FRIENDSHIP MOTOR SPEEDWAY Weekly Article

(07.04.2009) Elkin, North Carolina - American Speed Associaiton sanctioned event number twelve of the 2009 racing season would be a night to remember as Friendship Motor Speedway would not only have a awesome night of dirt track racing but a spectacular July 4th Fireworks show celebrating the United States of America. This week featured a special Fan Appreciaiton Night with driver autographs, t-shirt giveaways, a huge kids meeting with bicycle giveaways along with all five of our regular divisions which are known as the GM Direct Automotive NDRA Pro Late Models, Southeastern Cars & Parts Limited Sportsman, Coffee House Waffle Shop Four Cylinders, JC Racing & Fabrication Renegade V-8, and the Hill Top Trading Post Donald's Automotive U-Car division.

In the GM Direct Automotive NDRA Pro Late Model event, Bobby Jones of Mount Airy in the Rigney Motorsports machine would set quick time in the TNT Carports Pro Late Model qualifying to pick up his first pole of the year. The top eight cars would be inverted as TNT Carports sponsored a eight lap dash for cash as Kent Peckham would be on a roll to the front passing Chris Cheek to take the dash victory and start up front for the feature. Kent Peckham of Statesville would be the man on a mission once again this week as he would score a impressive three wins in a row while adding to his points lead on his quest for the 2009 championship. Chris Cheek would have a great run this week but come up just a little short of a win with a second place finish. John Eller would have a great run in third. Andrew Durham would finish fourth with Brian Carswell of Valdese making his first Friendship start in fifth.

In the Southeastern Cars & Parts Limited Sportsman race, Brian Nance of Rhonda, North Carolina would finally get back to a place he has seen many times over the years and that is in the Friendship victory circle. Nance would hold off the current points leader of Jeff Parsons who would bring it home in second. Daniel Moss would rally back to a third place finish after having problems early in the run. Richard Clew would finish fourth with Chris Taylor of Franklin, Virginia also making his first start at Friendship while rounding out the top five.

In the Coffee House Waffle Shop Four Cylinders, Junior Welborn of Purlear, North Carolina would have his machine dialed in this week as he would take down the checkers. Billy Robbins would rebound from a early race incident to make a late race run for the win but come up short as laps would wind down. Robbins would finish second while Robbie Brown showed strong in third. Eric Daniels had a great run in fourth with the "DirtDawg" Jerry Cook claiming fifth.

In the JC Racing & Fabrication Renegade V-8 division, the "Bad Bow Tie" Keith Clonch or Roaring River, North Carolina would set sail to claim the win after Tony Parsons and the kids bicycle sponsor Jason Donahue would have problems early on while battling for the lead. James Allison of Mocksville would have a fantastic debut at Friendship while finishing in second. Jason Donahue would rally back from that early race incident to pick up third. Points leader Jeff Parsons would have a back and fourth night as he would end up fourth. Fabian Anderson would bring it home in fifth.

In the Hill Top Trading Post Donald's Automotive U-Car feature, like father like son Josh Clonch would also put his number three machine in victory circle as he would pick up his second win out of just four starts this year. Sean Myers who sponsored the kids meeting this week would pick up another strong second place run. Maggie Stokes would have yet another consistant finish in third while still looking for that first win. Matthew Barker would finish fourth in his old ride while filling in for Ariana Holsclaw. Chad McNeil would have a impressive fifth place run out of seventeen total cars this week who entered this division. Points leader Stephanie Clew would have a disapointing night after having mechanical trouble and finishing in fourteenth.

Congratulations to this weeks feature winners and thanks to all the dirt racing fans, drivers, and crewmen for your support as we head into event number thirteen of the 2009 racing season on July 11th for a regular weekly championship racing show. Coming up for our next event we will feature all five of our regular divisions known as the GM Direct Automotive NDRA Pro Late Models, Southeastern Cars & Parts Limited Sportsman, Coffee House Waffle Shop Four Cylinders, JC Racing & Fabrication Renegade V-8, and the Hill Top Trading Post Donald's Automotive 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 July 5th, 2009 by Corey Hensley.)