Season ends dramatically at Senoia Speedway

Tempers were flaring under a full moon but that did not stop Tyrone's Scott Griffin from pushing his car and talents to the limit, taking the championship title at Senoia Speedway before a packed house during the Super Bowl of Asphalt Champions Saturday night.

"With the points battle being so tight, I knew it was going to be a beating and banging race and whoever survived was going to be the winner," said Late Model champion Scott Griffin.

Griffin's usual number 13 was replaced with number 44 in memory of friend and driver John Bass of Tyrone, who passed away a few weeks ago. Bass' widow and family were in attendance to see the number 44 go to the winner's circle for the first time.

Rounding out the top ten in the field, after second place finisher B.J. Holley, were Sharpsburg's Mike Bristol in third, Macon's Jarod Lovett in fourth, Newnan's Joey Farlow in fifth, Sharpsburg's Rick Roller in sixth, Fayetteville's Jacques Delannoy in seventh, Watkinsville's Ronny Kittle in eighth, Billy McGinalls in ninth, and Newnan's Stevie Banks in 10th.

Cautions flew before the first laps were complete Saturday evening in the Sportsman Division race. After five botched attempts to start off the 50-lap feature, officials deemed it necessary to place the field in a single file start. Finally the lap counter could move on as Johnny Todd led the drivers around the 3/8th mile oval asphalt track.

Todd held his lead for the first 13 laps before Andy Cash of Brooks built up steam and moved into the front position. Cash, who has been racing in various classes since 1978, proved that experience does count as he held off the field for the 37 remaining laps to clinch the championship.

Mike Steffens made an exciting finish for his first win of the 2000 season in the Street Stock Division. Nine cars started the 50-lap feature with only six taking the checkered flag. Due to excessive cautions and time limits the feature was cut back.

It was a rocky night of racing in the Mini Stock Division Saturday night as 23 cars took the lead lap. Several drivers tried to go three and four wide in the turns, creating caution after caution and making it impossible for officials to get this race started. Finally, after many restarts, Cary Hamilton took the lead at the drop of the green flag to lap eight where he battled the night's winner of this race, Troy French, for the position.

After several spins and cautions by other drivers, French and Hamilton battled it out with French leading from lap 12 to the end.

Troy French took his victorious finish for the 2000 season championship title. This is French's second championship in a row. Following French was second place winner Cary Hamilton with Chad Hoopaugh in third.

Saturday night's Legends Pro/Semi Pro/Masters race was an exhilarating experience as 29 drivers in this division took the track with a roar. The cars spread out over the 3/8th mile oval from beginning to end, exciting the crowd as they wondered how that many cars would possibly make it through the 50-lap feature.

After a restart on the first lap Doug Stevens, this season's points champion, quickly took the lead and held onto his position for the first 42 laps until Marc Mitchell made contact with him, causing him to give up the position to Andy James. James then kept his first place position for the remainder of the race.

Excitement flowed across many of the division features, including the Legends Young Lyons/Chargers class. There could be only one winner to take the prize, but a lot more was at stake than just another victory lane approach. The points race leading into Saturday night between Bubba Pollard and Scott Tinsley was so close that it was anyone's guess at the outcome.

Bubba Pollard started out leading the field at the drop of the green flag for the first 20 laps before Scott Tinsley made his move. Tinsley then ran the race caution after caution without giving in to Pollard's approaches.

A horrible wreck by Nick Hill paused the race, throwing out a red flag on lap 45. Hill rolled his Legend car side over side at least five times before coming to a stop between turns three and four. Hill is said to be fine.

Hill's accident managed to knock out the track caution light in those turns. Officials quickly remedied the situation with an extra flagman.

The top five finishers in this division were champion Scott Tinsley, Bubba Pollard in second, Joey Boyer in third, Cindy Anderson fourth, and Jimmy Felton in fifth.

Track officials are carrying Tinsley's fuel to Inex in North Carolina for further testing. Officials will announce their findings.

It was an overwhelming night as Sharpsburg's Danny and Ruth Peeples watched their son, Matthew Peeples, clinch the championship in the Bandeleros Division. Peeples led from the drop of the green flag, dominating all 25 laps of his feature. His closest competition was a little bit less than a straightaway at the finish.

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