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Clarksville Speedway
Dirt Track Racing
September 12th, 2009
Tyler O’Donnell
As Saturday night came along, it only meant one thing…dirt track racing. It was an action-packed night with all the classes racing. The weather was perfect for the fans to come out and see all their favorite drivers.
Every class had to qualify before entering in the night’s events. Anthony Jackson had a time of 14.123 seconds to lead the pack in the pro street class. In the crate late model class, Matt Liner posted a time of 13.639 sec. to take the pole in his class. Then in the mini sprints, Chris Hunter recorded the fastest lap with a time of 12.885 sec. to take the pole. In the open wheel class, Gregg Brown had the fastest time with a lap of 14.398 sec. Last to qualify was the late model class. Chuck Proctor took the top spot with a time of 13.568 sec.
The first feature race of the evening was the pro street feature. Mike Hodges quickly snatched the top spot away from Jackson at the start of the race. Not long after that, Michael Zimmerman was able to get by Jackson for second. Zimmerman had a deficit to make up but was quickly gaining ground on the leader. With five laps to go, there were only five cars circling the track. After Hodges passed Jennifer Barber to put her a lap down, there was one lap to go. Hodges was able to cruise onto win. Zimmerman was about 10 car links back. Jackson held on for third.
Up next was the street feature race. David Cline and Floyd Clinard Jr. were on the front row. There was a caution right from the start as Jason Wicks spun out heading into turn one. They restarted double file. Clinard Jr. tried to race his way by Cline on the outside but could not get it done. Instead, Ronnie Hedgepath rolled underneath him for second. Then a sudden crash involving two contenders brought out the caution. Apparently Clinard Jr. got into that back of Cline that sent both of them into the wall. Each of their cars were heavily damaged. Wicks was involved in it as well. Hedgepath would take over as the leader. Chuck Bailey would be scored in scored for this restart. Hedgepath managed to separate himself from second after a few laps. Then another caution came out. It was Clinard Jr. once again having problems. He spun out on his own getting in to one. There were nine laps to go. After a brief clean up on the track due to a fluid leak, the race got back under green. The leaders got a clean start with Hedgepath in control. Bailey was falling behind and with two laps to go, he was about ten car links back. He managed to hang on for second while Hedgepath went onto win. Jeff Joiner finished in third.
Next was the crate late model feature race. Cars were jockeying for position all over the place at the start. Bobby Donovan, who started on the front row, managed to lead the pack early on. He was followed closely by Credence Mott and Caleb Ashby. Trouble on the exit of turn four brought out a quick caution. It involved a handful of cars battling for position. There was just no room for some of these cars to avoid any trouble. On the restart, Jason Jones was able to power his way on the outside for the lead. But Donovan was not giving up on that inside line. They raced side-by-side for several laps. Finally, Donovan was able to take the lead back before another quick caution due to a spin out froze the field again. The restart would be intense as there was only 10 laps to go. This time, Donovan was able to pull away as Jones and Mott were battling for second. Ashby and Matt Liner were dueling for third. As those drivers were battling, Donavon continued to pull away. A late caution however, would erase his lead. This gave drivers like Jones, Mott, and others, one last chance to get to the leader. Their chances however, came up short as Donavon was able to pull away on the restart and never look back. Jones finished second and Mott was third.
The next feature was the open wheel feature. Gregg Brown started as the leader. Michael Neighbors was able to power his way on the outside after a couple of laps to take the lead. Brown was still hanging in tough after several laps ticked by. A couple of incidents forced some cars to take it off the track. With five laps to go, it seemed like it would be anyone’s race. Kyle Gibbs was in contention, sitting in third spot. He then took away the position from Brown. Soon after, Brown had some mechanical issues and was slowing down considerably. He was forced to retire in the closing laps. Gibbs managed to get to Neighbor’s bumper at the end but could not make the pass. Fred Dallman came up for third.
The next race was the mini sprint feature. Chris Hunter started up front and had a big lead even before five laps were off the board. Brian Nance was trying his best to keep pace in second but could not gain any ground. Ben Rushing was back in third. Jason McCoy brought out the caution as his car slowed down to a stop on the track. This erased a huge lead for Hunter. There were 12 laps left. On the restart, Hunter was making it look easy. He once again pulled away from everybody. The battle was for third Warren Fry was able to take the spot from Rushing. Hunter took the checkered flag with Nance a straightaway behind.
The late model feature was next. Tony Albright and Chuck Proctor were on the front row. Albright got a great start and quickly jumped out in front of Proctor. Jeff Walston also got by Proctor. Walston then had his sights set on the leader. Albright and Walston were side-by-side with Walston on the inside. Even though they were battling each other, they were able to pull away from the third and fourth place cars. Albright eventually fell back to second but was still right there. Walston was coming up on some heavy traffic with eight laps to go. Albright was having to follow Walston to get by most of this traffic. Walston eventually opened up a large lead with Albright struggling to get by some of the traffic. Walston took the win. Albright was second and Proctor fended off Chris Shelton for third.
The pure mini stock feature was to race after the late model cars. Michael Rittenberry pulled ahead at the start. Evan Taylor was trying to hold off Jeff Rittenberry for second. Michael had no trouble getting by some of the lap traffic and enlarged his lead before a late wreck brought out the caution. That left only four laps remaining to decide the winner. Then Taylor and Jeff got tangled together sending Taylor’s machine down in the infield. Jeff was forced to go to the back of the field since he caused the wreck. Taylor was able to keep his position in second on the restart. Taylor was two car links back with only two laps to go. Michael hung onto win the race.
The last race of the night was the mini mod feature. Bruce Fulmer led the field at the start. A wreck involving the third place car of Buck Gore and another machine brought out a caution. Gore was able to retain his position. The first lap was not completed so they restarted single file. Fulmer brought the field back to the green. Ronnie Richards tried to keep pace in second while there was a three way battle for the third spot. That did not end well as Gore and Clyde Petty both spun out. This incident forced Gore out of the race. Fulmer got the field back together after that caution and tried to open up a lead. Petty was able to climb up in second, motoring past Richards. Petty was quickly gunning down the leader and before long, they were side-by-side with two laps to go before another caution came out. This would set up to be a green, white, checker finish. Fulmer got a good jump on the restart. Petty tried the high side at the end but could not make the pass. Fulmer would be the one to celebrate.
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