Thursday, June 14, 2012
Week two of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s short track racing on the “Thunder Ring” showcased a first-time winner, a plethora of crashes and tight racing all night long.Christopher Clanton was the pole sitter for the Outlaws feature. On the first lap, a multi-car crash broke out in turns three and four, causing the field to be reset.
Clanton and Alton Clark had to work around putting a car a lap down, with one taking the high side and one the low side. Due to splitting the car, Clark was able to overtake the top spot. The close racing allowed points leader Taylor Jorgensen catch up to the top two and pass Clanton for the second spot. Taylor passed Clark for the lead on lap 10, but the two made contact one lap later, swapping the lead several times; however, Taylor was able to hold onto the lead. On lap 12, Clark got loose in turn two, opening the door for Clanton take over the second spot. The caution flag was flown for debris on lap 15. Due to the “choose rule,” third-place Tyler Lester started on the outside of the front row beside Taylor. The two leaned on each other hard for the final laps, but Taylor held off Lester to score her second consecutive win this Thursday Thunder season.
Steven Cantrell began the Pro feature out front. Points leader Mason Massey had to start in the rear of the field, but by lap six he muscled his way to the second spot. Massey stayed glued to Cantrell’s bumper lap after lap, stalking him. On the final lap, Massey made his bid for the lead in turns one and two. The two drag raced down the backstretch, with Massey making the pass for the win for a dramatic final lap. Massey posted his 17th Thursday Thunder victory.
The Masters feature launched with AMS president and general manager Ed Clark on the pole. On the first lap, several cars bunched up, allowing Clark to pull away. Driving consistent, fast laps, Clark led every lap to claim his 10th Thursday Thunder career win. The fans also benefitted by Clark’s win. Since Clark’s car is red, fans can get fifty percent off online orders with the code 50RED at participating Papa John’s Pizza locations all weekend long.
The Racing Radio Bandits feature had Chandler Smith pacing the field to the green flag. A multi-car incident brought out the caution on the first lap, resetting the field for the restart. Another crash occurred on the restart, sending the field back to try again. Second-place Zach Leonhardi slapped the wall on the frontstretch hard enough to cause damage, sending him to the garage. Smith was putting some distance between he and the rest of the field until the caution flag was displayed on lap 13 when Bodie Weeks spun in turn four. Smith’s lead was erased for the restart, but due to some hard racing between the second- and third-place cars, he pulled away again. Weeks spun again in turn four on lap 17, bringing out another caution. Smith managed to hold off Joshua Hicks and Ashton Winger to collect his first ever Thursday Thunder trophy.
Myatt Snider was the leader for the start of the Semi-Pro feature. In turn two on the first lap, a multi-car crashed erupted with several cars ending up with damage. The field reset for the restart, but the field couldn’t even get to the green flag as Jami Weimer and CJ Pucko crashed coming off turn four. Mike Weed worked his way to the inside of Snider to become the leader on the completion of lap one, bringing Justin Thomas along with him. However, Thomas repeated Weed’s move one lap later to take over the top spot. Emilee Riley and Billy Stevenson made contact in turn four on lap four, bringing out the caution. Due to all the wrecks and the race running out of its time limit, the race was restarted on lap seven for a green-white-checkered finish with Thomas out front. Another melee ensued on the restart in turn four and points leader William Plemons III shot from seventh-place to the front. He seized the win, his 11th in his Thursday Thunder career.
The Shane’s Rib Shack Young Lions feature got underway with Joey Padgett in the lead. On lap three, several cars crashed hard on the backstretch. The race had to be red-flagged to clean up the carnage. Fortunately, all drivers were able to walk away from their vehicles. Fifth-place Woodrow Mullis used the “choose rule” to move to the outside of the front row for the restart. On lap nine, Evan Bell blew by Padgett to become the leader. With two to go, several cars made contact in turn four, which brought out the caution and bunched up the field for the restart. The field couldn’t even get one turn completed as several cars collided causing the caution flag to be displayed. With one to go, the field was led by Bell to the green and white flags. Bell held on to capture the checkered flag, logging his 11th career Thursday Thunder win and his first of the season.
Zach Privette took the green flag to set off the Buzz Cars feature. Half the field made contact in the first turn and by the completion of lap one, Brian Sutton was the leader. Buddy Brewer and Sutton traded the lead back and forth lap after lap. On lap five, Privette, about to be put a lap down, spun Brewer bringing out the caution. Since the spin was deemed intentional by Privette, Brewer was returned to the top spot for the restart. On lap 15, Brewer and Privette hit each other several times from turn three to the start-finish line. Brewer got turned around again, got out of his car and let Privette know how displeased he was from being turned twice. Race officials retired Privette from the race. The field was reset for a green-white-checkered finish. Brewer and Sutton were even down the backstretch, but Brewer came out of turn four with the lead to snatch the win.
Short-track racing returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway on Thursday, June 21for an action-packed night with each class running double feature races. In addition, it is “Scout Night” at the races where any Scout dressed in uniform will get in free. Tickets for the affordable, family-friendly racing series costs just $6 for adults, $2 for children ages six through 11 and is free for children ages five and younger. Gates open at 6 p.m., heat races start at 6:15 p.m. and feature races start at approximately 7:50 p.m. For more information, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway Ticket Office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.
For more information on Buzz Cars racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway Events Department at (770) 946-3954.
To test drive your own Legends machine, or for more information about Legends racing, call Legends of Georgia director Dwight Pilgram at (770) 707-2977 or visit www.legendsofga.com.
Week Two Race Results:
Outlaws:
1. Taylor Jorgensen (Stockbridge), 2. Tyler Lester (Dallas, N.C.), 3. Tyler Mosley (McDonough), 4. Alton Clark (Newnan), 5. Jenson Jorgensen (Stockbridge), 6. Christopher Clanton (Brooks), 7. Eli Bailey (Johns Creek), 8. Dale Oliver (The Rock), 9. Chase Purdy (Gallion, Ala.).
Pro:
1. Mason Massey (Douglasville), 2. Steven Cantrell (Concord, N.C), 3. Ryan Gandee (McDonough), 4. Bubba Harry (Griffin), 5. Jeff Haynie (Zebulon).
Masters:
1. Ed Clark (Peachtree City), 2. Brian Weimer (Cumming), 3. Skip Nichols (Albany), 4. Tina Johnson (Senoia), 5. Terry Mathis (Cumming), 6. Phillip Young (Dallas), 7. Mike Kennedy (Alpharetta), 8. Mark Swan (Atlanta), 9. Don Chandler (Macon),.
10. James Meredith (Locust Grove).
Racing Radios Bandits:
1. Chandler Smith (Talking Rock), 2. Joshua Hicks (Senoia), 3. Ashton Winger (Fayetteville), 4. Connor Younginer (Stockbridge), 5. Austin Geer (Johns Creek), 6. Reid Morris (Carrollton), 7. Bodie Weeks, 8. Zach Leonhardi (Smyrna), 9. Abigail Marin (Peachtree City), 10. Lee Hodges (Valdosta), 11. Conner Okrzesik (Mobile), 12. Kodie Conner (Kannapolis, N.C.).
Semi-Pro:
1. William Plemons III (Forsyth), 2. Myatt Snider (Charlotte, N.C.), 3. Jay Coen (Dacula), 4. Justin Thomas (Woodstock), 5. Garrett Smithley (Peachtree City), 6. Amber Fleeman (Dacula), 7. Brett Hardin (Acworth), 8. Aaron Bailey (Hull), 9. Mike Weed (Franklin), 10. Jason Lynn (Buford), 11. Jami Weimer (Cumming), 12. Billy Stevenson (Locust Grove), 13. Emilee Riley (Jasper), 14. Hub Talbot (Smyrna), 15. C.J. Pucko (Covington).
Shane’s Rib Shack Young Lions:
1. Evan Bell (Buford), 2. Joey Padgett (Tallahassee, Fla.), 3. Alex Coffey (McDonough), 4. Woodrow Mullis (Hoboken), 5. Riley Thornton (Peachtree City), 6. Jarad Irvan (Midland, N.C.), 7. Madeline Crane (Meansville), 8. Megan Younginer (Stockbridge), 9. Payton Ryan (Concord, N.C.), 10. Joe Wilder substitute driving for Grant Crane (Zebulon), 11. Austin Cindric (Mooresville, N.C.), 12. Trevin Aswarnauth (Loganville), 13. Will Fagan (Cumming), 14. Andy Hogan (Decatur, Texas).
Buzz Cars:
1. Buddy Brewer (Griffin), 2. Brian Sutton (Covington), 3. Timmy Bishop (Sharpsburg), 4. Josh McIntrye (Stockbridge), 5. Zack Privette (Locust Grove), 6. Tim Brotzge (Griffin)