"Racing with Richard"
One of the classiest drivers in racing is now 36 years old , he is Richard Bagby and has been racing for years.
He drove a Sportsman car which he was racing before "Historic Seven Flags Speedway" in Douglas County was shut down due to what was called progress by builders in the area. Still Seven Flags Speedway was the place where family's came on Saturday nights during racing season to see some of the best drivers around. Fan's were never let down, because this track ran every class. and I mean every class, from Modified Mini cars to Enduro. and Hobby cars, to Sportsman plus the Super Late Model's , then the races would finish off with what is called the pure mini class to the always wild Cruiser cars. which held 2 drivers one doing the steering and on the accelerator while the other man was taking care of the brake's.
Drivers came from miles around to try and tackle this old 3/8th Georgia clay oval track, that had seen some historic races as well as great drivers race there. This is also where I got my start at filming racing, so I have a special place in my heart for that great old race track.
When I was filming the races, I was always sure that I could count on a exciting night of Sportsman car racing, whenever Richard's famous #19 pulled onto the track. Almost every night the main battle would be between Richard and his foe #25 of Shane Clanton. It was always amazing to watch Richard and Shane as they would round turn 3 heading for the start of the race, each driver was on his own mission. As I got to know Richard , I nicknamed him "The King", and his outstanding driving would always show up as he became a proven winner.
Later Richard would put all his money into driving a Super Late Model car, and that is when he found it to be very expensive unless he had a major sponsor.
After be began racing in the Late Model Division. his wins would come few and far between.
There were times Richard never finished sometimes do to getting caught up in a accident that was not even his fault, he was just as you say "at the wrong place and the wrong time".
Finishing a race began to take a toll, he also realized that racing cost were going up and up.
He would drive against legends like Mike Head. better known as "The Headman" then there were some local drivers that had the cash to race, such as Douglasville's own Lamar Haygood driving his red and white #17 ABS sponsored car, a super late model. Haygood would become somewhat of a legend in his own right as when Seven Flags Closed in the month of May. Haygood won the last 4 straight wins at the old track.
Then there was local driver, Marty Massey who drove car #15 plus throw in Ricky Williams also in a car #17 plus other drivers and you could see some really hard fought battles.
I have seen some massive wrecks as soon as the flagman through the green flag, it was mostly when 2 cars in front would tangle and the rest of the field in behind would be caught up in the massive pile of debris.
Something that no driver wants to be involved in, because fixing these Late Model cars are not cheap. Richard would go on to win some races, but started to back away from the Late Model Cars and concentrate on his family and also his new business. So really Richard took his car and went back to the root of racing, in a Modified Mini car and has been racing and winning down in Whitesburg, Georgia. His red #06 has become a proven winner with its small 2300 cc engine in the mustang. He can be seen everywhere on the track, and he races against other outstanding drivers like the #07 of Frank Long another long time racer that has won many a race in his time.
You have to remember that Richard has been racing for over 16 years, and when you see him at West Georgia Speedway you will see and meet a driver that stands high above other drivers. He is happily married to a wife and companion for many years. that has stood by his side in everything Richard wanted to do. She is Tiffani Bagby his wife, his friend and his constant supporter.
Richard's head crew crew is his son Landon Bagby, the next installment of Racing Bagby's.
His oldest son Richard Dale drives in the same class as his father in car #19 once made famous by his Father.
I was speaking with Richard about other drivers and who he looked up to and the name Dale Earhardt (Sr) plus (Jr) were his favorite drivers.
Like all good drivers, Richard works during the week and he owns and operates Neighborhood Auto Center, Located in downtown Lithia Springs, Georgia. His shop is modern and clean and his work is alway done right. So if you have car or truck problems take your car down to Neighborhood Auto Center and let Richard get your car running top notch.
Now if you are ever looking for a legend racing on Saturday night, come on down to West Georgia Speedway and watch him race, he is just as determined to win in a modified mini car as he was when racing Sportsman cars as well as Super Late Models.
He drove a Sportsman car which he was racing before "Historic Seven Flags Speedway" in Douglas County was shut down due to what was called progress by builders in the area. Still Seven Flags Speedway was the place where family's came on Saturday nights during racing season to see some of the best drivers around. Fan's were never let down, because this track ran every class. and I mean every class, from Modified Mini cars to Enduro. and Hobby cars, to Sportsman plus the Super Late Model's , then the races would finish off with what is called the pure mini class to the always wild Cruiser cars. which held 2 drivers one doing the steering and on the accelerator while the other man was taking care of the brake's.
Drivers came from miles around to try and tackle this old 3/8th Georgia clay oval track, that had seen some historic races as well as great drivers race there. This is also where I got my start at filming racing, so I have a special place in my heart for that great old race track.
When I was filming the races, I was always sure that I could count on a exciting night of Sportsman car racing, whenever Richard's famous #19 pulled onto the track. Almost every night the main battle would be between Richard and his foe #25 of Shane Clanton. It was always amazing to watch Richard and Shane as they would round turn 3 heading for the start of the race, each driver was on his own mission. As I got to know Richard , I nicknamed him "The King", and his outstanding driving would always show up as he became a proven winner.
Later Richard would put all his money into driving a Super Late Model car, and that is when he found it to be very expensive unless he had a major sponsor.
After be began racing in the Late Model Division. his wins would come few and far between.
There were times Richard never finished sometimes do to getting caught up in a accident that was not even his fault, he was just as you say "at the wrong place and the wrong time".
Finishing a race began to take a toll, he also realized that racing cost were going up and up.
He would drive against legends like Mike Head. better known as "The Headman" then there were some local drivers that had the cash to race, such as Douglasville's own Lamar Haygood driving his red and white #17 ABS sponsored car, a super late model. Haygood would become somewhat of a legend in his own right as when Seven Flags Closed in the month of May. Haygood won the last 4 straight wins at the old track.
Then there was local driver, Marty Massey who drove car #15 plus throw in Ricky Williams also in a car #17 plus other drivers and you could see some really hard fought battles.
I have seen some massive wrecks as soon as the flagman through the green flag, it was mostly when 2 cars in front would tangle and the rest of the field in behind would be caught up in the massive pile of debris.
Something that no driver wants to be involved in, because fixing these Late Model cars are not cheap. Richard would go on to win some races, but started to back away from the Late Model Cars and concentrate on his family and also his new business. So really Richard took his car and went back to the root of racing, in a Modified Mini car and has been racing and winning down in Whitesburg, Georgia. His red #06 has become a proven winner with its small 2300 cc engine in the mustang. He can be seen everywhere on the track, and he races against other outstanding drivers like the #07 of Frank Long another long time racer that has won many a race in his time.
You have to remember that Richard has been racing for over 16 years, and when you see him at West Georgia Speedway you will see and meet a driver that stands high above other drivers. He is happily married to a wife and companion for many years. that has stood by his side in everything Richard wanted to do. She is Tiffani Bagby his wife, his friend and his constant supporter.
Richard's head crew crew is his son Landon Bagby, the next installment of Racing Bagby's.
His oldest son Richard Dale drives in the same class as his father in car #19 once made famous by his Father.
I was speaking with Richard about other drivers and who he looked up to and the name Dale Earhardt (Sr) plus (Jr) were his favorite drivers.
Like all good drivers, Richard works during the week and he owns and operates Neighborhood Auto Center, Located in downtown Lithia Springs, Georgia. His shop is modern and clean and his work is alway done right. So if you have car or truck problems take your car down to Neighborhood Auto Center and let Richard get your car running top notch.
Now if you are ever looking for a legend racing on Saturday night, come on down to West Georgia Speedway and watch him race, he is just as determined to win in a modified mini car as he was when racing Sportsman cars as well as Super Late Models.
Story by Tino Patti (an MSA reporter)
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