Southern notebook
Notes: Posey's tires hold up for Winchester victory
Corey Posey tunes up before his Winchester victory. (Carla Gault)
WINCHESTER, Tenn. (Feb. 25) — On a day when sun and 20 mph winds quickly dried out the track surface at Winchester Speedway long before the evening’s annual 40-lap WinterFest, several drivers asked track promoter Jimmy Nowlin to amend the event’s rules and allow the hardest-compound D70 tire to be used on the rock-hard surface.
After a little debating and an impromptu meeting with the Super Late Model drivers, Nowlin decided to stick with the printed rules. Those rules required drivers to use Hoosier compound D55s or 1600s or American Racer 56s — clearly marked — on the rear only. Any compound could be used on the front.
“Last year it said you could run a 70. It didn’t say that this year, so we decided to stick with the rules,” said Nowlin. “Not everybody had a 70. Next year, we’ll probably put that (option) back in there.”
A handful of drivers, including Lamar Scoggins and Riley Hickman, were concerned when their rear tires showed significant wear after their 10-lap heat race, and Caleb Ashby had a flat while leading his heat. But despite their concerns, there were no significant tire failures in the 40-lap feature.
Race winner Corey Posey, of Petersburg, Tenn., bested a field mixed with local and regional drivers to claim the $3,000 top prize. The 2010 Winchester Speedway track champion, who started on the outside front row after setting the fast time in his group qualifying, said that he wasn’t nervous about tire wear, even on a sun-baked track.
“When we got there, we bought and mounted four new tires,” said Posey after claiming his first WinterFest victory. “We qualified and ran our practice (session) and the feature on the same tires. We didn’t put new tires on for the feature and we had 25-30 percent left on the right rear after the race.
“Our two rear tires were put on there when we got to the track and it lasted the whole race. I don’t see why a 56 wouldn’t last, as long as you don’t scoot it.”
Most of the scooting that Posey did was forward. He beat polesitter Mike Weeks, of Friendsville, Tenn., to the first turn and powered by him down the backstretch. It turned out to be the winning pass, as Weeks was only able to close in on the leader once they reached lapped traffic.
Posey, who won five races at Winchester Speedway last season, was certain that grabbing the lead early was vital to his success.
“I thought it was critical,” he said. “My whole theory was that I just had to stay on the gas longer than he did. I thought that that may be the race deciding thing on the first corner.”
As it turned out he was right, as there were few position changes among the top 13 drivers on a track that proved tough to pass on.
Only two drivers in the top 13 had moved up or down more than one position by race’s end. Lynchburg, Tenn., driver Daniel Miller, who finished 10th and Jason Welshan, of Maryville, Tenn., who finished fourth, each gained just two spots. Fayetteville, Tenn., native Jay Scott moved forward more than any other driver. He started 22nd and finished 15th, one lap down.
Five drivers finished exactly where they started. Defending race champion Tim Busha started and finished third, while local drivers Josh Johnson (ninth), Jim Gray (13th) and Alan Holmes (18th) each finished in the same place where that began.
The fifth driver, defending track champion Brad Skinner had mechanical trouble in his heat race and pulled off the track while running in a transfer spot. Skinner used a provisional to start the main event in 25th, was the first driver to retire and was credited with a 25th-place finish. — Robert Holman
Let the madness begin
Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C., will kick off its 2012 racing season March 3-4 with the 10th annual March Madness, an event highlighted by an unsanctioned Super Late Model feature paying $15,000 to the winner. It's among the richest events in track history.
Saturday's action includes Super Late Model hot laps, time trials and heat races. Eight other divisions — Crate Late Model, Crate sportsman, limited sportsman, renegade, stock-four, front-wheel driver and young guns — are also in action on a day capped by a 45-minute practice session and an after-race party in the outer pit area.
Sunday's action includes Super Late Model hot laps, consolation races and the 75-lap main events. Features will also be held for Crate Late Models, Crate sportsman, limited sportsman and stock-four.
Gates open both days at 10 a.m. with pre-race meetings at noon and hot laps immediately following. For more information, call (864) 489-1969 or visit www.cherokeespeedwaysc.com or Facebook. — Jason Curd
Bama Bash coming up
One of Alabama's richest Super Late Model events is scheduled for March 1-3 at Green Valley Speedway for the 15th annual Bama Bash, an unsanctioned event at the Glencoe, Ala., oval. Eight divisions of cars will traverse the hills and valleys south of Gadsden to converge for the annual winter affair.
“We are expecting a great group of cars and fans for this years Bama Bash," track general manager Adam Stewart said. "We have had a lot of calls and emails from all around the country. We want to invite everyone to come out and catch some great racing and some old fashioned fun."
The event, kicking off with open practice from 6-10:30 p.m. Thursday, will be divided into afternoon and evening sessions on Friday and Saturday with early actions starting at noon and late action beginning at 6 p.m. with a break between to rework the track surface.
Friday's schedule includes Super Late Model action in the evening session with hot laps, two laps of time trials and heat races. The night's action is capped by a Bama Bash tent party. Saturday's schedule includes Super Late Models in the evening session with hot laps, consolation races and the 75-lap feature event.
Besides Super Late Models, Limited Late Models and Crate Late Model are also in action battling for $2,015-to-win purses each. The other divisions: Kajun Mini Stock Association, street stock, pure pony, sportsman, enduro and outlaw thunder.
For more information, visit www.greenvalleyspeedway.com or call Adam Stewart at (256) 490-8344. — Kelley Carlton
