Wednesday, March 28, 2001
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Wednesday, March 28, 2001 |
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Season underway at Senoia Speedway
Saturday night Tyrone's Scott Griffin, last year's Pro Late Model champion, took control of the divisional race in lap 27 returning him to Victory Lane for his first win of the season at Senoia Speedway. Griffin, in his R & S Hauling, Ford Taurus, was also awarded the Bud Pole Award after completing a 13.822 around the 3/8th mile oval asphalt track earlier in the evening. His lap time put him in the front until rolling the die, which placed Griffin fifth in the starting line up. "The car ran good. It was just getting loose in the corners, but we'll work on that before next week," said Griffin. Finishing second was Senoia's Chad Caldwell, who blew an engine last August taking him out for the season. "I'm glad we started back racing. I've been looking forward to it," said Caldwell. In third was Sonny Pollard who is also from Senoia. Trailing in fourth was Sharpsburg's Darrell Bunn. Gay, Ga.'s Troy French was the highest finishing rookie rounding out the top five. Six men showed up to compete in the season opener for Senoia Speedway in the Sportsman Division Saturday night. Newnan's Steve Payton took the lead in lap three to dominate the 25-lap race. Payton took the checkered followed by Union City's Rod Williford in second. Senoia's Mark Lore finished third with LaGrange's Bob Yarbrough in fourth and Stockbridge's Charles White rounding out the top five. It looked as if last year's Bandoleros champion Matt Peeples would not start the season opener at Senoia Speedway Saturday night after making hard contact with the outside wall in a practice heat, tearing up his front and rear of his car. "We call it 200-mph duct tape," commented Ruth Peeples when asked how the number three team was able to bring Peeples to Victory Lane. In second was Hampton's Chris Dilbeck with Justin South finishing third. Chris Cable and Brandon Jackson took the fourth and fifth place positions with Gary Maude and Matt Cox finishing sixth and seventh. In eighth was Sharpsburg's Marcia Bristol, trailed by Marcia Prosser and Trent Mayo in ninth and tenth. Moreland's Nick Hill took the Legends Young Lions Division's first race of the season Saturday night at Senoia Speedway as he led every lap from start to finish. In second was Bobby East with Ron Johnson close in third. Doug Ludwig and Jimmy Felt finished fourth and fifth. In the Legends Pro Division, Williamson's Chris Vaughan took the lead in lap 20 during Saturday night's opening race for the win. Trailing closely was Lizella's Jason Tidwell with Senoia's Scott Tinsley close behind in third. Roy Brooks finished fourth while Josh Phillips rounded out the top five finishers. Pole starter Cary Hamilton of Jonesboro, Ga. took the lead in lap 13 of the Mini Stock race and held on to take the checkered flag during Saturday night's season opener. Ty Stewart led the first 12 laps and finished in second. Shawn Mormon placed third with Keith Adams and Steve Adams fourth and fifth. Robby "Go-Go" Gober of Locust Grove, Ga. took the win during the Street Stock season opener. Gober in his Chevy Malibu was untouched from the start to the finish. Following in second was Larry Pierce with Stan Barge in third. Ted Willingham and Sammy Barge finished fourth and fifth. Senoia Speedway opens its gates at 5 p.m. and races start at 7 p.m. The Big 8 Pro Late Model Series kicks off this Saturday, March 31. For information phone 770-599-6161, or check out the Web site at www.senoiaspeedway.com. Tickets will be available at the gate and season passes can be purchased online at the Web site. In other racing news, Joey Clanton and the number 83 Zaxby's/Steve Dale Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo finished fourth in this past weekend's Florida 200 at the USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Fla. After starting the Florida 200 in the 16th position, Joey Clanton and the Steve Dale Motorsports team showed their tenacity by climbing 12 spots during the race to finish in the fourth spot when the checkered flag flew. The fourth place finish was a welcome boost to Clanton and the Steve Dale Motorsports team in the chase for the American Speed Association Series Championship. The solid finish at Lakeland put Clanton and the number 83 into the third position in ASA Series points, just 70 points behind the leader. |
