FRIENDSHIP MOTOR SPEEDWAY Weekly Article

Elkin, NC (09.13.2008) - The ASA Sanctioned Friendship Motor Speedway was back at it for an impressive showing with the sixteenth event of the 2008 racing season. As we near the end of the points season the action on track would be just as hot as the temperature to make this night a night to remember as many drivers came to pack the house at one of the best places for dirt track racing right in the great town of Elkin. Coming into this event there would only be two points races left to decide who will be crowned champion in each division. This week featured all four of our regular divisions which are known as the GM Direct Automotive Crate Late Models, Basic Finance Super Streets, Coffee House Four Cylinders, and the Southeastern Cars & Parts U-Car division.

In the GM Direct Automotive Crate Late Model event, Chris Cheek would set fast time in time trials along side fellow points contender Keith Holder. As these two guys would be chasing Tony Hicks for the points lead they would also do some close racing up front as Chris Cheek would pull out to an early lead looking for back to back wins. Keith Holder would run second with Robbie Stevens holding down third. Mitchell Coble and Kevin Gwyn would have great runs going early in fourth and fifth before having problems mid way through the event. Kent Peckham would take over fourth with a close battle going with John Eller. Chris Cheek would have it hooked up to make his showing at Friendship twice as nice as he would score the victory for his second win of the year and now the new points leader going into Championship Weekend next week. As Cheek would celebrate in the Neighbors Stores/100.9 WIFM Victory Lane there would be some issues for Robbie Stevens who beat out Keith Holder for second. Both of these cars would be found light on the scales moving fourth place finishing Kent Peckham to second. John Eller would now be third with Ryan Gifford and Justin Williams rounding out the top five. Tony Hicks would have a rough night as he would end up finishing fourteenth after starting back in twenty-first place. This would make the points battle between Chris Cheek and Tony Hicks going into next week separated by only twelve points.

In the Basic Finance Super Street event, Steve Brodie would return for his second race this year to start up front along side points contender Daniel Moss. Steve Brodie would have it hooked up as he would lead from start to finish making it look easy to claim his first victory on the smooth dirt this year. Jeff Parsons would have a very strong run this week as he would bring it home in second. Points leader Andy Mathis would have a good night finishing third over Davis Capps in fourth. Jimmy Watson would round out the top five. Daniel Moss would loose ground in the points chase by finishing tenth a now twenty points back going into next week.

In the Coffee House Four Cylinder event, Dale Barneycastle would return to Friendship just where he left off up front as he would start along side Derek Mathis making only his second start of the season. Barneycastle would get out to the lead early as Mathis would lose a few spots. Billy Robbins would power to second with Justin Hudspeth in tow. After some contact Hudspeth would end up in the wall on the frontstretch ending his night. Robbins would fall back to the rear after a pit stop under caution. This would leave none other than Robbie Brown coming to make a run for the lead. Barneycastle would do all he could to hold him off. As the white flag flew they would be bumper to bumper until turn three of the last lap as they would collide and third place Derek Mathis would get by on the inside to take his first win of the year in an impressive finish. Tommy Zachary would sneek in with second over points contender Sandy Martin. Dale Barneycastle would come back to finish fourth with Kent Suddreth in fifth. Points leader Billy Robbins would finish a disapointing eighth with Robbie Brown finally crossing the line in ninth. What a race!

In the Southeastern Cars & Parts U-Car feature event, Jennifer Mendenhall and Dean Anderson would kick off the feature from the front row after great draws for the lineup. It would not be for long as Barry Wilson, Ben Walker, and Keith Brame, Jr. would make this a battle for the top spot. Barry Wilson would not be able to get it done this week after some early contact in the event left his bumper hanging. Ben Walker would power to the lead with a season debut of Keith Brame, Jr. showing he came to make himself known. Ben Walker would hold off Brame to claim his fifth win of the year and his second in a row. Keith Brame, Jr. would finish second with Barry Wilson in third. Kenny Sapp would run fourth with Tyler Sidden gaining points on current championship leader Matthew Barker in sixth. These two are now separated by only eighteen points going into the last points event next week.

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 seventeenth event of the 2008 racing season on September 20th. 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. This will also be our Championship Night for every division as we will racing our last points event of the 2008 season. Please check out the current points as there as two way battles in every 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 September 14th, 2008 by Corey M. Hensley)