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Freddie Query Scores Peach State All Star Win

By Lynn Acklin
HUNTSVILLE, AL

JEFFERSON, GA—The Southern All Star Asphalt Racing Series made it’s annual Wednesday night stop at the Peach State Speedway in Jefferson, GA, and before a huge crowd at the ½ mile facility Freddie Query moved past race leader Ronnie Sanders of lap 164 and then rolled to victory in on his second SAS appearance of the year in the Increte Systems/Decorative Concrete/Hassell Cont./Flucher Tire/Eatmon Racing Engines Monte Carlo.

Johnny Brazier of Lickskillet, AL, set fast time at 17.431 (103.264 MPH) and then rolled a five for the inversion giving the front row to Wayne Willard of Dacula, GA, and J R Dudley of Conyers, GA. Willard went to the point in turn one and lead the first lap as Brian Smith ducked under Dudley for the second spot, when on lap two Smith moved into the lead with Query second Willard third, Dudley fourth and Brazier fifth. The top five ran this way until Ronnie Sanders and Brazier stated to move to the front of the field until lap 77 when Sanders took over the top spot with Brazier right behind him. Sanders lead under the new rule was put into action for a competition caution, as a mandatory pit stop for all competitors was issued and everybody got to keep their position on the track after their cars were serviced.

During the second half of the race Sanders was the car to beat as he worked the lapped traffic and built up his lead several times only to have the caution flag slow him down and let the rest of the field gain ground on him.

While this was going Query was slowly working his way into the top five and was in tight battle as he, Brazier and Ricky Turner were all in the top five and when they came down the front stretch on lap 133, Brazier smacked the wall causing the series points leader Turner to hit the front stretch wall head on ending his night. Brazier continued but he soon was out of contention for the win as his car had concrete buried in the wheels.

Sander continued to lead until lap 163 when Query of Mooresville, NC, made his moved under Sanders to take over the top spot and then from there on it was his to lose as he went on to score his first win with the series in 2001 in only his second SAS race for car owner Wayne Hassell. Finishing in the second spot was Sanders, third went to J R Dudley in on of his best runs with the series this season, fourth to Brain Smith in another great run and fifth went to Johnny Brazier.

The sixth spot went to Gary Helton who started 21st and was the last car on the lead lap, seventh went to David Hole of Cumming, GA , Larry Raines of Cummings, GA, finished eighth, ninth to Michael Lance of Lawrenceville, GA, and tenth to Jimmy Henderson of Conyers, GA, in his best series run.

The only other major incident of the night involved Jason Hogan and Jimmy Garmon who got together on the front stretch and hit the wall ending their nights.

The next event for the Southern All Stars Asphalt Series will be on Friday night July 27th at the Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL, a 200 lap event.

OFFICIAL FINISH SAS ASPHALT RACING SERIES PEACH STATE SPEEDWAY:1.Freddie Query; 2.Ronnie Sanders; 3.J R Dudley; 4.Brian Smith; 5.Johnny Brazier; 6.Gary Helton; 7.David Hole; 8.Larry Raines; 9.Michael Lance; 10.Jimmy Henderson; 11.Bobby Fain; 12.J R Norris; 13.Ricky Turner; 14.Lane Morrow; 15.Scot Smith; 16.Jason Hogan; 17.Tim Fryar; 18.Jimmy Garmon; 19.Jimmy Simpson; 20.Heath Hindman; 21.Doug Walker; 22. Wayne Willard; 23.Rodney Landrum; 24.Johnny Henderson.