North Georgia Speedway
Arp recovers from poor restart at North Georgia
By Kelley Carlton
O'Reilly Southern All Stars
CHATSWORTH, Ga. (Sept. 1) — Skip Arp of Georgetown, Tenn., won a tight battle with polesitter Dusty Carver early and late in a 50-lap feature at North Georgia Speedway for his second O'Reilly Southern All Star victory of the season. Arp took command for good on the 36th lap and drove away for a victory worth $5,000.
Consolation race winner Ronnie Johnson of nearby Chattanooga, Tenn., finished second followed by Carver, South Carolina invader Dion Deason and Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C., in a feature plagued by nearly 10 caution periods.
The marathon event lasted more than an hour and only 14 of 24 starters were running at the finish.
Arp, piloting the No. 97 normally driven by Bobby Giffin, ran second to Carver through the early going before dropping back to fifth on a lap-17 restart.
Kevin Gibson and the 12th-starting Johnson took up the chase of Carver and battled tightly before getting together on lap 30. Gibson was sent spinning down the track while Johnson restarted in second. Gibson retired because of his car's broken rear end.
Arp got past Johnson on the restart and used the low groove to track down Carver, who ran against the outside wall. Arp took command with 14 laps remaining and led the rest of the way.
Carver bobbled in turn four with two laps remaining and lost the second spot to Johnson.
Notebook
Arp's GRT Race Car is sponsored by Stanley Best Heating & Air, Curtis Equipment Sales and C.A.R. Auto Sales & Collision Repair. ... Dusty Carver was the first qualifier and the only driver under 13 seconds. ... The last two of three scheduled consolation races were delayed more than an hour when fencing and lighting was snapped by a wrecker entering the track. ... Dion Deason, who started 18th, had an early flat tire and still rallied to finish fourth and earn the PPM Racing Products Hard Charger award. ... The series is scheduled to run Sept. 15 at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga., for a $10,000 winner's purse.
