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Short Track Action Heats Up at South Boston

South Boston, VA…..Rip-roaring excitement electrified Virginia’s Racing Region as “America’s Hometown Track” hosted the Hardee’s Textilease Medique 300 on Saturday night. With special guests and friends onboard, SOuth BOston Speedway welcomed hometown favorites Ward Burton and Elliott Sadler, as well as, other Winston Cup guests Johnny Benson, Dick Trickle, and Junie Donlavey. Donlavey, who was presented a cake for his 77th birthday in victory lane, was elated with his visit to Virginia’s Super Short Track. “This is a beautiful facility and I feel so welcomed here. I may choose not to ever leave”, said a celebrating Donlavey.

Visiting fans, from across the region, rose to their feet as the VORTEC powered ASA/AC DELCO Series machines cranked engines and sped into turn one. Thirty-two highly polished stock cars rolled around the speedway with Joey Clanton (#83 Stockridge, GA) leading the way. Double stacked from first to twentieth, the ASA drivers challenged for position in all areas of the asphalt.

The fast pace was slowed by caution three times in the first 50 laps, but three wide racing off the corners brought animated reactions from the crowd. Nick Woodward, driving for Hardee’s, made his debut to the series by battling to stay on the lead lap in the early going. Woodward, who entered the race by way of a fan vote, was plagued by mechanical problems but managed to finish the race. Racing up through the field was 7 Time ASA National Champion, Mike Eddy. Eddy, who started 21st, made some moves in his Tony’s Pizza machine in an attempt to slice into the Top 10. Kevin Cywinski challenged for the lead on lap 178, but Clanton was able to hold off the charge, as many drivers lit up their brakes in caution avoiding maneuvers. With some heads up driving, most traffic jams failed to bring out the caution, as Mike Garvey and Gary St. Amant made power moves into the Top 5. Clanton was the greatest contact avoidance technician of the night, as he avoided disaster on numerous occasions to post a flag-to-flag win that has not existed in a 300 lap ASA event since 1996.

“I love it, when you come in here like this, you got to love it!” said a jubilant Clanton of his first trip to SOuth BOston Speedway. “This is what we like, the drivers had to really drive it in the turns.” “The Speedway is great, it’s a racing track, the kind we like to run!”

South Boston Speedway hopeful, Nick Woodward completed the race with a 23rd place finish.

Fans could not sit down as the Textilease Weekly Racing Series Textilease 100 got underway with side by side action for the lead. From the drop of the green flag, RACERAP.com polesitter H.C. Sellers III (#83 Danville, VA), was challenged by Rodney Sawyers (#85 Ridgeway, VA). For 13 laps, Sawyers battled to the outside before taking the lead. Sellers powered his Danville Community College Chevrolet in firm control of 2nd place, as further back the action mounted. Slicing and dicing through the field was Timothy Peters (#2 Providence, NC), who had qualified 7th, but started in the rear due to a post qualifying chassis adjustment. Caution waved on lap 32 for a spin by Jeff Oakley (#17 Prince George, VA), which also collected Kenny Bowes (#80 Danville, VA) and Chris Hatchett (#12 Alltel Chevy). Sawyers continued to set the pace, as Peters battled for fourth with Scott Worley (#88 Long Island, VA). Peters made use of his front bumper, on lap 76, to shake Worley for the position. Worley quickly repaid the favor with a bumper of his own, but was unable to challenge Peters for the fourth spot. Sawyers paced the field for the victory with Sellers, Eddie Johnson, Peters, and Worley in tow.