Summer is Coming and Racing is Heating Up
By: Linda M. Horn
As the hot Louisiana summer nears, racing action heats up at Fast Trax Speedway. Racers are gearing up for the upcoming Annual Doug Murphrey Memorial, as they get race fans get extra excitement added to the weekly shows, and a sneak peek at what will be in store on May 30th during the Memorial show.
The May 15th show was a great race in all classes. The Stocker class held some great drivers Friday night. At the checkered flag it was the 99 of William Lawrence, followed by Rodney Ates in the 4 car and Jolly Jordan Jr in the 90. After careful inspection by Tech Officials, Ates was declared the winner, moving Jordan to a 2nd place finish and Austin Trichell (5T) up to 3rd, with John Smith (84) in 4th.
The Pure Stock started with Ms Summer Futch (B1) in the Pole Position, a spot she earned by winning the Heat race. After 20 laps of exciting racing, the checkered flag fell to David Roy in the 7up, with Jason Page (20) in 2nd and Chris Mangum (89) rounding out the Top 3.
The Street Stock class held an exciting caution free 20 lap Feature, which Joe Rachal (210) earned Pole Position from his Heat race win. The Feature was split between Rachal and Casey Hobson (7), each leading 10 laps of the show. It all comes down to the final lap, first one past the flag stand wins, and Friday night that was Casey Hobson. Joe Rachal ran a good race, and took the 2nd place finishing position. The 3rd place finisher for the night was Jamie Howell in the #0 car.
The future of Dirt Track racing is strongly reflected in the drivers of the "Young Guns" class. These kids are exceptional racers, with goals of being the best they can be. Their parents are exceptional people as well, as it takes nerves of steel for a mother to watch her young son or daughter strap in behind all that horsepower and hit the track. Young Eddie Underwood (4) won the Heat race and appeared to have the Feature win under his belt as well until Randy Joe Branch (5) took over the lead. Branch held his position and took the win, followed by TJ Bond (12B) in 2nd place, Underwood in 3rd and Tanner Kellick (3K) taking the 4th place finish.
A total of 19 cars in the Sport Mod class were split into three Heat races with Ben Leedy (B99) winning Heat 1, James Shirley (00) winning Heat 2 and Mickey Steele (137) winning Heat 3. As the flagman waved the green flag, Steele broke one lap into the race, taking him off the track. From green to checkered, there was but one lap leader each time the pack completed a lap. No rookie to racing, but a rookie to this class, Ben Leedy (B99) captured his first Feature win of the 2009 Racing Season, and his first win in the Sport Mod class. Taking 2nd place was the 3D of David Edwards, followed by Josh Beckham (5A) in 3rd place, Scott Duke (99D) in 4th and Patrick Ross (22R) rounded out the Top 5.
A full field of 20 cars competed in Friday nights Modified class. Heat race wins went to Kyle Pleasant (6x), Chris Patton (1) and Lee Patton (JP5). The Modified class at Fast Trax is packed with years of experience, really fast cars, exceptional drivers and some of the best side by side racing any true race fan could ever hope for. Twenty laps, one caution and one leader throughout the show. It belonged to Kyle Pleasant (6x) lap after lap after lap! With Pleasant taking the checkers, 2nd place went to Randy Thompson (47) as he carried the left front wheel throughout most of the race. The 3rd place finisher was the 20 year old Chris Patton of Simsboro. Billy Cullett (31) was the 4th place finisher, with the 90 car, Jody Davidson of West Monroe rounding out the Top 5 for the night.
Though all of the classes put on a great show for the race fans, its hard to beat the adrenaline rush that over comes you when the rumble of the Late Models hit the track. It takes talent to pilot these fast machines around the tight turns, and to make 20 laps of caution free racing while putting that much horsepower to the ground leaves one wondering what these drivers do for fun when they aren't racing! Friday nights Feature winner was Raymond Taylor (T49), of Ball, LA after leading the pack from green to checkered. Trey Beene (115) made his way from Shreveport to entertain the FTS crowd, and went home with 2nd place for the night. The 3rd place finisher hails from Bienville, LA, Waylon Morris pilots the 11jr car and is sponsored by Luigi's Restaurant in Arcadia. The 4th place spot went to Jody Prince in the J & J MOtorsports #10 car. The 5th place finisher was the 4x driven by SUPR driver, Brock Williams of Boyce, LA.
Fast Trax Speedway will be racing (weather permitting) again of Friday, May 22nd. Don't forget the Annual Doug Murphrey Memorial on Saturday, May 30th. Late Models will also return May 30th, but will not be on schedule for May 22nd.