Local racers are tearing up the tracks

Joey Clanton, driver of the number 83 Steve Dale Motorsports/Zaxby's Chevrolet Monte Carlo, drove what some would call the perfect race last Saturday night at South Boston Speedway, leading all laps of the Textilease Medique 300 presented by Hardee's.

Not since 1996 has the American Speed Association seen a driver lead all laps of the race from the green flag to the checkered flag.

While Clanton and the Steve Dale Motorsports crew, based out of Fayetteville, felt they had a strong car after testing at the 4/10 semi-banked oval last month, the team had no idea how strong the number 83 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was against the field. Clanton and the team didn't just lead all 300 laps of the race, but also captured one of the fastest times in practice, as well as the top starting position.

Similar to the team's victorious 2001 season opener at St. Augustine Speedway (Fla.), Clanton and the number 83 Chevrolet dominated from the starting line to the finish line, claiming Steve Dale Motorsports' second victory of 2001 in just four races this season.

"The car was awesome tonight," said an excited and exhausted Clanton. "The crew just keeps giving me awesome cars and awesome pit stops." The team pitted the car just once during the night, taking on two tires and fuel on lap 139, coming into the pits in first and leaving in the same position.

The victory at South Boston Speedway moved Clanton and the Steve Dale Motorsports crew into second place in ASA Series points. The win put the Monte Carlo just 17 points behind the leader, Butch Miller.

Clanton and the crew have a week off before heading to Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Hawkeye Downs is one of the team's favorite tracks as they finished in second and fourth in the two races there during the 2000 ASA season. The race from Cedar Rapids is set to air live April 28 at 9 p.m. and will be broadcast on The Nashville Network.

Other local racers performed well over the weekend at Senoia Speedway. Newnan's Steve Payton in his Payton's Machine Works Chevy dominated the field in the Sportsman Class by leading all 25 laps of this feature for his second win in three weeks at Senoia Speedway. Finishing several car lengths back in second was Union City's Rod Williford with Senoia's Mark Lore in third.

Sharpsburg's Matt Peeples dominated the Bandolero Division race as he led from the drop of the green flag to the checkers.

Peachtree City's Reed Sorenson won his second race in the Legend Pro/Mast/SP I Division in as many weeks as he worked the bottom groove he knows so well at Senoia Speedway. Sorenson took possession of the lead in lap five and held on to take the checkered flag.

Ty Steward's first win of the season in the Mini Stock Division was remarkable as he held off a late race challenge from second place finisher Cary Hamilton. Hamilton's streak of two wins in as many weeks ended with Steward's win.

Robbie "Go-Go" Gober took the lead in lap three after starting second Saturday night in the Street Stock Division race. Gober flew a yellow ribbon out the window of his race car in honor of the air crew being held hostage in China.

Doug Ludwig inherited the lead after the first and second place cars of Cindy Anderson and Nick Hill eliminated each other with two laps remaining, giving Ludwig his first win at Senoia Speedway in the YL/SP II Division race Saturday night.

Hill Racing (Nick Hill) and Faith Baptist Church are joining to raise money for a nine-month-old baby with severe birth defects. For information about donations call 770-502-0546.

Senoia Speedway opens its pit gates at 3:30 p.m. and races start at 7 p.m. For information call 770-599-6161, or check out the Web site at www.senoiaspeedway.com. Tickets will be available at the gate and season passes are available online at the Web site.

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