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Local Hero Kenny Peeples takes home $10,000 at Wythe Raceway –
FASTRAK sanctioned event.
(AVAILABLE ON DVD OR PAY PER VIEW AT RACETRACKTV. NET)
As 66 cars came through the pits for the first ever event of its
type, this was certain to be a competitive weekend. Making the field
was quite an accomplishment in itself. Then local hero Kenny Peeples
took home $10,000 Sunday night at Wythe Raceway near Wytheville,
Virginia. "This is the largest thing we have ever won said Peeples
afterwards. "Anytime you can beat drivers like Randy Weaver and
Shanon Buckingham you have done a pretty good job. Our car just got
better and better. It looked liked Buckinghams tires went away.
Peeples and crew celebrated on the front straight after the main
event. Peeples although talking almost looked speechless. Saying very
little on the mic after the event, he thanked his sponsors and the
fans.
The 75 lap event featured 32 cars starting which was a first for the
series and for Wythe as well. "Well they start 43 cars at Bristol"
stated track owner Brown. "I thought 32 cars on the same size track
would be easy". What a show it was. Only 6 cautions in 75 laps and 3
of those being for flat tires. "I don't think anyone believed the
race would be that good" stated FASTRAK Founder Stan Lester. "It's
always a good show here, but 32 cars? No one really knew but these
drivers proved what I have always stated. They are some of the best
in this country. It was a very cleanly driven race and everyone used
their heads. The only real incident happened on the first lap with
three cars towards the rear. These guys were on it tonight. My
compliments to all".
During one ten lap segment of the 75 lap main event, the lead changed
8 times and between 3 different drivers. One fan said afterwards in
the pits, "Man what a show. I didn't know where to watch". Brain
McCloud of National Dirt Digest was given the mic during the victory
lane trophy presentation and told the fans, "Folks this was the best
dirt race I have seen all year". Quite a statement coming from a
newspaper owner that has seen it all in racing. One note of interest
was that the 22 of Peeples was a brand new Champion of this event,
with the 2006 Champion Lee Cooper finishing 2nd and the 2005 Champion
of Shane Roberts bringing home 3rd place.
Shanon Buckingham `showcased' his brand new Toyota sponsored ride
during the weekend. In the black and silver pant scheme number 50
late model he was setting the pace during the first 40 lap segment.
Randy Weaver in the 119 car was right on Buckinghams back bumper and
actually passing him several times only to have a flat right rear
tire put him in the rear. Weaver made a magnificent come back from
being relegated to 30th place to end up with a 6th place finish. Lee
Cooper started 3rd on the grid dropping back in the beginning but
brought home the runner up position for the weekend. The 17s if Shane
Roberts had to fight his way in through the consulation race earlier
in the evening but made his way through the field starting 12th on
the grid and bringing home 3rd. Ed Dixon of Missouri, started off
the weekend not being used to a huge track like Wythe but showed why
he is a three time former UMP Champion making his way from 22nd
starting position and ending up 12th and that was after being sent to
the rear on lap 22 at one point as Dixon tried to avoid another
driver. "Boy we passed a lot of cars tonight said Dixon. When we
first got here we were a little lost. I mean this track is huge and
you are flying here. I hear over and over how these crate cars aren't
fast. Well all you need to do is come on down here and race with
these guys. I can assure you at this track you feel like you are
running 150 MPH down the straights. Man you are flying here. We did
some tuning on our car and in the end we were right there. Spinning
to avoid that other car probably cost me a 5th or 6th place finish.
That's racing".
William Thomas in the yellow 22 car of Phenix City Missouri was
making his way quietly through the field, as he wlasy does and looked
like he really had a car that could win. All of a sudden his car came
to a stop coming off two only to find out he had a broken drive
shaft. Father and East Alabama Speedway owner Billy Thomas said
afterwards "It looks like we are trying to give this championship
away. Everytime we have bad luck it seems like Llewelly and McCoy
both have bad luck too". The three were separated by a grand total of
2 points for the Regional Championship going into this event.
Now "Lightning" Lee Cooper has entered the battle for the
championship as well.
Austin Dillion in the back 3 car out of the Richard Childress Racing
Stable, worked his way thorough a consi an earned himself a 19th
starting position but really working his way thorough the field and
ended up 4th for the evening. "We were fast said" crew chief Shane
McDowell. "I'm not sure if we had anything for Peeples or not but man
Austin did a great job being patient and coming through the field".
Younger brother Ty Dillion, had an incident earlier in the evening
during a consi. Getting hit in the right rear quarter young Ty took a
pretty bad hit into the front straight wall destroying his car. "Ty
will be ok" said McDowell. "He's tough".
Many fans state how dirt late model racing, or all racing for that
much, has gotten to be `follow the leader. That certainly did not
happen at Wythe. There were over 329 passes made during the event,
not including multiple passes. In one 10 lap segment alone three cars
passed each other eight times for the lead. Passes included Weaver
24, Matt Long 23, Ed Dixon 26, Austin Dillon 15, Johnny Cloer 16,
David Smith 17, Terry Lumley 19, Shane Roberts 11. That does not
include the drivers making 10 or less passes. There was action
everywhere and as one fan stated, "It was sort of like watching a
ping pong match. You didn't know where too look. I have never seen
anything like it".
Teams that stayed for the complete tear down were there until 4:30
AM. This is what it takes said FASTRAK National Tech Director Rick
Ellison. "Everyone needs to know if they got beat, that they did so
fair and square. Cams were put on the cam doctor and first place was
torn down all the way". Ellison also teched all 18 cars on Saturday
night that made it into the main event through their heat races.
The final comment of the evening could not have been expressed
better. Winner Kenny Peeples asked as everyone started to leave, "how
am I going to haul this 7 foot trophy home and where am I going to
put it? Ahh, I'll find somewhere".
Finishing results:
22 Kenny Peeples (VA)
57 Lee Cooper (SC)
17s Shane Roberts (TN)
3 Austin Dillon (NC)
50 Shannon Buckingham (TN)
119 Randy Weaver(TN)
21 Royce Bray (GA)
25 Matt Long (NC)
11 David Smith (SC)
1N Jordy Nipper (GA)
19 Johny Cloer (GA)
50 Ed Dixon (MO)
93 Donald Bradsher (NC)
T1 Timbo Magnum (SC)
14 Terry Lumley (GA)
8 Chris Chandler (NC)
7 Clinton Cook (VA)
T21 Ty Lowe (GA)
187 David McCoy (NC)
11k John King (TN)
114 Chris Cantrell (SC)
88 Vic Chandler (NC)
90 John Llewellyn (TN)
99 David Wikle (VA)
22t William Thomas (AL)
20 Owen Osteen (SC)
17 Greg Burchett (TN)
94fm Randy Taylor (VA)
117 Todd Davis (SC)
45 Phil Gann (VA)
5 Chase McCormick (NC)
54 Jason Lawrence (VA)
Entires: 66
Laps: 75 (pit stop on front straight at lap 40)
Top Gun: Randy Weaver 18.732
Hard Charger: Ed Dixon (26 passes)
Winner: Kenny Peeples 22 (VA)
Next event: Antioch Speedway Sept 15th
Morganton NC
Available on pay per view or DVD at Racetracktv. net
Partners of the FASTRAK Racing Series Include: Goodyear Racing, GM
Performance Parts, Sunoco Race Fuels, Maypole Chevrolet, Duralite
Wheels, PPM Racing Products, Heintz Performance, MK-Direct, Braswell
Carburetion, Mastersbilt Racing Chassis, TNT Racing Chassis, Rocket
Racing Chassis, Modern Chevrolet, Schoenfeld Headers.
*THE FASTRAK DIRT LATE MODEL SEIRES is based on the GM crate engine
program using both the 602 and 604 engine types. All teams utilize
Goodyear Racing Tires as the "spec tire" allowing teams tremendous
savings in both engine and tire expense. The National Championship of
the FASTRAK RACING SEIRES is one of the largest in the United States
totaling over $350,000.00 for the 2007 season.
To join our mailing list, simply send an e-mail to fastrakpr-
subscribe@yahoogrou ps.com. Mike Leone can be reached at 724-964-9300
after 4:30 p.m. E-mail reaches him all day at
webmaster@mercerrac ewaypark. com and snail mail to 4368 Route 422,
Pulaski, PA 16143. Stan Lester works out of the FASTRAK corporate
office and can be reached at 678-935-7304. E-mail reaches his desk
at sl@fastrakracing. com and snail mail to PO Box 590, Carnesville, GA
30521. For more information, check out www.fastrakracing. com.
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