FRIENDSHIP MOTOR SPEEDWAY Weekly Article

(04.04.2009) Elkin, NC - The ASA Sanctioned Friendship Motor Speedway was back on dirt as the 2009 racing season would be underway with extra practice and exciting racing in all divisions. The track would really show off the impressive work of the speedway staff as the track would hold smooth all through the night. Friendship Motor Speedway once again showed that this was the place to be to enjoy great dirt track racing action in all feature events. This week featured all five of our regular divisions which are known as the GM Direct Automotive Pro Late Models, Southeastern Cars & Parts Limited Sportsman, Coffee House/Waffle Shop Four Cylinders, and the Unsponsored U-Car division.

In the GM Direct Automotive Pro Late Model event, Noel Tucker would be the man with the plan as he would set the night up in time trials for a cruising in the feature. 2008 division track champion Chris Cheek would set quick time in qualifying as Noel Tucker would start along the outside front row. Noel would get out to an early lead over Cheek. Cheek would continue to fall back a few positions as Brandon Umberger would come up to give it all he could to catch leader Tucker. Noel Tucker out of Pilot Mountain, North Carolina would score win number one of the 2009 season as he would sport a new number ten on the side of his machine celebrating his tenth anniversary in late model dirt track racing. Brandon Umberger would bring it home a strong second with Keith Holder moving up past Cheek to finish third. Chirs Cheek would finish fourth with Matt Long rounding out the top five.

In the Southeastern Cars & Parts Limited Sportsman division, Joel Bray would also return to Friendship in style and that would be to pick up the win as he would hold off a powerful Richard Clew in second. Jeff Parsons would have a good run in third while Daniel Moss would grab fourth and Steve Kirkman in fifth.

In the Coffee House/Waffle Shop Four Cylinder event, Junior Welborn would lead early in the event and look to have the car to beat with a strong Robbie Brown in second. Bad luck would come for Welborn as he would loose and wheel and tire off his machine in turn three and spin collecting a hard charging Robbie Brown with him. This would set up the finsih for a impressive run by Evan Benton scoring win number one in the season opener.

In the JC Racing & Fab Renegade V-8 division, Jeff Parsons would have his car hooked up as the first ever event as this new division would be under way. Just and handful of cars but a very impressive race as fan favorite Jeff Parsons would score the win with Derek Mathis in second. Tony Parsons, Jason Donahue, and Keith Clonch would round out the field.

In the Unsponsored U-Car feature, Barry Wilson would have a night to remember as he would start from the rear to come through the field to claim his first win in the first points event of the season. Sean Myers would finish second with Britton Settle in third. Austin Caudle would finish fourth and early leader Brett Myers would have some trouble late in the event and fall to finish fifth.

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 second event of the 2009 racing season on April 11th. Coming up for our next event will be all of our regular divisions known as the GM Direct Automotive Pro Late Models, Southeastern Cars & Parts Limited Sportsman, Coffee House/Waffle Shop Four Cylinders, and the Unsponsored 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 FriendshipRacing.com, the official website of Friendship Motor Speedway. Be sure to bring the family, friends, or whatever the case may be to the home of good times and great racing at Friendship Motor Speedway in Elkin, North Carolina.

(Article written on April 5th, 2009 by Corey M. Hensley)