Lets Play in the Clay at Senoia Raceway

“TIME TO PLAY IN THE CLAY”

"Shane Criswell Shines Again", "Jeff Carter keeps on Moving",

"Evan Lancaster proves he can drive", "Craig Scott shows the Crate cars the way aroung the track", "Erik Hogsed, in 16r shows the pure mini class the way", "A new hobby winner Allen McConnell", and Austin Horton beats Mike Ray in a dramitic Enduro race".

That is just what it was like at New Senoia Raceway, as June 5th, 2010 was upon us, and everyone was looking up to the skies, which were turning darker by the minute.

When I arrived at the track the sun was out and it was “HOT”, cars and drivers were returning to make up the rain out of May 30th a Sunday afternoon race.

That was scheduled to be a big “40 lap shoot-out with the Nesmith crate cars racing for $2000 cash.

Since that was a wash-out things at Senoia have been changing, so I advise checking the schedule on the web site at http://www.newsenoiaraceway.com/

As for as thrills, if you were not at Senoia raceway you missed out on some super fast racing.

Crate cars were there in abundance, plus can you believe over 18 limited late model cars.

The pack was also packed for the B-Cadet race that was going to be a barn burner with #3 Jeff Carter, #01 of Blant Duke, #25 of Bobby Slauson, and some extra cars thrown into the mix. When the green flag flew, it was all Carter, but on his bumper trying to knock him out of his game plan was #01 of young Blant Duke, who has been rising as a racer for years now. When you hear the name Duke you think of his grandfather Sammy Duke, owner of West Georgia Speedway for years and years and years.

Sammy is older than dirt, and that’s old.

Not to mention I am as old as dirt myself, turned 60 in May 2010, but I still love racing, more so when it is on dirt.

Blant Duke has the talent to win some major races.

Hard to believe but he started at the age of 15 racing at West Georgia Speedway, where he was a champion on and off the track. Starting in Full Size, he moved up to Enduro, then to Hobby with maybe one or 2 races in Sportsman.
When I asked his father Brian Duke how many races Blant had won, his answer was “Too many to count”.

I have seen Blant race and I know he is a fierce competitor and when he stapes on the helmet, it is all racing.

Put it this way there is no love loss for his competitors in a race he is in. You move or he will move you, which are just a part of racing, rubbing is just part of the game. Maybe is some getting into your head ething else, like the Late great Dale Earnhardt Sr. would do to his competition.

So when the B-Cadet race was on, I knew Jeff Carter and Blant Duke would really be the main drivers to watch, it is almost like a chess game, one trying to make a move and another waiting it out to see where the other will slip up.

One slip up, and guess what, you are history, and also lose. Now if you are waiting for a driver to sit around the back half of the race, then Blant Duke is not your driver, the faster he gets to the front the better he likes it.

Same way with Jeff Carter, he is a born racer, and knows where he wants to be, when his car is right, you won’t see anything but his checkered roof top and the #3 blowing down the track.

Carter is a hard working family man, and when he is not working and proving for his family he is playing in the dirt at some race track, and where ever he is at the other drivers know they are in for some lessons.

Also in the B-Cadet was non other than #T7 of Tim Bright Jr. plus #14 of David Chapman, and #1 of Allen Roddy and closing out the field #25 of Bobby Slauson.

Starting the show off at Senoia was the Hobby car feature, and since Scott Sherrer was not there we were assured to have a new winner, but the battle was on, between #4 driven by Cory Potts who later would be DQed, and #24 of Allen McConnell who would go on to win the race, he would be the only interview of the night, because heavy storms were moving toward Senoia “Fast”.

#M4 of long time champion Winford Minix would take home 2nd place and coming in 3rd was #12 of Gary Brand.

It was a battle from green to checkered flag, in the hobby class feature.

When the Modified Mini lined up there was only 4 cars, but every driver was talented.
Frank Long would be back in his famous #07 and also #9 Evan Lancaster, and then there was #27 of hard charging Talmadge Simpson, plus #8 of John Caldwell.

With Storms moving in, it was no time to sit back they were throwing the green flag faster than ever before, and showing the way was #9 Evan Lancaster who had his car in the wind, and was showing what it was made of. Trying to catch him was Talmadge Simpson and Frank Long, but there was no way Lancaster was going to get caught, or was he? Late in the race on the back straight, he made a little slip up that almost took him out of the race, but he regained his driving presence and went on to haul in another Senoia raceway checked flag.

So Evan Lancaster would go on to win in his #9 car
With #27 Talmadge Simpson coming in 2nd place
#07 Frank Long finished in 3rd place.

After the B-Cadet was over, the super fast crate cars pulled onto the track at Senoia and the race had some heavy hitters behind the wheel.
Drivers like #0 of Craig Scott, #21 of Chip Brindle, #55 of Duncan Parish, #16 of Tony “The Tiger” Kemp, plus #91 Tod Darda who knows how to win. Then there was #19 of Paul Walters and also #19 of Jeremy Hall. Let’s not stop the parade there, how about #T11 Troy Tyson and #16 of Trey White plus #33 of Randy Hester and #21 of Johnny Stichcomb. But the driver that stands out to me is young 14 year old Matt Dooley who was driving in his new car, his old car a yellow #18 flipped several times at Dixie Speedway, and to be honest I thought Matt was through for racing. But he proved me wrong and that is what I really admire, he had a car that started and qualified to run in 5th place when they lined the cars up, but Matt being the man he is asked his father Scott Dooley if he could start in last place and get the feel of his new race car, if you have never seen Matt Dooley drive what are you waiting for. Can you say super-star?
I can and will and not be ashamed, this young man is the next star when driving a race car, he is talented and it shows, I know he will go far in racing, and we wish Matt Dooley all the luck and success in the world.
Starting in the back, to get the feel of his race car Dooley and his black #18 finished in 8th place in front of some well known drivers.

Next time I look for Matt to make some real moves and show who is, hope you come on down to the New Senoia Raceway this coming Saturday and watch Matt race in his black #18 crate car.

Winning this hot contest of a race was none other than #0 of Craig Scott who has been a winner at Senoia Raceway before, so winning is nothing new to him.

Coming in 2nd was #21 of Chip Brindle
In 3rd place was #55 of Parrish Duncan
And in 4th place was #16 of Tony Kemp


After the Crate cars ran, it was time for the Pure Mini Stock to run, and believe it or not they are getting better and better.

Drivers like #7 Russell Bright and #4 Dusty Jones plus #16 Erik Hogsed plus #00 of Matthew Black would put on a racing show, I know you may be upset because I am leaving out your favorite driver but when you have 12 cars racing, you have to leave some out.

But when the cloud of dust disappeared and the Mini Stock race was over, taking the checkered flag was #16R of Erik Hogsed, who is a winner in any car he drives. Another driver that really showed his talent was #7 of Russell Bright, who got spun on the front straight but went on to finish in 3rd place.

#4 Dusty Jones would sneak in 2nd place and in 4th place of #13 Gary Parker, with #5 Rocky Johnson finishing in 5th place.

The Pure Mini class has been really getting better and the drivers are outstanding.

With the Pure Mini out of the way, it was time to let the “Big Men run” the Limited Late Models, and all 18 cars were there waiting for the action and praying for no rain.

Who ever was in control of the weather had moved the storms away from Senoia Raceway and it cleared up, so that racing with the fastest class could and would take place.

Drivers like #99 Rucker Orr, and #18C of Shane Criswell, plus #25 of Scott Duffy and #73 of “Racing Jason” Williams was there.
Also showing up were #24 of fast Ricky Payton, and #9 of Shane Fulcher. Then there was #8 of David Burton, and #27 of Glenn Morris.

Now to get to the meat and bones of it, it was racing like never before, with Shane Criswell showing the way and Rucker Orr chasing him down, Scott Duffy was in a battle with #9 Shane Fulcher and David Burton in his #8 was racing side by side with #24 of Ricky Payton.

When the race went green I was more or less looking for a major pile up in turn one, sorry, I was wrong because every one made it through. Later in the race thought I was following the lead cars when my spotter knocked me in my arm and pointed as 4 cars had piled up rounding turn 4, one of those cars was Jason Williams who has always been a factor in the races at Senoia but this would not be his night.

Rucker was driving the motor out of his car, but Shane Criswell, was looking like no one could touch him, he was in a class of his own.

Scott Duffy in his #25 was battling hard with of all folks #9 Shane Fulcher who won the $2000 cash prize at Senoia earlier in the season.

All in all racing at Senoia was fast and furious and believe it or not, there was not a drop of rain that fell from the skies. I know that had to make Jack Mills, Tim and Tony Moses happy as well as Mark Mills had to be happy. Now they can get back to the regular racing shows.

Closing on a note regarding the Enduro race, again #99 Mike Ray was showing he can drive, but he was in a real battle with #16 Austin Horton driving “Black Beauty”. Also in the race was #86 of legendary driver “Pappy” Powell, who has been driving for years and years and still is never afraid of a racing gunfight. Pappy is one of those drivers you love. At age 86 he still handles his car just as well as Mike Ray and Austin Horton.

This was the last race of the night, and wouldn’t you know that #99 Mike Ray would ride the back wall, after he moved up the track. That would end Mike’s night and the checkered flag would fall over the #16 of Austin Horton, with young Pappy Powell finishing in 2nd place.

With all that said I would like all race drivers as well as race fans, to be aware of Limited Late Model Driver Scott Duffy’s Mothers condition. Her Cancer has worsened and it is just a matter of time before she leaves this old painful earth, and gets a new body. This is going to take a real toil on one of the classiest drivers in racing, and I mean Scott Duffy. His mother has accepted that her time is up, and his father is understands that now is the time to let her go. She will be moved to Christian City, in Union City Georgia where she will finish her last days on this earth.

When Scott’s car #25 appeared at Senoia Raceway I was so happy to see him, because he is a great driver, but now he has to deal with the loss of his Mother, and that will be hard.

When asked why he came to Senoia Raceway to race on Saturday night, he said “My Mother told me to go race” and that is what he did he was just minding his Mother, who has always loved to watch him race.

Mothers are like that so supportive, and when you lose them you look back and wonder what you could have said and done to make them happier when they were well and alive.

But I am asking everyone to please stand behind Scott Duffy in this time as he will be soon losing his Mother and may GOD always bless him and his family.




Many Thanks



Tino Patti


A Freelance Photographer/Video Journalist


With a World Wide racing BLOG Following!!