WEST GEORGIA SPEEDWAY, NO RULES BUT LOTS OF RACING ACTION” or “THAT HAD TO HURT” October 10, 2009
Drivers climbed in and out of their cars, like never before, as Hobby drivers such as Blant Duke, raced in Hobby and then took on the Crate class, only to have him blow an engine. We knew in the tower that when he was hot lapping his hobby car that he was pushing it too hard, and sure enough, BAM, he was out of the running.
Drivers were racing in not only their race like always, but putting up the extra $25 dollars to cover the extra entry fee to enter 2 and 3 more races. .
I mean too tell you, it was a drivers haven, and with no rules, no protest, it was anyone’s race. Take pure mini driver, Rocky Johnson who drives the #88 in his usual pure mini class, well tonight he was racing with the modified mini men, except there was no Frank Long, no Richard Bagby, and no Huie Stewart. Plus there was only 4 cars max in the modified mini race. So it was over fast, and the worst part was that Johnson, a faithful driver that calls West Georgia Speedway his home track, again finished last. Something has to give I mean Johnson can race he just needs the extra cash to make his car run up with the big guys. Once he does Rocky Johnson could be a major player, and a racing hero.
When it was time for the Enduro race, we had a mixed bag, and I mean mixed, we had drivers like Lee Owensby, and Winford Minnix plus so many more that the field was packed.
Since everyone could pull out the stops and there were no rules, anyone had a chance of winning. I mean it was a “Cheaters Heaven”.
Then again, you have to remember where you are at and who is racing next to you, because West Georgia Speedway is known for tough racing action.
It amazed me as I was sitting on the fence, with my dear friends, Jeff and Lisa Carter who were at the track of all things “Watching”. Jeff Carter had already dismantled his car and was waiting till next year, but watching him and his wife Lisa, hear and see the cars round turn one, made them want to have his car ready to run, I know he could have pulled off a exciting win but that was not going to happen.
Lisa Carter, known for her “56 Ounce COKE” had a small can of coke she was sipping on, to help her get through the races.
It was amazing when the driver that has given so much trouble to Jeff in the hobby races, ended his night, sliding down the front straight, hitting the wall and coming to a stop of all places in front of where Jeff and his wife were sitting in the grandstands. It was a fitting moment. I was just happy that Jeff’s car was not involved but how could it, when the car was sitting at home on jack stands.
Long time driver who I have been missing, and who by the way I have watched since he was young, and was a spotter for his Fathers Late Model Sportsman Asphalt car, was racing in the race at the “Burg”, and that was the #01X of Cory Hillman. Cory is a chip off a huge racing family block. I mean his Father was Senoia Speedways Late Model Champion known as Mike “Hurricane” Hillman. His driving style was all out and go to the front, just like his son Cory’s is, but bad luck comes along with racing and tonight was not Cory’s night to win as he broke a water pump belt, and that took Cory out of the race. He came up to the tower to find out if he would receive any payout, and he did find out a small chunk was headed his way so he had to stay for the final race. Cory is a big, strong young man that has that name “Hillman” and when you think of “Hillman’s” you think of racing.
When the Crate cars rolled onto the track, it was amazing to see #14 Pete Cochran back and with his son #27 Petey Cochran, who is a young talented young driver that just needs some experience. Also in the race was last week’s winner in the Sportsman feature, #13 Roger Cassell. Who has been the driver to beat, and the Crate race was the same as last week, he drove away from others.
The Sportsman feature would again, have Roger Cassell in his winning #13, but also in the race would be #11 Ryan Law, #73 Jason Williams, and #8 of “High Flying” Michael Mills.
The car that failed to make the race was #25 of Scott Duffey, who has raced in almost all the races at the Burg. Duffey is a tough driver and for him to not make the show, was a let down for me because Scott has that winning attitude and that is something every driver needs.
One thing for sure, when you are racing Scott Duffey you know you are in a race, and you will learn or he will teach you. He has not won the big race yet, but I know given his talent and driving style it is only a matter of time before he takes a Checkered Flag at West Georgia Speedway. We he does, all I can say is look out.
Young Darrell Frick in his #28D was racing also, but was having the same trouble doing a lot of spinning out. In turn two when he was coming out, other than that Darrell was racing as hard as he could.
Frick was coming from behind, only to round turn one and start into turn two, that is when there was no stopping as young Ben Hill in car #1 had spun and he collected #11 of Ryan Law and low and behold there came young Darrell Frick, who had know idea that Law’s car was sideways up against Ben Hills car, so really Frick had no where to go except sliding his car into their cars and ending up with the worst end of the deal. Hill returned to the race, after having a nose piece torn off, while Ryan Law exited the track and took his car to his car hauler.
After the wreck, from my camera angle, it looked like both Hill and Law exchanged some angry words, but they were alright, as far as being hurt in anyway.
What also amazed me was the way Darrell Frick went on walking back and forth after the wreck, he was angry and he had a right too be, but that is racing. The trouble with this wreck was the fact that Frick who is a young driver does not have all the big cash to replace his race car, put it this way he was racing better than he had ever raced before at the Burg, Except he would have never imagined that he would be involved in a 3 car pile up and he would have the worst damage of all the cars. Ryan Law in his #11 from Piedmont Alabama has 2 cars and always has a back up vehicle, so he is never worried about having a race car.
Ben Hill #1 comes from a huge racing family and takes racing serous and has access to parts and motors so he is also set in the racing world. But Darrell Frick is a driver that comes to the track with his car, and that car is in no way the best, or fastest. But you know he tries and that is the main thing, I will never count him out and one day he will take that checked flag, but he is still a long way off, but he is always trying.
It was like someone ordered up a sandwich and there it was , with Ben Hill on the one side and Darrell Frick on the opposite side and sandwiched in between was #11 of Ryan Law.
It may have been alright when Hill’s car slid after banging on Jason Williams #73 lead car, and Ryan Law sliding sideways into Hill, but what “HAD TO HURT” was when Darrell Frick, came born storming into turn 1 and had no where to put his #28D car, I mean he put the bread on that sandwich, and hit Law with a impact I can still feel every time I watch the video that I shot of the race.
So the Sportsman race finished with Jason Williams winning in his black #73 followed by young Ben Hill in his #1 car. If you thought Ben Hill was through after the wreck, you’re wrong, because he pulled his car into the pit area and they tore off the nose and back onto the track he came. Hill is a racer and he competes hard, he was never able to catch Williams but he sure gave him a run for the money and that is what you like to see in a good race.
So Jason Williams would go on to win, followed by Ben Hill, amazing how some races can end.
As far as the “Burg”, I believe she is about to close her doors for the season, and return faster and better in March of 2010.
The season has been good. We have seen some winners and some losers and have seen some good and happy moments as well as some we would rather forget. All in all racing season for 2009 was a good one, we had winners that were meant to win, and we had some drivers we pulled for that never tasted a win, but don’t count these men out next season, because now that they know the track, they have all the information that they need to beat this hard brutal track known as “the Burg”.
So with the weather getting colder and fans staying away it is almost time to bid the 2009 racing season goodbye from everyone at West Georgia Speedway, as well as this Photographer, Journalist. All I can say is the Blogs will continue during the long winter months and each week I will pull a story after I sit and watch some racing action from a DVD and pick a outstanding race and wonder if you were there, or had you seen that action. Maybe you were there, maybe you were somewhere else, but no matter I will continue to write about the great times of West Georgia Speedway all winter long, till we can all meet again in March of 2010 and again become family.
Thanks to all the Winners and Thanks to all those that have encouraged me this past year, you know who you are but let me give you some shout outs.
Thanks Lisa “55 Ounce” Carter for being so close a friend and just for being a sounding board and a person that I will never forget.
Thanks to Jeff Carter for making my life easier, and also for getting a chance to get close to some real racing action.
Thank you to Rucker Orr, Glenn McWaters, Scott Duffey, Michael Mills, Cory Hillman, Roger Cassell, Jason Williams, Ben Hill, Mark Knight, Blant Duke, Roscoe Collins, Richard Bagby, Frank Long, Rocky Johnson, Tim Collier, Tony Kemp, Jeremy Hall, Carey Smith, Pete Cochran, Petey Cochran, Michael Keener, Joe Hillman, Buck Williams, Lee Owensby, Winford Minnix, Terry Finnel, Danny Smith, Rusty Johnson, Steven & Tina Parker, Susan Collins and family, plus all the great and wonderful race fans of West Georgia Speedway.
My biggest thanks goes out to my Wife, Edna for putting up with me during those long hot nights of racing action and coming in so late at night.
Plus I would like to thank all the staff and support people of West Georgia Speedway from the scorers to the flagman, to Brian Duke, and the real heavy weight “Mr. Sammy Duke”. Without Sammy there would be no racing in Whitesburg on Saturday nights.
The final results from the races of Oct.10,2009 were
In Mod-Mini
#11 Charles Lancaster
#1 Dave Chapman
#88 Rocky Johnson
Enduro feature
#07 Charlie Garrett
#M4 Winford Minix
#91 Lee Owensby
Hobby
# 02 Gary Brand
#56 Lee McElwayne
#01 Blant Duke
Crate
#13 Roger Cassell
#11 Ryan Law
#14 Pete Cochran
Sportsman
#73 Jason Williams
#1 Ben Hill
#63 Rick Jennings
Thanks and it has been great meeting all you special drivers, and special fans, lets do it again next season in 2010.
Tino Patti
A Freelance Photographer/Video Journalist
With a World Wide BLOG Following!
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