West Geprgia Speedway results 7-11-09

Historic Sammy Duke. welcomes all fans and Drivers to West Georgia Speedway

"LONG NIGHT, AND I MEAN LONG NIGHT"

2 CHAMPIONSHIP RACES IN 1 NIGHT, I MEAN COME ON, I could see having maybe Enduro, and Full size but not a 30 lap Pure Mini race plus a 30 lap Street Stock or Full size Championship race all in ONE night.

Do you realize that the Pure Minis had to qualify and can you imagine the time it took for these cars, plus after Pure Mini were the Street stock having to qualify, TIME WAS TICKING AWAY in this long Georgia Night. Then the Crate cars had to qualify plus then the Sportsman cars had to qualify, and I mean this was a LONG NIGHT, for everyone involved.

The racing order was changed for this night ONLY as Modified mini raced first like they always do, so did the Enduro class,but then the changes and here they are, Pure Mini ran their championship race of 30 laps, then the Hobby cars ran their race, and back to another change the Street Stock ran there Championship 30 lap race. After all this racing and Qualifying, I was tired and hungry so at the break I headed down to West Georgia Speedways concession stand for some fries and cheese, anything to fill my empty gut.

After the break, it was back to racing, with a regular fast Crate Car race, and then the super fast Sportsman cars for their feature.

#32 TroyDixon would blast ahead of #14 Pete Cockram, and that would be all the crate race would need, as #16 Josh Noles would finish 3rd out of a 4 car race, which saw #89 Carey Smith, drop out do to mechanical problems.











So you can say I put in a full nights work of racing action filming every class something I never do, because after the Sportsman run , I am out of there because no pure mini or Street Stock has ever purchased a DVD from me, but tonight was different I had to be there for every race.



Let me break this to you easy, in the Modified Mini race Frank Long was not able to pass #16 who would go on to win the race, with Long taking 2nd place. More details later.



The Enduro race was a "Mystery" and I don't ever want to say anything regarding the track, but their were complaints regarding the scales, I don't have anything to say regarding the scales, I don't have time to worry about them when I am worrying about the drivers of each race. Complaints see Sammy Duke or some other track official, I have nothing to do with the calls at the track, so please I am not getting involved.

TALENT CAN ALWAYS BE SEEN IN A DRIVER'S EYE'S, SOME MEN ARE JUST THERE AT THE TRACK TO RACE, AND SOME ARE THERE BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE THEY BELONG, IN A SPORT THAT IS DEMANDING. THEY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES AND OTHERS ARE JUST ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

I HAVE SEEN MANY DRIVERS, SOME THAT ARE STILL RACING SHORT TRACKS, AND SOME THAT HAVE MADE IT TO NASCAR, AND THE BUSCH SERIES RACES, THEY HAD A LOOK IN THEIR EYE, OF WANTING MORE THAN A SMALL SATURDAY NIGHTS RIDE.

THEY ALSO HAD A WIFE AND FAMILY THAT WERE WILLING TO FLOW WITH THE DRIVER IN HIS UP'S AND DOWNS.

WHEN A DRIVER LOOKS AT ME, AS DOES STEVEN WITH THE FIRE IN HIS EYE'S AND I HEAR HIS PASSION FOR RACING, ALL I CAN SAY IS WATCH HIM AS GOOD THINGS COME TO GOOD DRIVERS.

Steven Parker is this kind of driver, he knows when to go and knows how to not get his Enduro car, beat up, he is there at the end of the race and that is what counts. Watch, Tony Stweart, or Jeff Gordon, not to mention Kevin Harvick, I mean they are always at the end of a race, they may not win, but they do catch some of the cash, and that always helps any driver.

Winning the race was "Charge Card" Winford Minnix, in his M4 car, he was being chased by #55 Steven Parker who is a man on the move in the racing world, so keep your eye on this young and talented driver. Steven and his Wife Tina have formed the racing company of " Team Twisted Racing ".

His Name means "SPEED"

Steven Parker's wife, watches with all the major hopes in the world for her racing Husbands, safety and hoping he could pull off a win, something that he is in need of, Steven and Tina Parker, the new kids on the block and a force that will be have to be dealt with.



A winning team, Steven and Tina Parker!

Also in the chase was #91 of Lee Owensby, who was on the bumper of Parker, but Parker was showing his style of "cool handed driving ability". One thing for sure, Owensby is never satisfied with 3rd place, he is racing for the win.

Now the results were to become a Mystery, I mean ok Winford Minnix went on to win the race, but both Steven Parker and Lee Owensby were disqualified because of being to light, or to heavy, it was crazy. My question does anyone think the scales need to be checked?, just a question.

The Championship Pure Mini was one of a kind, and there was some hard fought battles, one driver that took us all by surprise was that of Hobby star driver Jeff Carters, own son, Robbie Carter in the #3c, he has the same make up in his style of driving as his father. The race looked good, as Carter started on the pole, which is hard to do, I mean you have to be good to be there. But this race also featured drivers such as #19 Scott Conner, and many more well qualified drivers, I mean when you are racing in a championship race you will have a major amount of drivers show up. You had hard charging drivers like the Brights, who race every Saturday night at West Georgia Speedway plus drivers like 17C known as Camo man, Danny Smith, then there was the old favorites #88 Rocky Johnson. All kinds of drivers were eager to make some extra cash, and tonight was the championship of those Pure Mini cars.

Winning the Pure Mini Championship for 2009 season is "Scott Conner" who drove car #19.

Robbie Carter, is really learning, I mean he has a Father that is well known among Hobby car drivers, and I am speaking about Jeff Carter, and his Mother finished 2nd in the July 4th , famous Powder Puff race at the Burg!.

The Final results of the 2009 Pure Mini Championship race were:

Winning and becoming the NEW WEST GEORGIA SPEEDWAY CHAMPION IN THE HARD FOUGHT PURE MITNI RACE WAS "SCOTT CONNER".

2nd place was #38 Randy Blair

and in 3rd place finished #77 Brandon Bright.

The Hobby car race was one heck of a bang, bang feature, as driver's that were the best entered the race, we had Jeff Carter, Mark Knight, Blant Duke, Lee Mcewayne and Joe Hillman. I mean the stage was set for some of the best hobby car racing in the south. But on the first lap, car #18 got into Carter and raised him up, also involved was Joe Hillman, and with the damage on Joe's car I thought there was no way he could finish the race, but like a real hobby car star he managed to bring his twisted, bent and beaten car around and at least finish the race.

The car that caused the wreck was car #16 who he is I have no idea, but I am sure the hobby driver's know him well.

Mark Knight some how got through the mass of metal, and his car was working for him, it looked like the battle was going to be between Duke and Knight, but hard driving Blant Duke took turn 4 wrong and spun out, so the real battle was between Mark Knight and Lee Mcewayne, and Carter was running hard in 3rd place. Mark was driving Jason Causey's #47 with Duke along side when the green dropped, that is when all hell broke loose on the back stretch. The hobby cars made their way around this old 3/8th dirt track that never takes no prisoners, and when the wreck happened , Mark Knight and Blant Duke were in the lead, so the were not effected when car #18 got into Jeff Carter and lifted his car up, and Joe Hillman was along for the ride, nothing he could do but hang on tight. To be honest the back of Joe Hillmans car looked like a bent in coke can, but like a true driver he was not pulling off the track, neither was hard charging Jeff Carter. West Georgia Speedway is known for bring out the best hobby car driver's in the South. You can thank Sammy Duke for this, he has always wanted to put on a show for the fans, and he will if he can.

As the hobby cars settled down fighting the dust, Blant Duke was pulling ahead, and the real battle was behind him with Mark Knight putting on a classic driving lesson as he battled Lee Mcelwayne. Then Duke spun, and that moved him back, and that is when Mark Knight was showing the driving style we all know and like. One thing for sure Jeff Carter and Joe Hillman were side by side, as true driver's should be.

The Hobby car results were:

#47 Mark Knight winning

#56 Lee Mcelwayne

#3 Jeff Carter

Congratulation's "Mark on a ride well done

In the Full Size Championship race we had cars all over the place, and the battle was intense, One car that stood out and his a winner almost every Saturday night in this class is #16 of Kevin Horton, in his famous "Black Beauty".

Michael Nelms in his famous Purple #7 was also racing and he chased Horton around and around. Also in the race was car #65 in red, and that was always talking, Charlie Brown. If he could drive as good as he talks he would win every race in the State of Georgia.

The results of this 30 lap race were:

#16 Kevin Horton

#7 Michael Nelms

# 7 Lee Durrough

Congratulation's to the 2009 Full Size Champion "Kevin Horton"

After this LONG event, everyone was hungry and that included myself, so I raced down and grabbed some great fries with cheese, and made my way back to the booth to enjoy this meal. After all this had been a LONG NIGHT.

NOW lets get back to racing, with a 4 car Crate car field this was going to be fast, I mean, we had #32 Troy Dixon #14 Pete Cochran, #7 Josh Noles. and #89 of young Carey Smith, who would not finish the race because of mechanical trouble I guess.

Dixon, held off Cochran, as Noles was riding Cochran's bumper. For some reason Dixon can win in any car he drives, and tonight again was his night.

After the Crate car ran, we had the most important race of the night and that was the Sportsman Feature, this race pitted #99 Rucker Orr up against his rival #26 Fletcher Cavender, with young Scott Duffey in his famous #25 in the same race, also racing was #7 of Steve Nichelson. Car #73 of Jason Williams was back, he was disqualified in the Sportsman Championship race as was #13 Roger Cassell, one week ago.

That took the win away from Williams and also away from Cassell and Rucker Orr after tearing his car down was pronounced the real winner and 2009 Champion #99 Rucker Orr.

Prior to the race, I was told by a special person, that he wanted Rucker not only to win but lap the field, and if they tore him down, come on let them.

All I can say was when the green dropped, Orr was on a mission, and his car was working every where on this old track, I mean he had the car dialed in, and was on a mission, what can you say when you have the best car on the track.

Here is a photo of Rucker Orr sitting prior to any racing action and talking with Enduro driver Lee Owensby.

I don't have any idea who the pretty peach is sitting beside of Rucker.

By the way they did tear Rucker down, and guess what "HE WAS LEGAL"

The Sportsman feature results were:

#99 Rucker Orr

#26 Fletcher Cavender

#7 Steve Nicholson

I hope you can make it to West Georgia Speedway next Saturday Night, as the last Championship race is held and it is the Modified Mini race, and guess what

#6 Richard Bagby will return as will #07 Frank Long, two of the best Modified mini driver's on any track.

So tell your friends and if you can't be at the track, please give me a call at 770-361-3019 and some how some way I can make you a copy of the races on DVD.

Dvd's cost $20 at the track and if I have to mail it the price is always $25.

Remember I always have copies of older races, I have not gone over any master video tape yet. Just get me the date and I will make it for you.

Thanks so Much,

Tino Patti

A Freelance Photographer/Video Journalist

With a world wide racing BLOG Following!

GOT SOME COMMENTS FEEL FREE TO POST THEM I WILL TRY AND ANSWER YOU, OR EMAIL ME AT : apattijr@bellsouth.net