"CRASH" "BOOM"
"West Georgia Speedway, and some drivers go back to the drawing board"
The Track is ready "almost" and by the start of the season March 7, 2009, West Georgia Speedway will have a new and better look. The Owner Sammy Duke and his son's have been fixing the track so that it will become the supreme historic dirt race track in West Georgia.
Sammy, has already put fresh coats of paint on the guard rails, that surround this 3/8th mile track and has added some extra banking, that makes the backstretch much better.
This track will be made for real racers, who can handle the track, at high speeds, and I am sure the fans will be excited when the new flagman at West Georgia Speedway, drops the first green flag of the 2009 season, but more exciting will be the driver that cross's the finish line and takes the first checkered flag in his feature race. I wrote an article back a long time ago that was more or less saying "if you can win at this track you can win anywhere". There are no driver's that will give you a break, this is what racing is all about, down home Southern Short Track style, Saturday night specials.
West Georgia Speedway, may look rough and you know it is, but drivers who can handle their cars and manhandle their way around this track or special drivers, as well as special people. They have families and are a rare breed of people, they are tough, but when they are with their families they are gentle, driver's can be the greatest sports hero's , and southern dirt track style racing is where the real racing begins.
You may think the car, you brought to the track will be the fastest car, and there is no one that beat you, but wait, your car may look good to you and you cherish it, but once you round turn one and head into turn two, some cars are going to be leaning all over your new paint job, and you wonder what all that work was for, but then you sit back and see the crowds of cheering fans, and you know that your racing is for pride, and just knowing that being there makes you special, winning is the icing on the cake.
If you are a driver and see the "white flag" flying you know this is it, if your car can handle one more time around this historic track, you can become the feature winner and have your photo taken and with pride have all the members of your family and crew in that shot ,that will always be some thing you can share with your children growing up. You will then become the driver to beat next Saturday night, you will be the one that every other driver is gunning for, so your work will be cut out for you. You can celebrate the big head, for one week, but remember there is a new Saturday night coming up, so you had better have your car ready, and you better have your game plan in gear.
In racing
, families all stick together, as did the family of Robbie Carter, who was just getting his first time in , around the track he came some where on the backstretch, Robbie lost control and sent his car into the inside wall, damaging the front of his newly painted car pure mini car.
The Carter family came running across the infield pit area, and when I tried to speak with Robbie's mother she was almost in shock, if this is what will happen during a practice what is it
going to be like when the green flag really falls and the cars are pushing a shoving and not letting off the bumper of Robbie, can he take it?, or will he get angry and loose his cool What will he do? As for as Lisa Carter Robbie's mother, I did get her to laugh later that night by phone by having a photo of her guarding Robbie's car, with a cigarette in one hand and wearing some uptown designer boots. Those boots are made for walking, in this case she wore them to run across the track, she must have taken track at school.
So all in all the first practice at West Georgia Speedway of the 2009 season was supposed to be a great one
, I mean the track had some clean looking cars, and while they were in great shape I made sure I got off some pictures of drivers poising for the camera, to make them seem like they were winner's ,check out this shot of Robbie Carter, prior to having his car being wrecked.
Also here is a great shot of Hobby car driver, Jeff Carter, giving Robbie's car a test around the speedway. I wonder how the "Big Man" felt in that little car?
Driver's came out to practice in all ages, and the newest crate car driver amazed me, he is none other than Matt Dooley whose age is only 13, did you read that only 13, and he can handle a crate car like the best of drivers, he has some great family backing, with the Late Model champ, Ricky Williams who is Matt's uncle, and his father Scott Dooley, who owns and runs Scotts Automotive Machine and Parts Company located in Fayetteville, Georgia.
Matt has his own website and that is : mattdooleyracing.com
This "Baby faced" young man proved to this veteran of Dirt Track wars that he can and may be the next real deal. With his eye's set on Eldoro Speedway, he is ready for the challenge.
One thing that amazed me about Matt was that, every time he took the track, he handled the car better than some crate car drivers have ever done in the other races.
If you get a chance to see Matt Dooley in his signature #18 Crate Car, just remember you could be witnessing a little bit of racing history, as this 13 year old, is making his way to the top, and he is a driver to watch.
Now take the ever smiling Mark Sims, another young man that I have watched grow, from pure mini, to modified mini to Crate cars, Mark is a great driver, but he has never been the proven winner that I have expected. Now I am not saying that he is not a winner because everything Mark does ,is in a winni
ng way, and he has an attitude that you wish all driver's would have. I believe the person, with a attitude like Mark Sims is NASCARS Tony Stewart. When Mark was unloading his Crate Car, the BLACK #22M, all I thought was "The Beast is Back", but I was later informed by Mark that almost all of his racing season would be at Dixie Speedway, for some reason I have no idea because anyone that runs at Dixie, or up against the best. Plus he has to run Dixie Tires. Mark is strange, he has a fast car, just needs more seat time, and more confidence. All I have to say is "Good Luck, Mark where ever you race".
Now for the topper, you want to see two young guns as I call them, well here they are. Mark Sims standing beside his 22M crate car, and Hobby car driver Blant Duke, who drives t
he #01 in his feature class.
That car in the lead, is Hobby car driver, Blant Duke in a practice run, and close behind is the 22M of Mark Sims in his crate car, as they
came around turn four, Marks car got look and he ended up sideway agains the inside wall, with no damage, except to his pride. As I was watching Mark who was sideways, I glanced over to the back stretch and Blant Duke in his Hobby car was slowing to a crawl, I guess he was making sure his friend was not hurt. Let's be honest, Blant was in the lead, but I do not believe that Mark was showing the full power underneath the hood of his crate car, or was he?
Lets also remember all the driver's that came out for the first practice, as it seemed like old times, as friends, shook hands and men laughed in the cool February Saturday afternoon. Driver's couldn't wait to get their cars out onto the track and see what needed to be tuned up before the first race of the 2009 season, on March 7th at West Georgia Speedway.
All Yellow, "Mr.Sunshine" , Terry Finnel,without his famous #32 on the doors yet, and the hard driving #01 of Blant Duke who is the Hobby car, tough guy, let's see who beats him this season.
Well to everyone, lets have a safe and great 2009 racing season, at West Georgia Speedway, where there or so many improvements, you won't believe your eye's.
Thanks To All,
Tino Patti
a MSA reporter/photographer
Determination in the eye's of pure mini driver, Rocky Johnson, as he prepares to take some laps, next week his car should be painted a blue metallic color, with the famous #88 on the sides.
The Track is ready "almost" and by the start of the season March 7, 2009, West Georgia Speedway will have a new and better look. The Owner Sammy Duke and his son's have been fixing the track so that it will become the supreme historic dirt race track in West Georgia.
Sammy, has already put fresh coats of paint on the guard rails, that surround this 3/8th mile track and has added some extra banking, that makes the backstretch much better.
This track will be made for real racers, who can handle the track, at high speeds, and I am sure the fans will be excited when the new flagman at West Georgia Speedway, drops the first green flag of the 2009 season, but more exciting will be the driver that cross's the finish line and takes the first checkered flag in his feature race. I wrote an article back a long time ago that was more or less saying "if you can win at this track you can win anywhere". There are no driver's that will give you a break, this is what racing is all about, down home Southern Short Track style, Saturday night specials.
West Georgia Speedway, may look rough and you know it is, but drivers who can handle their cars and manhandle their way around this track or special drivers, as well as special people. They have families and are a rare breed of people, they are tough, but when they are with their families they are gentle, driver's can be the greatest sports hero's , and southern dirt track style racing is where the real racing begins.
You may think the car, you brought to the track will be the fastest car, and there is no one that beat you, but wait, your car may look good to you and you cherish it, but once you round turn one and head into turn two, some cars are going to be leaning all over your new paint job, and you wonder what all that work was for, but then you sit back and see the crowds of cheering fans, and you know that your racing is for pride, and just knowing that being there makes you special, winning is the icing on the cake.
If you are a driver and see the "white flag" flying you know this is it, if your car can handle one more time around this historic track, you can become the feature winner and have your photo taken and with pride have all the members of your family and crew in that shot ,that will always be some thing you can share with your children growing up. You will then become the driver to beat next Saturday night, you will be the one that every other driver is gunning for, so your work will be cut out for you. You can celebrate the big head, for one week, but remember there is a new Saturday night coming up, so you had better have your car ready, and you better have your game plan in gear.
In racing
, families all stick together, as did the family of Robbie Carter, who was just getting his first time in , around the track he came some where on the backstretch, Robbie lost control and sent his car into the inside wall, damaging the front of his newly painted car pure mini car.The Carter family came running across the infield pit area, and when I tried to speak with Robbie's mother she was almost in shock, if this is what will happen during a practice what is it
going to be like when the green flag really falls and the cars are pushing a shoving and not letting off the bumper of Robbie, can he take it?, or will he get angry and loose his cool What will he do? As for as Lisa Carter Robbie's mother, I did get her to laugh later that night by phone by having a photo of her guarding Robbie's car, with a cigarette in one hand and wearing some uptown designer boots. Those boots are made for walking, in this case she wore them to run across the track, she must have taken track at school.So all in all the first practice at West Georgia Speedway of the 2009 season was supposed to be a great one
, I mean the track had some clean looking cars, and while they were in great shape I made sure I got off some pictures of drivers poising for the camera, to make them seem like they were winner's ,check out this shot of Robbie Carter, prior to having his car being wrecked.Also here is a great shot of Hobby car driver, Jeff Carter, giving Robbie's car a test around the speedway. I wonder how the "Big Man" felt in that little car?
Driver's came out to practice in all ages, and the newest crate car driver amazed me, he is none other than Matt Dooley whose age is only 13, did you read that only 13, and he can handle a crate car like the best of drivers, he has some great family backing, with the Late Model champ, Ricky Williams who is Matt's uncle, and his father Scott Dooley, who owns and runs Scotts Automotive Machine and Parts Company located in Fayetteville, Georgia.
Matt has his own website and that is : mattdooleyracing.com
This "Baby faced" young man proved to this veteran of Dirt Track wars that he can and may be the next real deal. With his eye's set on Eldoro Speedway, he is ready for the challenge.
One thing that amazed me about Matt was that, every time he took the track, he handled the car better than some crate car drivers have ever done in the other races.
If you get a chance to see Matt Dooley in his signature #18 Crate Car, just remember you could be witnessing a little bit of racing history, as this 13 year old, is making his way to the top, and he is a driver to watch.
Now take the ever smiling Mark Sims, another young man that I have watched grow, from pure mini, to modified mini to Crate cars, Mark is a great driver, but he has never been the proven winner that I have expected. Now I am not saying that he is not a winner because everything Mark does ,is in a winni
ng way, and he has an attitude that you wish all driver's would have. I believe the person, with a attitude like Mark Sims is NASCARS Tony Stewart. When Mark was unloading his Crate Car, the BLACK #22M, all I thought was "The Beast is Back", but I was later informed by Mark that almost all of his racing season would be at Dixie Speedway, for some reason I have no idea because anyone that runs at Dixie, or up against the best. Plus he has to run Dixie Tires. Mark is strange, he has a fast car, just needs more seat time, and more confidence. All I have to say is "Good Luck, Mark where ever you race".Now for the topper, you want to see two young guns as I call them, well here they are. Mark Sims standing beside his 22M crate car, and Hobby car driver Blant Duke, who drives t
he #01 in his feature class.
That car in the lead, is Hobby car driver, Blant Duke in a practice run, and close behind is the 22M of Mark Sims in his crate car, as they
Lets also remember all the driver's that came out for the first practice, as it seemed like old times, as friends, shook hands and men laughed in the cool February Saturday afternoon. Driver's couldn't wait to get their cars out onto the track and see what needed to be tuned up before the first race of the 2009 season, on March 7th at West Georgia Speedway.
All Yellow, "Mr.Sunshine" , Terry Finnel,without his famous #32 on the doors yet, and the hard driving #01 of Blant Duke who is the Hobby car, tough guy, let's see who beats him this season.
Well to everyone, lets have a safe and great 2009 racing season, at West Georgia Speedway, where there or so many improvements, you won't believe your eye's.
Thanks To All,
Tino Patti
a MSA reporter/photographer
Determination in the eye's of pure mini driver, Rocky Johnson, as he prepares to take some laps, next week his car should be painted a blue metallic color, with the famous #88 on the sides.
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