FRIENDSHIP MOTOR SPEEDWAY Weekly Article

Elkin, NC - For the thirteenth time this 2008 season the ASA Sanctioned Friendship Motor Speedway was back at it with good times and great racing this week as we would have some great weather in store for what would be a spectacular showing of races in all divisions. The track would hold up better this week then past Super Late Model events as there would be action hot and heavy for a forty lap feature event with a surprise winner. Friendship Motor Speedway showed that this was the place to be to enjoy great dirt track racing action in all feature events. This week featured a special appearance by the Super Late Models along with three of our regular divisions which are known as the GM Direct Automotive Crate Late Models, Coffee House Four Cylinders, and the Southeastern Cars & Parts U-Car division.

In the $2000.00 To Win Super Late Model special event, Gary Mabe of Danbury would set quick time in time trials as he would grab the Coca-Cola Pole to start on the front row along side Justin Labonte, the son of NASCAR Legend Terry Labonte. As the green flag flew it would be Gary Mabe showing the way early in the run. Labonte would get off to a bad start as he would fall to fifth after the first lap. Ray Tucker of Greensboro would come to put on a show once again as he would make a strong charge to catch Mabe. As Mabe and Tucker would battle door to door for the lead there would be a spin in front of them by a lap car that would collect Tucker. This would end the night for Ray Tucker. Gary Mabe would resume the lead as they would get back to green now with Ronnie Hoover looking to make a move. Mabe would hold strong for a while before having problems and falling back to fifth. Ronnie Hoover would take the lead with a hard charging G.R. Smith looking for an opening. Noel Tucker and Brian Moody would do battle for the third position. Brian Moody would pick up the position after a spin by Tucker in turn three. Gary Mabe would then look to make ground on the leaders. G.R. Smith would get by Hoover with just a few laps to go but not for long as Hoover would find an opening and power back by. Ronnie Hoover would pick up the big surprise win as he would roll into the Neighbors Stores/100.9 WIFM Victory Lane for the first time this year. G.R. Smith would bring it home in a strong second with Brian Moody showing his muscle in third. Gary Mabe and Justin Labonte would hang on to finish fourth and fifth respectively.

In the GM Direct Automotive Crate Late Model event, Points leader Chris Cheek would return after problems last week to set quick time in time trials to start along side a strong Mitchell Coble. Chris Cheek would get out to the lead as the green flag flew with Coble falling in line second. Cheek would have issues on lap two as he would begin to fall off the pace. Mitchell Coble would take the lead. Kent Peckham would look strong as he would move to second. Noel Tucker would get by and so would Winky McGee as Chris Cheek would now have back to back weeks with mechanical woes that has now sent him from leading to third in the championship points. Noel Tucker would be looking for win number seven as he would run down and finally pass Kent Peckham for second. Peckham would then start to fall back as Chase McCormick would move to third while Keith Holder and Tony Hicks battle for fourth. After it was all said and done Mitchell Coble would pick up his second impressive win of the year while adding points to his totals now fourth place in points. Noel Tucker would settle for second as he would now be fifth in points. Chase McCormick would have a strong run in third. The winner of the last two events Keith Holder would fall to finish fourth but move to second in the points after Cheeks' troubles. Tony Hicks would now become the points leader with his fifth place run. Chris Cheek would fall to finish nineteenth. What an impressive battle for this 2008 GM Direct Automotive FASTRAK Crate Late Model season championship now with all top five drivers just separated by only forty points. This is a battle you won't want to miss!

In the Coffee House Four Cylinder event, this one would go down just the way they would start from the front row. Justin Hudspeth would lead them down along side last weeks winner Matthew Warden. Warden would get the lead on lap one as Robbie Brown would fall into second with Justin Hudspeth getting a not so great start. Sandy Martin would be ever consistent this week as he would make way into the top three looking yet again for that first win of the year. Justin Hudspeth would put on an impressive show as he would power back to the lead in route to his first victory of the 2008 season. Matthew Warden would finish a strong second with Sandy Martin with another top five in third this week. Robbie Brown would gain just a couple points in the championship chase as he would finish fourth with points leader Billy Robbins falling to fifth this week.

In the Southeastern Cars & Parts U-Car feature event, Dean Anderson would lead them down as he would draw positions number one for the start of the feature. Barry Wilson would go to the point early on but would have trouble mid way through the race with a flat right front tire. Tyler Sidden and Boo Boo Dalton would then do battle for the win. It would not be for Dalton as Tyler Sidden would score win number two of the 2008 season as he tries to close in on Matthew Barker for the championship. Boo Boo Dalton would roll in second while points leader Matthew Barker would finish third. Barry Wilson would have a decent comeback after the flat to bring it home in the fourth place position.

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 fourteenth event of the 2008 racing season on August 23rd. Coming up for our next event will be all four of our regular divisions known as the GM Direct Automotive Crate Late Models, Basic Finance Super Street, Coffee House Four Cylinders, and the Southeastern Cars & Parts U-Car division. Come on out as we would love to have you as part of our dirt racing family.

For more information, complete results, and the latest on the happenings of 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 August 17th, 2008 by Corey M. Hensley)