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 ha
s 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 d
ecades 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 Geor
gia 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.
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 ha
s 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 d
ecades 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 Geor
gia 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment