The Fayette Citizen-Sports Page
Friday, April 7, 2000
Lots of challenges in Senoia Speedway' s third week of racing

Sharpsburg's Wayne Hansard led every lap of the Alan Vigil Southlake 50-lap Late Model feature race to take the win and the lead in the points race for the 2000 racing season.

Hansard, last season's points champion, started from the pole with a 14.221 seconds lap in his Bill Heard-sponsored Chevrolet Monte Carlo and was flawless as he moved in and out of traffic at will around the 3/8-mile track, to record his second win in three weeks.

Following Hansard across the finish line for second place was McDonough's John Beach. Beach dropped to the rear of field on the start and worked his way to the front with the help of a caution that came on lap 23, when Newnan's Gabrielle Corbitt turned down on Stevie Banks as they entered turn one, collecting both of them against the inside retaining wall.

With seven laps remaining, Beach drove around the second place car of Scotty Ellis after Ellis's car developed a mechanical problem coming out of turn four. Ellis kept his car on the bottom of the track through turns one and two and then drove up in front of the oncoming car of Banks.

Banks' car was sent sailing hard against the outside wall, ending his night of racing. Beach was left with only Hansard in front of him with six laps remaining. But not even Beach had anything for Hansard as he could only close to within five car lengths at the finish.

Gabrielle Corbitt held on to finish third ahead of Scotty Ellis and Fayetteville's Charlie Bagwell, who rounded out the top five.

Senoia's Chad Caldwell finished sixth several laps down when he pitted under green flag conditions on lap 29. But he was able to return to the track later.

Seventh place went to Banks, whose car will have to have a front and rear clip. It is doubtful that this car will see the track for the next three weeks of competition.

Pine Mountain's Donnie Moore rounded out the field in eight after suffering mechanical problems related to the rear axle.

In the Sportsman's division Newnan's Steve Payton jumped out to the lead in turn one from his outside starting position to record his third win of the season and the top of the points standing in his Payton Machine Works Chevy. Brooks' Mike Jenkins had to settle for a second place finish as he had nothing for Payton. A very much improved Mike Crowley finished third ahead of Dan Oliver and Hampton's Alan Frey.

Blake Griffin of Monroe, Ga. went flag to flag in the Street Stock division for the win at Senoia Speedway. Griffin was doubtful for this week's race after his involvement with Jason Turner and Robbie Gober last week that left his car a wreck. But that was not the case Saturday night as he went from zero to hero for his first win of the 2000 season.

Senoia's Mark Lore finished second ahead of Sammy Barge and Fayetteville's Mike Steffens, who both fought a loose condition all night long. Rounding out the top five was Newnan's Jim Van Riper, showing improvement from the last two weeks of racing.

In Mini Stock, Fayetteville's Darrell Carlson held off a four-lap charge from Jonesboro's Cary Hamilton for the double points win and his first win of the season in the Mini Stock series at Senoia Speedway. Hamilton led for the first 21 laps until Gay, Ga.'s Troy French made contact with Hamilton, causing Hamilton to spin out off turn four.

Hamilton and French were both placed behind Carlson on the lead lap. On the restart neither Hamilton and French could challenge Carlson, forcing them to second- and third-place finishes ahead of Newnan's Ferman Estrada and Keith Adams. Rounding out the field in sixth was James Waite in the Hooters/MVP Sports Ford Mustang.

Senoia's Scott Tinsley took the lead for the win in the Young Lions division from Adam Quattlebaum with eight laps remaining for his second win of the season. Second place went to Bubba Pollard, also of Senoia, who was giving it all he had on the last lap, losing control off turn four and crossing the finish line sideways for the position.

Fayetteville's Adam Quattlebaum finished a disappointing third after leading the first 17 laps. Nick Hill, under the guidance of Late Model driver Denny Stroud, finished fourth in only his second race. Rounding out the field was Joey Boyer and Bubba Harry.

In the pro division, it took only three laps for the 1999 points champion Oliver Gentry to dispose of Scott Moseley for the lead and the win in Saturday Conkles Legends Pro Series feature at Senoia Speedway. Moseley finished second ahead of the cars of Pete Boyer and Rusty Lanice, who finished third and fourth respectively. Scott Tinsley, winner of the Young Lions feature, rounded out the top five. Johnny East and Newnan's Jim Thomason finished sixth and seventh ahead of Josh Phillips and Chuck Greer, and Robert Drummond rounded out the top ten.

Senoia Speedway races every Saturday night. The pit gate opens at 4 p.m., the grandstand at 5 p.m. with racing beginning at 7. For information phone Senoia Speedway at 770-599-6161 or Rich Lowenberg, media director, at 770-254-1141.

Back to the Top of the PageBack to the Sports Home Page