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Posted: 04/19/09
05:56 PM
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The Starstruck Report
Hello friends and welcome to another edition of the Starstruck Report. The last friday was very cool for a night of racing from a day that was very spring like all day. The event included some fun things with the drivers and their children like a bubble gum blowing contest. But when the flags flew, we had plenty of action. Let's get to the results.
Grand Stock (30 laps): Tommy Tatum (62) started the race on the pole. The race started and the first lap brought out a caution. Bill Nixon (49), Shawn Hopkins (84) and Todd Ruggles (40) all made contact around turn 4. This lead to a complete restart. In the first 5 laps, Tatum (62) and Mark Simpson (36) were swapping the lead, each one having the lead by a nose. Lap 5, the caution came out when B K Wilson (82) and Mike Cole (63) made contact in turn one. Tatum (62) had lead the last completed lap so was given the lead on the restart. Lap 11, Justin Brown (55) was in the pits. Lap 12, Simpson (36) took the lead for good. Lap 15, the race got a little hairy, where Cory Willoughby (7) was off the pace and Tommy Tatum (62) makes contact with Donnie Newman (69) in turn 4. Lap 19, B K Wilson (82) was off the pace in the backstretch and couldn't make it back to pits, leading to a caution. Race was restarted but Todd Ruggles (40) and Shawn Hopkins (84) made contact. Ruggles (40) wasn't sent to back and from what I could tell was ruled a racing incident. Lap 27, Bill Nixon (49) hits wall in turn 3 due to a right front flat. First restart, it really got wild. Cory Willoughby (7), Shawn Hopkins (84) and Newman (69) were sliding around turn 2. This lead to a very lengthy caution. Keith Mackta (00) was believed to be leaking fluid and was checked twice. It turned out it was the Woody Ellington (90) that was leading fluid. We get a three lap shootout and Mark Simpson (36) hangs on to the lead for the win. Here is the official finishing order. 1. Mark Simpson (36) 2. Keith Mackta (00) 3. Shawn Hopkins (84) 4. Tommy Tatum (62) 5. Todd Ruggles (40) 6. Donnie Newman (69) 7. Michael Moore (89) 9. Cory Willoughby (7) 10. Bill Nixon (49) 11. Woody Ellington (90) 12. Mike Cole (63) 13. B. K. Wilson (82) 14. Justin Brown (55)
MACKA (20 laps): Ryland Craze (55) started this race on the pole. He wouldn't hold on to the lead as Cameron Wood (31) took the lead on the first lap. Lap 3, Buzz Moore (11) took the lead. He would hold on for most of the race. Lap 20, Brad Davis (18) took the lead in turn 3 to claim the victory. Here if the official finishing order. 1. Brad Davis (18) 2. Buzz Moore (11) 3. Stan Holmes (01) 4. Stanley Holmes (38) 5. David Henderson (62) 6. Mike Mitchell (3) 7. Cameron Wood (31) 8. Eric Heil (9) 9. Ryland Craze (55) 10. Wes Simmons (16) 11. Tommy Chambers (8) 12. Ricky Gum (28)
Late Model Sportsman (100 laps): Brad Davis (18) literally runs from his MACKA cart to start on the pole in this race. The first start was jumped and called back. On the second start, Doug Godsey (05) takes the lead from Davis (18) and never looked back. Lap 8, caution called as Brandon Hendrick hits the wall around turn 4. During the caution, Jason Pittman (51) was in the pits and stayed out the rest of the race. He came in to get some practice before the big April 30th race with some of Nascar's finest. Lap 9, Shannon Marano (6) almost makes contact with wall and makes a great save in turn 4. Lap 12, Brandon Hendrick (39) hits walls around turns 1 and 2. Lap 18, Shane Lockhart (95) was slowing down alot. No caution was called for this. Lap 31, Roy Hendrick (11) slowed off the pace and retired from the race. The race was very clean for a while till lap 78, when Shane Lockhart (95) slowed and stopped in turn 2. He wasn't able to move the car and a wrecker was called, leading to a long caution. Brad Davis (18) was in pits. Lap 80, Davis (18) was blackflagged for dragging sheet metal and also fighting brake problems. Doug Godsey (05) took the checkered flag on lap 100, leading the race flag to flag. Here are the official results. 1. Doug Godsey (05) 2. Chris Dodson (00) 3. Chris Hopkins (43) 4.Greg Fernandez (02) 5. Brandon Hendrick (39) 6.Shannon Marano (6) 7.Sonny Allen (20) 8.Jeff Oakley (15) 9. Wayne McGee (2VA) 10.Jason Higginbotham (44) 11.Brad Davis (18) 12. Andy Kemp (27) 13. Shayne Lockhart (95) 14. Roy Hendrick (11) 15. Jason Pittman (51)
Street Stock (50 laps): I have notes on this race, however, as of this printing, the finishing order is still being reviewed by Southside Speedway. Mike Ganoe (82) was awarded the race on the track. If this holds, he would have a great performance by coming all the way from the back. As of now, there is no word on when the official results will be announced. The Street Stock cars will run this week with the modifieds.
Now let's analyze the races.
Tough luck award Grand stock: While a few cars could get this, I am going with Donnie Newman (69). Newman started the race with a very competive car. The caution with Tommy Tatum (62) seemed to take any chance he had of winning the race. Plus, he slid around when turns 1 and 2 were slick.
Tough luck award Late Model Sportsman: Brad Davis (18) seems to be the best candidate here. He lost the lead on the first lap. As the race continued, he fought brake problems and was even blackflagged for sheet metal hanging off the side. Brandon Hendrick (39) would be a very close second for this award.
Tough luck MACKA: Since there were no cautions in this race, it's hard to give out. Ryland Craze (55) would be the most likely candidate for losing the lead and later 8 spots in the race after starting on the pole.
Tough luck award Street Stock: I would have to give this one to the whole field. As of this writing, the results are still under review. We still don't know how finished where. I am writing 2 days after the event and never seen the results held up this long.
Performance of the week: Doug Godsey (LMS 05) put on a very strong showing leading the whole 100 laps of his race. He held off very strong challenges from Chris Dodson (00) and Chris Hopkins (43) These men raced each other very hard and clean. Godsey (05) never seemed to let anyone else get that much of a run on him. Congratulations on your win Godsey (05) and a very impressive performance.
Schedule Changes: Street Stock (50 laps) has been added to the program next week featuring the modfieds. Grand Stock (30 laps) was intially scheduled and they will be keeping their spot the week of the Denny Hamlin 175.
Next week will be a great show. The Ucars and Street Stock divisions will all see action and the night will be headlined by twin 50's in the modifieds. As always, I want to thank everyone for letting me tell them the stories each week. I want to thank the drivers and crews for all they to put on a show for the fans and sharing their stories with us each week. That is all for now, I will see you at trackside.
*Larry Starstruck*
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