FRIENDSHIP MOTOR SPEEDWAY Weekly Article

Elkin, NC - The ASA Sanctioned Friendship Motor Speedway was back at it this week for our sixth event of the season and the second time out for the Super Late Models. This week put drivers to the test to see just who could handle a rough track after the Friday night rain would take its toll on the dirt. The rough track conditions would not dampen the excitement as the racing this week would be nothing less than breath taking all through the night. Drivers came from miles around just to see what it's like to race on the new dirt in Elkin, North Carolina. Friendship Motor Speedway showed that this was the place to be to enjoy great Saturday night racing action as three of the four winners would be first time track winners since going back to dirt. This week featured the Super Late Models for $2000.00 to win along with three regular divisions which are known as the GM Direct Automotive Crate Late Models, Super Street, and the Southeastern Cars & Parts U-Cars.

In the Super Late Model special event, a turnout of drivers getting the feel for Friendship totaled 26 drivers from as far away as Ohio. Many of the drivers would come to make their first start at Friendship since the return to dirt along with getting some track time in for the upcoming Carolina Clash Super Late Model show on July 12, 2008. In time trials Rutherfordton, North Carolina's Ricky Weeks would show them how to get the job done as he would set a new track record since the return to dirt with a time of 15.223 seconds. Starting along side Weeks would be our returning Super Late Model winner Chris Meadows from Beckley, West Virginia with a time of 15.242 seconds. As the green flag fell, Weeks would take an early lead over Meadows but it not be for long as Ricky Weeks would have mechanical woes and would be done for the night just on lap two. Meadows would fall back early with G.R. Smith also making his debut would come up to take the lead early. Wayne Chinn, the man all the way from Bradford, Ohio would put on a show as he would show some two wheel action off turn four to make a run for Smith. Nearly halfway through the race a familar face would make his move after starting back in sixth would start knocking on some doors and that would be none other than Ray Tucker out of Greensboro, North Carolina. Ray would first do battle for second and would go wheel to wheel with Chinn. Tucker would come out on top of that deal to make a run for G.R. Smith. After some slip ups from Smith from the rough track conditions, Ray Tucker would make his move and take the lead with the fans on their feet. As laps would wind down it didn't look like anyone could match that of Tucker. Making his way to the Neighbors Stores/100.9 WIFM Victory Lane would be none other than "Ravishing" Ray Tucker. G.R. Smith of Huntersville, North Carolina would bring it home in a strong second after doing battle with Wayne Chinn who would round out the top three. Fourth would be Dan Breuer out of Troutman, North Carolina with Crumpler, North Carolina's Damon Eller in fifth.

In the GM Direct Automotive Crate Late Model event, for the first time of the season Chris Cheek would grab quick time in the Oakwood Homes of North Wilkesboro Pole Qualifying. Outside pole would be none other than the familar Noel Tucker out of Pilot Mountain, North Carolina. In the feature event, Robbie Stevens would make his season debut known as he would move up to second early over pole sitter Chris Cheek after Noel Tucker would take the lead early. This feature would show to be very intense as the top five drivers would race close quarters all through the event. Keith Holder would go to battle with Mitchell Coble as Tony Hicks would make it a three way dance for third. After several restarts Robbie Stevens gave it all he could to get by Tucker as they would wheel door to door several different times. Noel Tucker out of Pilot Mountain, North Carolina would make it to victory once again now for four wins now out of four starts. Mount Airy, North Carolina's Mitchel Coble would make his move late in the event to finish a strong second. Robbie Stevens of Madison, North Carolina would make his debut known with a close third place finish. Fourth would go to Tony Hicks after a disapointing finish in the last event with Keith Holder rounding out the top five. Chris Cheek would fall back a lose the points lead back to Tony Hicks.

In the Super Street feature event, Jimmy Watson and Keith Clonch would get this exciting feature under way. It would be anybodys race as Jimmy Watson, Keith Clonch, Andy Mathis, Daniel Moss, Jeff Parsons, and Marty Billings would look to be almost equally mathced and going at it for the first few laps. Current points leader Daniel Moss would find trouble early as he would hit the wall and be done for the night. Keith Clonch would pick up the lead after Jimmy Watson would spin halfway through the event. Andy Mathis would get into troble also as he would have problems moving Jeff Parsons up to second with Watson knocking on the back door. Keith Clonch out of Roaring River, North Carolina would bring home his first victory of the year. Jimmy Watson would make a strong run back to second after his spin. Jeff Parsons just keeps getting better and better every week as he would come home a respectable third. Post race update, Keith Clonch would be found light on the scales handing the win over to Jimmy Watson for his second win of the season.

In the Southeastern Cars & Parts U-Car feature event, Boo Boo Dalton would return to Friendship with a very srtong car as he would make it look easy by leading from start to finish. C.J. Lyons would give it all he had but it just wasn't enough to catch Dalton. Boo Boo Dalton would also pick up his first win of the year with Shawn Peach making his season debut coming home in second after getting by a back sliding Lyons late in the run. C.J. Lyons would still be good enough to pick up the points lead with his third place run. Former points leader Tyler Sidden would fall back to second in the points after a disappointing seventh place run.

Congrats to this weeks feature winners and thanks to all the dirt racing fans, drivers, and crewmen for your support as we head into the seventh event of the 2008 racing season next week. Next week we will be featuring all four regular divisions known as the GM Direct Automotive Crate Late Models, Super Streets, Coffee House Four Cylinders, and the Southeastern U-Cars.

For complete results and the latest on the happenings of the Friendship Motor Speedway just log onto www.FriendshipRacing.com, the official website of Friendship Motor Speedway. Be sure to bring the family, friends, or whatever the case may be to the best dirt track racing in the south at Friendship Motor Speedway in Elkin, North Carolina.

(Article written on June 22nd, 2008 by Corey M. Hensley)