FRIENDSHIP MOTOR SPEEDWAY Weekly Article

(10.10.2009) Elkin, North Carolina - For the final time in 2009 Friendship Motor Speedway would be underway for event number twenty-four. As the forecast for the evening would be overcast and cool it would not stop the action from heating up on the track as teams from miles around would join the excitement this week at the four-tenth mile dirt bullring. Headlining this week would be a special $2500.00 To-Win for the Innaugural NDRA Championship Pro Late Models finals race #1. We would also feature four of our regular divisions known as the 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 Innaugural NDRA Championship Finals Pro Late Model Race #1, Jimmy Watson of Ararat, North Carolina in the Watson Logging Chevrolet would claim quick time yet again this week as he would pick up a big $200.00 bonus from Basic Finance of Elkin. Hunter Peacock of Gray, GA would start from the outside front row. As the green flag would drop it would be Jimmy Watson leading early with a hard charging Peacock in second. Donald Bradsher would ride third and try to make a run for the top spots. Nearly halfway into the run it would be Hunter Peacock in his Nasworthy Mechanical Chevrolet going to the point while leading the way until the checkered flag on lap 40. Peacock would pick up the big $2500.00 win as well as the halfway leader bonus from Ted's Cars & Cleanup Supplies of State Road, North Carolina. Donald Bradsher would have a very strong and consistant run while finishing second. Noel Tucker would make his way through the field all the way to finish third. Timbo Mangum would finish in fourth while last weeks feature winner Winky McGee would round out the top five. Jimmy Watson would find himself finishing a disapointing eighteenth when it was all said and done. The hard charger award sponsored by Elkin Quick Lube for $100.00 would go to Matt Long as he would start twenty third and finish ninth.

In the Southeastern Cars & Parts Limited Sportsman race, Daniel Moss of Elk Creek, VA would lead the entire race and pull away with a commanding lead to win but only to find himself disqualified in post-race inspection. 2009 divison champion Jeff Parsons of Union Grove, NC would now be your race winner as he would cross the line second but passing inspections. Shawn Robinson would now be moved to second with Richard Clew in third. Mike Shelton would visit Friendship this week to finish fourth with another visitor in Mark Crowe would claim fifth.

In the Coffee House Waffle Shop Four Cylinders, the 2008 & 2009 champion Billy Robbins would show how to get it done this week as he would take his Ford Fusion to victory lane after holding off a strong run by Tommy Zachary who would finish second. Steve Faw would return to Friendship this week to finish third. Toby Jones who would start from the pole would fall to finally finish in the fourth position. The "Dirtdawg" Jerry Cook would bring it to Friendship this week for a top five run as he would fall in line fifth.

In the JC Racing & Fabrication Renegade V-8 division, Derek Mastin would make it look easy one more time this year for the final time in 2009 grabbing the checkers for yet another win in the books after holding off a strong run by Mickey Anderson who would finish second. Steven Tautges would finish third with Fabian Anderson fourth and fifth going to "Pinkie" Lee Barnett.

In the Hill Top Trading Post Donald's Automotive U-Car feature, Matthew Barker would return in style this week after only racing a limited number of races in this division this year after winning the championship last year. Barker would lead early for several laps before spinning in turn three. Britton Settle would grab the lead and the win in the final laps of the race. Chad McNeil would have a great run in second. Richard Reeves would finish third with Austin Caudle in fourth and Josh Brown rounding out the top five. Matthew Barker would fall all the way back to finish eleventh.

Congratulations to this weeks feature winners and thanks to all the dirt racing fans, drivers, and crewmen for your support in 2009. For more information, complete results, and the latest on the happenings of the American Speed Associaiton sanctioned 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. See you in 2010.

(Article written on October 11th, 2009 by Corey Hensley.)