FRIENDSHIP MOTOR SPEEDWAY Weekly Article

Elkin, NC - The ASA Sanctioned Friendship Motor Speedway was back at it this week for our seventh event of the season and with a super turnout of seventy four race cars out of just four divisions. This week would show off the impressive work of the speedway staff at the track would really hold smooth all through the night. The excitement would not be lacking as the racing this week would be great with our loyal dirt racing fans on hand watching all through the night. The weather turned out to be great as the rain would be near but would hold off to make for some great racing. Friendship Motor Speedway once again showed that this was the place to be to enjoy great Saturday night dirt track racing action. This week featured all four of our regular divisions which are known as the GM Direct Automotive Crate Late Models, Super Street, Coffee House Four Cylinders, and the Southeastern Cars & Parts U-Cars.

In the GM Direct Automotive Crate Late Model event, Robby Stevens would return in style as he would grab quick time in the Oakwood Homes of North Wilkesboro Pole Qualifying. Jimmy Shiltz would have his machine hooked up as he would start up front along side Stevens. As the feature event got underway Robby Stevens would jump out to an early lead over Shiltz. Tommy Zachary would make his prescence known as he would ride a strong third early on. Jimmy Shiltz would make a run on leader Stevens and get by to take the lead as lap traffic would play a factor in this twenty six car field. Tommy Zachary would have trouble with his machine and would be done for the night. This would move Keith Holder up to third to make it a three way battle for the win in the closing laps. Leader Jimmy Shiltiz would be another car to have mechanical woes as he would take his machine in for the night with laps winding down. Robby Stevens would snatch the lead back all the way to the finish to roll into the Neighbors Stores/100.9 WIFM Victory Lane for his first win on the 2008 racing season. Second would go to a late hard charging Brett Dysart in his season debut at the track. Keith Holder would fall to third while new points leader Chris Cheek would round out the top four finishers. The special hard charger of the race award would go to Brandon Anderson who would would start twenty fourth and finish eighth, picking up a total of sixteen positions. Former points leader Tony Hicks would have an impressive run going until late in the race after cutting a tire and collecting the inside wall on the restart would relegate him all the way back to finish sixteenth and now tweleve points behind Chris Cheek in the championship race.

In the Super Street feature event, Steve Brodie would make his season debut at the speedway with an impressive first starting position. Last weeks feature winner Jimmy Watson would start along side. Jimmy Watson would show his way to the lead early over Brodie. Daniel Moss would come up from third to make a challenge on Brodie for that runner up position. Steve Brodie would find himself with mechanical problems and be done for the night. Daniel Moss would pick up where Brodie left off an make a run for Watson. Andy Matthis would make this a three way battle as he would look to catch Moss. Andy Mathis and Daniel Moss would get together and end their chance for the win near the end of the race. This would hand Jeff Parsons second and looking for his first win of the year. It would not be for Parsons as Jimmy Watson would grab back to back Super Street wins. Jeff Parsons would hang on to second over George Anen bringing it home with a impressive third place run.

In the Coffee House Four Cylinder event, Tommy Zachary would lead them down from the pole along side points leader Robbie Brown. Zachary and Brown would race door to door the first couple laps of this exciting feature. Tommy Zachary would find mechanical woes and take his machine in for the night. Sandy Martin would then pick up second but not for long as a hard charging Billy Robbins would pass Martin to make a run for the lead. Robbie Brown would check out in another zip code for the last few laps and would find victory as he would add to his points lead. Billy Robbins would roll up the second position while Sandy Martin would hang on to finish third.

In the Southeastern Cars & Parts U-Car feature event, Josh Clonch would make himself known once again by starting on the pole with Rob Favre along the outside. This weeks race would be a little more special as these guys would battle for a increased purse for the winner. Josh Clonch would lead early and look to be the car to beat. Rob Favre would fall back to do battle with a strong Shawn Peach for second. Josh Clonch would also have mechaical problems and have to pit for adjustments as that would hand the lead to Rob Favre with Shawn Peach moving to second. Rob Favre would then lead all the way to victory grabbing this special U-Car win with Shawn Peach coming home a repectable second and A.J. Parsons would move up to finish in third.

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 eighth event of the 2008 racing season next week. Next week we will be racing on Thursday, July 3rd for the 1st Annual Battle of the Blue Ridge while we will be off on our normal Saturday, July 5th for the special Whythe Raceway Battle of the Bule Ridge event. This coming week July 3rd, 2008 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. We will also be featuring a gigantic fireworks display you just won't want to miss!

For information on "Battle of the Blue Ridge", 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 29th, 2008 by Corey M. Hensley)