Dixie Motor Speedway drivers pulled out the permanent markers and went to work signing autographs and putting smiles on fans' faces last Friday night.
Fourteen year-old, fan Danielle Woughter collected Autographed photos from the drivers.
“It was fun,” Danielle said. “I really liked getting up-close to the cars and seeing all the drivers.”
Danielle’s little brothers Jeremy, Austin and Calvin all chose to wear plain t-shirts and asked the drivers to autograph their shirts.
All three agreed that getting autographs from the drivers was their favorite part of the night.
Travis Eddy No. 78 and Defending Mods Track Champion Chuck Silva No. 11 gave Dixie fans a real show in the Wieland Contracting Modifieds 30-lap feature.
Eddy led most of the event, while Silva worked his way up to the two spot with only eight laps to go. The two raced side-by-side, trading places twice before the finish.
Silva was in the lead when the white flag came out. Eddy made a move on the back-stretch, but Silva matched him. They drove in to the last turn two-wide. Eddy found a little something extra as they came out of turn four and pulled away from Silva for his first career feature win at Dixie.
“When Silva got around me that last time, I thought it was over,” Eddy said. “After all that hard work (leading most of the race), I really thought it was over.”
The Teamtech Motorsports Sportsman 25-lap feature followed with the same level of excitement.
Chet Allen No. 71 led the first six laps until Don Riley No. 22 caught up to him. The two drivers looked like they were starting a new sport of Synchronized Stock Car Racing as they drove around the track right next to each other for almost eight laps, only rubbing once on the front stretch of lap 12.
“We did touch once,” Riley said. “He (Allen) is a VERY good driver, and a tough guy to get around, too.”
After a rough start to the 2009 season, Bomber driver Troy Shinabarger led all 20-laps of the Bomber feature and had just three words to say, “This is awesome!”
17 Pro Late Models rolled up to the starting line for a 30-lap Top Notch Motorsport PLM feature.
Timmy Near No. 71, Adam Rowe No. 68, Blake Childers No. 33, Mark Klein No. 62 and Tony Hoose No. 1 battled half of the race for the top five positions. Hoose took the lead in the 18th lap and the led the pack all the way to green.
“That was fun!” Hoose said, “It’s awesome (to compete in this Pro Late Model field), it’s a lot of fun.”
Last, but certainly not least, current points leader Andrew Burton won his third Checkered Flag Promotion Figure 8 event in a row.
Next week dawns the first race for the Dixie Cup Triple Crown.
The 1st Annual East vs. West Shootout 100 Super Late Model event should be the highlight of the evening on June 12, 2009.
Fans can also look forward to features in the Teamtech Motorsports Sportsman, Speedway Graphix Street Stocks, Racingpartsales.com Bombers and the Checkered Flag Promotion Figure 8 Divisions.
cws
