the name "Lamar Haygood" , there is only one person that would come to your mind if you know anything regarding racing, more so if we are talking about Super Late Model dirt racing.
Lamar is well known, and is a respected racer that ever driver seems to want to meet. He is filled with joy prior to a race, but once he is at the track, Lamar becomes another "animal", he is always checking out his competitors. I got the real experience of traveling with Lamar to North Georgia Speedway in his Tractor/ RV with a huge trailer to haul his car in it was so amazing. We left from Douglasville, around 2 p.m. so that we could make it to the track and get a idea of what he was up against. The long drive took us from the Interstate Highway to some back and winding roads. It was .amazing as you could look out of the windows, as we were passing cars and trucks and everyone seemed amazed, after all they new this was a racing team, they just did not know who.
When you see Lamar and meet him at his garage where he works on cars and is the sole owner of a shop called ABS Automotive located in Douglasville, Georgia you would never know that he is a driver and has driven against the best and has won. He is small, with gray hair, I remember when I first met Lamar ,I had no idea that he was a driver, I just thought he worked at ABS. Lamar has a witt and a charm about him that makes you really like him, then again when he pulls his red and white #17 with ABS on the sides pulls on to the track he becomes almost like a fighter pilot that is on a mission and that is to win and take no prisoner's.
I have seen drivers come up to him and pick his brain for knowlege as to what will make their car run better. Lamar is always able to give his advise, but don't make him mad on the race track, then you will be in trouble. I have seen him hit cars in their rear fenders because they refused to get out of his way. Just that little nudge can unnerve another driver. Lamar is a proven winner, with lots of
trophies to show for it, but cash is what he likes best. His trophies are nice but cash can buy more toys for his car.
I have had the chance to film some of Lamar's best races, then again I have seen him in a green flag start crash and climb out shaking his shoulders from the impact. All that could be done is load up his car that was ripped apart and load it back in to his car hauler and head back to his home where he would work on it every night getting it ready for another night of Saturday night racing at Seven Flags Speedway.
When your hear the name "Lamar Haygood" , there is only one person that would come to your mind if you know anything regarding racing, more so if we are talking about Super Late Model dirt racing.
Lamar is well known, and is a respected racer that ever driver seems to want to meet. He is filled with joy prior to a race, but once he is at the track, Lamar becomes another "animal", he is always checking out his competitors. I got the real experience of traveling with Lamar to North Georgia Speedway in his Tractor/ RV with a huge trailer to haul his car in it was so amazing. We left from Douglasville, around 2 p.m. so that we could make it to the track and get a idea of what he was up against. The long drive took us from the Interstate Highway to some back and winding roads. It was .amazing as you could look out of the windows, as we were passing cars and trucks and everyone seemed amazed, after all they new this was a racing team, they just did not know who.
When you see Lamar and meet him at his garage where he works on cars and is the sole owner of a shop called ABS Automotive located in Douglasville, Georgia you would never know that he is a driver and has driven against the best and has won. He is small, with gray hair, I remember when I first met Lamar ,I had no idea that he was a driver, I just thought he worked at ABS. Lamar has a witt and a charm about him that makes you really like him, then again when he pulls his red and white #17 with ABS on the sides pulls on to the track he becomes almost like a fighter pilot that is on a mission and that is to win and take no prisoner's.
I have seen drivers come up to him and pick his brain for knowlege as to what will make their car run better. Lamar is always able to give his advise, but don't make him mad on the race track, then you will be in trouble. I have seen him hit cars in their rear fenders because they refused to get out of his way. Just that little nudge can unnerve another driver. Lamar is a proven winner, with lots of
trophies to show for it, but cash is what he likes best. His trophies are nice but cash can buy more toys for his car.
I have had the chance to film some of Lamar's best races, then again I have seen him in a green flag start crash and climb out shaking his shoulders from the impact. All that could be done is load up his car that was ripped apart and load it back in to his car hauler and head back to his home where he would work on it every night getting it ready for another night of Saturday night racing at Seven Flags Speedway.
Lamar seems to have a "Jeckel and Hyde" character, because he works Monday through Friday on peoples cars during the week, and when he gets home , he works on his race car, so he can be ready to win on Saturday night at what ever track he is driving at. When he is at work he is serious but sometimes, jokes and always makes customer's feel welcome. But when a race car, he is a changed man, he is on a mission to be the best, many a driver has tried to beat Haygood and some have done so, then again some have not. Some just want to be the driver that Lamar Haygood is.
Lamar began racing back in the early 70's and moved up fast into the Super Late Model Division. If you would see Lamar when he was young, and see him today he has a look that never seems to change, when he smiles, he has this boyish grin, never a smile, just a grin. If you want to meet someone that can make you laugh hang around Lamar Haygood, at his shop, he is always joking and making friendly fun with those he is around. I have had him call my home, and disguise his voice and of all things a telephone bill collector. Telling me that I had not paid my bill and of course I bit into in hook, line and sinker. I even dove down and pulled out a statement that proved I had made my payment. I must have been on the phone for over 10 minutes, and I was getting madder and madder when he revealed who he was, I could have killed him, that is Lamar Haygood when not racing. So if you really want to meet someone special go on up to ABS Automotive, on Fairburn road and visit with him, take your car there to be fixed and you will come home happy and well pleased. And when you do know of a time that he will be racing try and be there as you will see one of the best all time dirt car racers to this day.
Haygood has taken some time away from racing to share time with his family that is growing by leaps and bounds. He now is the father of a son, that looks just like him and his name is Kyler Haygood, this is another racing Haygood you can see it in him everyday.
Then he is also the father of a beautiful daughter, that is his pride and joy. He and his wife live in Winston Georgia and work side by side as a team the way all marriages should be.
Oh by the way sometimes people ask what ABS stands for so here is your answer, "Always Better Service" and that is what you can expect when you see Lamar at his shop that is located on Fairburn Road in Douglasville, so bring that lemon in and I am sure with his magic touch he can make "Lemon-aide" out of your cars troubles.
Tino Patti (An MSN Reporter)
Lamar began racing back in the early 70's and moved up fast into the Super Late Model Division. If you would see Lamar when he was young, and see him today he has a look that never seems to change, when he smiles, he has this boyish grin, never a smile, just a grin. If you want to meet someone that can make you laugh hang around Lamar Haygood, at his shop, he is always joking and making friendly fun with those he is around. I have had him call my home, and disguise his voice and of all things a telephone bill collector. Telling me that I had not paid my bill and of course I bit into in hook, line and sinker. I even dove down and pulled out a statement that proved I had made my payment. I must have been on the phone for over 10 minutes, and I was getting madder and madder when he revealed who he was, I could have killed him, that is Lamar Haygood when not racing. So if you really want to meet someone special go on up to ABS Automotive, on Fairburn road and visit with him, take your car there to be fixed and you will come home happy and well pleased. And when you do know of a time that he will be racing try and be there as you will see one of the best all time dirt car racers to this day.
Haygood has taken some time away from racing to share time with his family that is growing by leaps and bounds. He now is the father of a son, that looks just like him and his name is Kyler Haygood, this is another racing Haygood you can see it in him everyday.
Then he is also the father of a beautiful daughter, that is his pride and joy. He and his wife live in Winston Georgia and work side by side as a team the way all marriages should be.
Oh by the way sometimes people ask what ABS stands for so here is your answer, "Always Better Service" and that is what you can expect when you see Lamar at his shop that is located on Fairburn Road in Douglasville, so bring that lemon in and I am sure with his magic touch he can make "Lemon-aide" out of your cars troubles.
Tino Patti (An MSN Reporter)
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