Tuesday Morning, it ain't good!

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 has 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 decades 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 Georgia 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.

"Thunder" at the Burg, and Parts everywhere!

The "Burg" Results for 3-21-09 where cars were loaded in pieces

Thunder at the "Burg" on Saturday night, as cars were making their way around, and some were getting into what looked like a Demolition Derby, but it was really just Southern Style racing, with a little extra. Car's took the track looking pretty clean, but after the race had began, car's started to look like they needed to head to the junk yard. It was that kind of night at West Georgia Speedway, in Whitesburg, Georgia.

The Modified Mini cars took the track to run there feature, and when the green flag dropped, #19 of Richard Dale, took the 1st lap, only to see the "Yellow" flag flying. Which meant it was time for a restart.
That restart was more than enough, as #6 Richard Bagby charged toward the front trying to catch #07 driven by driver Frank Long, the race was going to become a royal battle, and you know things did not look good for #19 of Richard Dale's car, as he started to go backwards, and that is not the way Richard drives. In the whole mix was car #11 driven by Charles Lancaster, who battled hard to catch and grab a 3rd place finish. You know the race seemed to go on, and Richard Bagby did all he could to sneak around #07 of Frank Long, but that was not happening. So, again, Frank Long in his #07 Modified Mini car took the second win of the season, and proves he is the driver to beat in this heated race. As for as "King" Richard Bagby, he would go on to finish in 2nd behind the #07 of Frank Long, something Richard is not known as doing, I mean finishing 2nd to anyone.

Then the Enduro cars took to the track for their feature of the night, and again we had several wrecks, and spins, I admit the track was dry, but it seems to this reporter that these driver's have not made it past the winter mold, and are waiting for some warm weather. The race was a really battle but car #91 of Lee Owensby in his green car, took the victory. He was followed in 2nd by the "Purple People Eater" of the M4 car of long time hard charging driver, Winford Minnex, a legend at West Georgia Speedway. With all the cautions, I was sure that Winford Minnex was going to make a charge to get a win, but his car was off, or the #91 was just to powerful. In 3rd place finished the #79 of Shane Barrett, who is good friends with Crate car driver, Mark Knight.

Then the Hobby cars took the track, and that was a real show, not only because of all the hard racing, but the cars that were being torn up, and some were driven by legends of the racing sport. One driver that made the show, was the #92 of Joe Hillman, who was a standout driver at 7 Flags Speedway before it closed down, this time he would be racing the orange and white #92 and it was nothing like the famous #01j that made him a legend, even though Joe Hillman battled hard and got around several wrecks, and finished in 3rd place at the "Burg". When that green flag dropped we knew we were about to see some hard charging racing, because you get this much talent on a track, and some thing has to give, as it did it coming out of turn 2 on the 1st lap, when the #3 driven by Jeff Carter spun the #01 of Blant Duke, both cars cut tires and would have to hit the pit area, get fresh tires so that they could return to the track before the flagman dropped the green flag again. They did and the battle was on again, it was almost like a heavyweight prize fight. On one of the restarts, Blant Duke split the middle making it 3 wide in front of the grandstand to gain the lead, he bumped car #22 Brian Clayton and also car #31 of Blake Griffin, I mean it was a gutsy move. He grabbed the lead but in the process car number #57 was spun on the backstretch and #3 of Big Jeff Carter had no where to go except into the side of his car, so that added more damage to Jeff's car. The restart would prove more exciting, as cars were spinning everywhere, and famous driver's like the great #69 of Rosco Collins, was just battling to stay a live in the race, I mean there were times that Joe Hillman in his #92 and Rosco where having some great duels, and it was like old times.
But the end was so fantastic, that would you believe I never saw the checkered flag flying, all I saw from where I was at was #3 of Jeff Carter against the inside fence, tangled up in a mess of 2 other cars, I found out later that the #01 of Blant Duke would go on to win, but there was something that I missed and that was some how #69 of Rosco Collins, got tied up with Blant Duke, that I did not see, because I was watching the 3 cars that had crashed on the front straight, making sure that all the driver's were alright.

When the Hobby car race was over, I am sure the fans had their money's worth, but there were some driver's that were over heated regarding the driving styles. Well, we will see what happens next Saturday Night at the "Burg". Order of finish was the #01 of Blant Duke and in 2nd place was the #31 of Blake Griffin, how he survived I have know idea, and finishing in 3rd place and some how missing all the wrecks, was that of car #92 of Joe Hillman. All in all there were a lot of torn up race cars, and very upset drivers, but this is what happens when you try to race at "The Burg". What will happen next Saturday Night?, by the way, did anyone see Blant Duke being spun by car #3 of Jeff Carter at the start of the race, I mean that was incredible.

Then the Fast Crate cars, took the track and that is when we were about to see some real racing action, and a young man whose name is Cary Smith in his super fast #89 would put on a show, until the end of the race, then he would make a mistake, that took out several cars, and let the ever charging #16 of clean driving Tony Kemp take the lead, it was this lead change that for some strange reason, coming out of turn 4 had Cary hit the rear end of Tony Kemp's car, and that triggered a chain reation of cars behind, taking out maybe more than 4 cars. I spoke with the hard charging Tony Kemp as I figured he was just waiting for Cary to make that mistake, and you could see that was about to happen as he was climbing high on the banks and not getting any grip under his tires, he was probably thinking where is Tony at, when all he had to do is take a slight look back and he could see that every lap Tony was giving it his all and it was a matter of time. I hate it for Cary Smith, but one day he will take the checkered flag and win at "The Burg".

Ok fans could stretch, and get some food from the concession stand and get ready to watch the most antispasted race of the night, those Sportsman car. 13 cars would start the race but that is not how many would finish, this was also the night the Blant Duke was getting his chance to drive the famed #99 back-up car of Rucker Orr, the car was the Black with silver numbers, and looked intimidating. It was also the night that Rucker Orr would be sitting on the pole after blistering the track in Qualifying with a time of 14:39, a time no one could match.

When the race started, we had some surprises, as #1 of Ben Hill was behind the wheel ,and we had not seen Ben in a while at Whitesburg, welcome back Ben. The car that won last weeks race #13c of Shane Criswell was racing in Alabama, so that left #13 of Roger Cassell, to sit beside pole leader Rucker Orr. The Sportsman feature was rocked and rolled by Rucker Orr, as he seemed as if he was "Locked and Loaded" and was not looking back, more so after his car motor troubles on opening night, when his more seized up and gave away, that is one reason he never made the race. But tonight even with Blant Duke driving his back-up car, he was focused and no one was getting in his way. That's the way Rucker Orr is focused, and when he is racing he is another animal, that takes no prisoners. All kidding aside, I had about as bad a night as the drivers, I had camera trouble, nothing that would interfere in the capturing of the race, just minor headaches, so I want you all to know that I have sunk $3000.00 into new camera equipment so that I can capture every exciting win, and victory, and all those wrecks better. So if you need a DVD please let me know, and the cash will go back into a fund for camera payments. Hope to see you all at the "Burg" next Saturday Night in Whitesburg, Georgia.


Right now my plans or to only film, Modified Mini to Sportsman car features, drivers in the Pure mini class, will have to pay $20.00 up front for me to stay and film their races, because I have a full schedule as it is, the $20 is non-refundable, that means if you make the race do not finish, or wreck I have no control. Those are the new rules sorry if this offends any driver.







Many Thanks, Tino Patti

a Freelance Photographer/ Video Journalist
an contributing writer to MSA magazine

It's RACE DAY !! Results posted Monday

RACE DAY IS HERE !!! , LET'S GO RACING !!

Come Make Sammy Duke Happy, come see this Legend!

Not much to say, except, it's Saturday and tonight "THE THUNDER" will roar down at West Georgia Speedway, located in Whitesburg, Georgia.

And if you are a real race fan, you will be there, and if you can ,bring some folks that have never been to a race track, and get them turned on.

All features should be exciting, the Modified Mini class should prove to be a barn burner between, #06 Richard Bagby and his son #19 Richard Dale, all chasing the #07 of Frank Long ,who won opening night, but this night I believe the real duel will be to see if Richard Dale will let his father pass him, or will this be Richard Dales night. Who knows Richard Bagby is known as the "King" and if there is a way to pass his son he will, and he will go for the win.

All features will be run, from Modified Mini, Enduro class, the big Hobby gang, Topped off with the ever so fast Crate Cars, and then fans are treated with a break and a small intermisstion and the food and drinks will be flowing.

Then the "Loudest and Fastest" cars get lined up , for the feature Sportsman feature, and tonight should be a hot race, as the #99 of Rucker Orr will be defending his title, but he will have to compete again maybe Glen McWaters driving the famous #G1 car.

To add to the excitement, Rucker Orr is letting Blant Duke drive his Sportsman car, his back-up car, if he is in the same race as Rucker things could get very interesting, because Blant Duke is a driver that does not like 2nd place

, he runs to WIN. So we should see some real racing.

Hope you can be there!!!!, and please have a Blessed day and a better night, and when leaving the speedway have a safe trip home.

Thanks,

Tino Patti

a Freelance Photographer/ Video Journalist

and a contributing writer for MSA

FRIDAY !! I Can't Wait !!!

" Thank GOD it's Friday, I can't bear another weekend with NO racing"

Take a close look, the flagman is waving that "Green" flag, so lets go racing boys!, Southern Style, if your not rubbing your not racing, and I know this Saturday night at West Georgia Speedway we will see some real action in all features.

The Modified Mini cars should prove to give us some thrills, as Richard Bagby, try's to pass his son "Little Richard who will be driving the car #19, last week Richard tried hard to get around his son, but there was no way of passing, not high nor low, his Son wanted 2nd place and guess what he took it. This weekend they are all shooting for a pure out hard charging Modified Mini driver in the #07 car, and that is Frank Long, who has seen plenty of battles on the track.

The Enduro's should take the track, and we should all keep our eye on the #32 driven by Terry Finnell, a up and coming driver in this class, I call him "Sunshine" because his car is a bright yellow, that you can't miss. Winford Minnex, driving the #M4 should also be in the same class and what ever class he runs he is always hard to beat, he is known as "The Purple People eater", and he takes no prisoners. Don't forget the #GT13 of driver Charlie Garrett, he is always in the mix, Good Luck to all drivers in this tough field of cars.

How do you like this photo of Sammy Duke and his wrecked car mover, I mean when you want cars off the track, Sammy is the man, with this classic Ford tractor, as classic as he is.

Moving on to Hobby, now this is where the action should heat up, because we should see Blant Duke in his #01 car race after crashing it some weeks back. Blant will be ready and I know the other drivers will want to beat him, because Blant will pass you high or low, if there is a way to get around you, he will make it happen.

Now don't leave out the famous #3 of "Big" Jeff Carter, from Stockbridge, Georgia, he is always in the running and always runs in the top 3. News, Jeff has been working on his car all week and if Jeff has the car right, he can and will blow by any driver that gets in his way, that is what I call him "The Magic Man".
Who else will show up, well we will have to see, as you never know because Sammy Duke has really made the track better if not faster.

Then let them Crate Cars come out, and lets see who has the most muscle under their hood. I know for sure the #16 of Tony Kemp if he is there will put on a show, and lets not forget the #K17 of Mark Knight, another of the top crate car drivers anywhere he races. Mark is laid back, and humble, but when he is racing he is another animal. We have no idea if the #8 of Michael Keener will return to take a victory as he did opening night. We will just have to wait and see, Michael is strange and to be honest last week, or March 7, 2009 was the first time I saw him race, and I have seen all kinds of drivers.

After the Crate Cars, the crowds are happy to have a intermisstion so they can fill up on good food, Opening night they sold out of everything, and you know they were happy, so if you plan of eating get there early and stock up. I really like the onion rings, and burgers, slip in some nacho's and cheese and jalopeno's and you have a meal and a half.

Then settle down for the real racing action action, as those super fast Sportsman cars take the track, and we never know how many there will be, but we do know that one of the cars will be the ever so fast #99 of Rucker Orr, and when he is there you will have a race. Maybe #G1 of Glenn McWaters will show up, then again we don't know what Glenn will do, if he is there you will witness some outstanding racing action.
Craig Scott may show up, then again we never know where Craig will be, he could be anywhere.
I am sure the winner opening night will be back, and that is the #18C of Shane Crisswell, who started on the pole and finished 1st opening night, but then again that was opening night. Saturday will be a new night and more adventure.

I am looking forward to watching Blant Duke drive in Rucker Orr's back-up car on a limited basis, when Blant is behind the wheel, we never know what will happen, because Blant Duke has fire in his eye's when he rounds thos banks at West Georgia Speedway. He may even give Rucker a time, lets see what happens make sure you are ready when Keith the flagman drops the green flag in the Sportsman Feature.

So Driver' please get them cars ready to rumble, and lets see so great racing at "Historic" West Georgia Speedway located in Whitesburg, Georgia.

Results will be posted on this Blog, Monday Morning.

Remember if you would like a copy of a DVD of the night of racing, please let me know so that I can have it ready for you. Price never changes $20 per DVD.

Last I would like to make it clear that I will NO LONGER be filming the Pure Mini class, UNLES
I am paid up front, since most drivers in this class never order DVD's I find it no sence in wasting time and film, when I could be headed back to my home in Douglasville Georgia.

If you want me to stay and film your feature, my rules are simple "Payment MUST be up front"
and if your car breaks down during the race there is NO Refunds, same goes if you fall to make the race.

Sorry if that offends you, but I am taking care of paying customers FIRST.

Many Thanks,

Tino Patti

Freelance Photographer/ Video Journalist
an MSA Contributing writer

Thursday, Driver's GET YOUR CARS READY

" Ok, it's Thursday, halfway till racing Saturday"

West Georgia Speedway, this Saturday Night will again hear the "THUNDER of racing engines roaring", there will be NO RAIN OUT, it may be cold, if you call in the 60's cold, and that temp will drop when racing begins, but fear not racing fans are well built fans that come out to see their favorite drivers.

This weekend should prove for some hot contested racing, as we will have the opportunity to see Blant Duke, who drives the #01 Hobby car not only race in the Hobby feature, but he will get into one of Rucker Orr's back up cars and drive in the Sportsman feature. Blant will be driving on a limited basis for Orr, so you never know what is going to happen. If Blant drives the Sportsman car like he pushes his Hobby car, we should see some exciting racing action.

This reporter THOUGHT that driver's could not race in two features of the night, but I was told by a respectable driver that rule 21 has been changed, and that if YOU PAY you can run in any class. So if you have the bucks, guess what, a hobby driver can make the switch to Crate Cars or Sportsman, or whatever feature they have a car they want to drive in. The main thing is that they must PAY for all features they are in.
In a way this sounds like a great rule, because then we can see what a certain driver does when running in a different class.

Those super fast Crate Cars will return to "Historic" West Georgia Speeday Saturday Night, and we may get to see drivers like the #16 of Tony Kemp, or the #K17 of battling Mark Knight, plus maybe last weeks winner in the #8 car, Michael Keener, who blew the field away. That crate race was fun to watch a crowd favorite, because Mark Knight in his "Blue K17" was charging hard to get around Keener, only to have his car spin, and that took him out of contention. Don't forget "Amazing #22M of Mark Sims could show up, really you never know where he will be, but one thing is for sure Mark is in need of a Win, and Saturday Night would make a great place to take that checked flag. Mark and his father Charlie Sims, work on what I call a "Shoestring" racing buget, and they work on their car without extra hands like the bigger teams, who have big name sponsors, on their car.


One thing is for sure is that when Mark takes his #22M Crate car onto the track, he gives it his all. I also hear that Anthony Hill will show up, it's been a long time since we saw this young man race, and he is also a force that needs to be reckoned with.NEWS FLASH!!!! JUST IN, AFTER SPEAKING WITH MARK SIMS, HE HAS INFORMED ME THAT HE WOULD NOT BE BACK RUNNING IN THE CRATE RACES AT WEST GEORGIA SPEEDWAY THIS WEEKEND, BUT THAT HE HAS HAD SOME SPONSORS COME ON BOARD AND HE WILL BE DRIVING IN THE SPORTSMAN DIVISION. SO FROM PURE MINI, TO MODIFIED MINI, TO CRATE ,MARK SIMS "NOW" WILL BE RACING IN A SPORTSMAN CAR. WHEN WE WILL SEE HIM AT "THE BURG" IN HIS NEW SPORTSMAN RIDE WILL BE SOMETHING WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT ON.

Let's not go over board, by talking about the Hobby, Crate and Sportsman car features, lets take a look at those Modified Mini cars, now these guys are always ready to run, and the winner last weekend March 7, 2009 was the #07 of Frank Long, but this time he was being chased down by #19 of Richard Dale and son of 3rd place finisher #06 of Richard Bagby. This modified race showed some really intense racing action, with Richard Bagby trying to pass his son Richard Dale, on the high side and on the low side of the track, trouble was that there was NO way Little Richard was letting his famous racing legend of a father past him, so in the 1st race of the season, Richard Dale proved he was ready for the task of going for the checkered and winning, he is one step away, and his father better get his car ready for the next modified mini race at West Georgia Speedway.

Opening Night at West Georgia Speedway, proved to be the best for the fans, as it was reported that the complete concession stand sold out of food, now that was good, great for Sammy Duke, not good for the hungry fans, but when a race track runs out of food you know you are doing something right.

This weekend proves to be a exciting time, so I hope all fans as well as drivers show up to battle this "Historic" track. When you win at "THE BURG" You win in all respects, because if you can beat the other driver's in your feature plus beat this track you are special.

Ok driver's lets get those cars ready to rumble, because Saturday Night is nearing, and that checkered flag is waiting on you.

Just remember that you can't win a race on the 1st lap, hang in there and race hard and give the fans their money's worth of excitement.

Some fans that I spoke with this week were so very impressed at all the improvements that were made to West Georgia Speedway, and that says a lot because fans were always afraid of this track, but now Sammy Duke and his Staff have really cleaned the place up, and it has the air of being a real race track.

So nothing else to say except "BE THERE" this Saturday Night at "The Burg",
West Georgia Speedway, and watch some thrilling racing action.


See you at the races,

Tino Patti

Freelance Photographer /Video Journalist
and a MSA contributing writer