WEAVERS INHERITS SHRINERS $3,000 GIFT AT BOYD’s A THUNDER-OUS T.K.O.
story by: STEVE HIXSON pics by: Laura Olmstrom (www.actionshotsetc.com)
Ringgold, GA/Chattanooga, TN (6/26/09) – In the end, the decision went to Randy THE DREAM Weaver… The BOYD’s SPEEDWAY crowd cheered and jeered as Weaver parked the Bob Harris owned # B1 “Preferred Sandblasting & Painting, Dynam, 5150 Race Trailers” sponsored GRT / Vic Hill Racing Engines powered machine in Jody Millard Pest Control Victory Lane for Round 8 of the Tennessee THUNDER series 2009 schedule. Witnessing a battle like no-other Friday night, the $3,000. payday went back to Crossville, Tennessee after Weaver inherited the lead for the second time during the SHRINERS RACE, this time with sixteen (16) remaining of the 50-lapper. Fast qualifier Billy Ogle Jr. who‘s vastly becoming a favorite at and of BOYD’s, seemed he would again be the man to beat. But losing a tire on lap 26 would remove Ogle from back-to-back BOYD’s/THUNDER wins giving the lead to Weaver. Racing Tommy Kerr side-by-side for the lead, nobody saw Mike Marlar come into frame, as the 22nd starter rocketed past both on the back-side for top spot. The TKO was delivered quickly as Kerr laid the SMACKDOWN on Marlar from behind in turn three. Thus Weaver again becoming inherent of the top spot, which he kept for the remainder of the event.
After setting PRECISION PRODUCTS INC., Fast Time in qualifying with a 14:129 second lap, Ogle went on to claim the 1st of two SUNOCO Quick6 DASHES, earning another $100 bonus from FISHER PAINT & BODY. Stacy Boles of Knoxville, was 2nd quick a whole 4-tenths of a second slower than Ogle. Kerr, Ronnie Johnson and Joe Armes were the Top 5 fastest. Others locked-in on their times included; Jamie Perry, Mark Vineyard, Derek Ellis (who-won the second dash, when Boles spun solo in turn four), Kevin Gibson, Cody Barnett, David McCoy and Weaver. Two “B” Main Last Chance races set the remaining field with Robert Gant and Jake Knowles taking the honors. Ronnie Johnson was unable to make the DASH race and had to borrow Mike Tinkers (# T22) to join the field for the feature. Provisionals went to Doug Smith, Marlar (whom kept having fan-belt issues during qualifying and b-mains), Shon Flannery and Todd Morrow. The SHRINERS put in a 25th starter voted on by fans and it’s members in attendance. Crossville TN’s Brett Wyatt got that nod.
With the distinctive RED-FEZ waving the green flag over the 25 starters, Ogle took his proverbial place, out front, being trailed again by the ROCKET-BOY. It seemed a quicky might be in the books as 10 then 15 circuits rattled off before Lee Sutton would rear caution # 1. From then on the gloves were off behind the leader as Kerr and Weaver danced side-by-side for the runner-up take. Former Southern All-Star series champion Jamie Perry’s night and Top 10 run came to an end on lap 17 as the Hickman’s (cousins Brian and Kayne) were feasting on a David Payne MURPHY MAFIA BURGER. Shocked n’ Aww’d the crowd witnessed Ogle’s demise as the RR tire launched off the racecar and over the turn-3 billboards of lap 26. With the DREAM now in command Kerr began to salivate at his probability of winning his seasons first and the two again drew door-to-door. Making his BOYD’s SPEEDWAY debut the WINFIELD WARRIOR quietly basked within the Top 5, until the COBRA-KAI Marlar struck with one swipe taking the lead, down the back-stretch. The result was a THUNDEROUS applause by the crowd, though short-lived as Kerr never lifted dive-bombing the former HILL-BILLY 100 champion.
The PUNT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD, would send Tennessee THUNDER series officials into a huddle, and would eventually send both drivers to the tail of the lead lap. The NO-FAULT rule for Marlar and the rough driving penalty for Kerr would be handed-out by series President Brad Byrd. Marlar disgusted headed to the pits, as Kerr went back to about 10th. Kerr would feel the WRATH of PAYNE as the two mixed it up off of turn two, racing for position. Luckily for Kerr track officials negated an on-track confrontation and set the two apart for the restart. Anthony White driving a blue/red # 2X “Stone Plus, Freddy White Masonry, White’s Total Performance, David’s Auto Parts” DWB / Vic Hill powered racecar and coming from 20th tried keeping the pressure on Weaver, but it was too little too late and would be the SHRINERS runner-up. Vineyard in one of his best runs of 2009 was third in his # 4 “Smithbilt Inc., 441 Market” DWB / Custom Race Engines machine holding off local young-gun Barnett and recent JUVENILE DIABETES big winner Knowles. Payne would get 6th with Gibson, Kerr, McCoy and outside FRONT ROW JOE starter Ellis rounding out the Top 10 officially.
32 Entries Representing Five States (TN, GA, NC, KY, AL)
FEATURE FINISH - 50 Laps
1. B1-Randy Weaver of Crossville, TN 2. 2X-Anthony White of Clinton, TN 3. 4-Mark Vineyard of Powell, TN 4. 18-Cody Barnett of Ringgold, GA 5. 66-Jake Knowles of Tyrone, GA 6. 8-David Payne of Murphy, NC 7. M45-Kevin Gibson of Ringgold, GA 8. 4T-Tommy Kerr of Rockford, TN 9. 57-David McCoy of Franklin, NC 10. 99-Derek Ellis of Chatsworth, GA 11. 22-Robert Gant of Flatrock, AL 12. 98-Shon Flannary of Mt. Carmel, TN 13. 45-Doug Smith of Somerset, KY 14. J1-John Owenby of Cleveland, TN 15. 17-Brett Wyatt of Crossville, TN 16. 157-Mike Marlar of Winfield, TN 17. H3-Kayne Hickman of Soddy Daisy, TN 18. 77-Joe Armes of Petross, TN 19. 201-Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, TN 20. 41-Brian Hickman of Soddy Daisy, TN 21. P16-Jamie Perry of Ringgold, GA 22. 11B-Stacy Boles of Knoxville, TN 23. T22-Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN 24. L7-Lee Sutton of Taylorsville, GA 25. T16-Todd Morrow of East Ridge, TN
PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS FAST TIME: 201-Billy Ogle Jr. 14.129 SUNOCO QUICK SIX #1 WINNER: 201-Billy Ogle Jr. SUNOCO QUICK SIX #2 WINNER: 99-Derek Ellis WEST HAVEN B-MAIN #1 WINNER: 22-Robert Gant WEST HAVEN B-MAIN #2 WINNER: 66-Jake Knowles TTDCS HARD CHARGER: 2-Anthony White (20th to 2nd) RACIN' WITH REX RACER OF THE RACE: 157-Mike Marlar DOUBLE H BUMPER AWARD: 8-David Payne
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