Donna Solesbee/Clarendon Citizen
Manning’s Sissy Duke racks up a Hard Charger Award
SUMTER - Allen Ridgeway picked up his first win in the Young Guns class at Sumter Speedway Saturday night after taking advantage of a series of misfortunes by his competitor’s.
Ridgeway inherited the pole position after the car of Heather Welch weighed in light at the scales during post-race inspection at the conclusion of the heat race. Ray-Ray Fagin, after borrowing the car of Manning Bomber Four driver Ace Casten, joined the main event starting in the rear. When the green fell Fagin tangled with the car of Cameron Holloway on the front stretch bringing out the caution. After a rough driving warning from race officials, Fagin tangled with Holloway again, this time on the back stretch.
This crash ended with Holloway flying off the backstretch crashing into two trees and Fagin earning a DQ from race officials. On the restart Welch drove her bright green and black Saturn to a commanding lead over Ridgeway. Welch went on to lead the remaining laps of the race but came up short at the scales again during post-race inspection, thus earning her a DQ handing the win to Ridgeway. Holloway was awarded second place.
Cody Truett piloted the Nissan normally driven by his father Jody to the win in Stock Four action. Manning driver Sissy Duke got around William Hill with five laps remaining to take second place and a Danny’s Trophy Shop Hard Charger Award for her efforts. Hill took third, Dave Sivar fourth, and Justin Ardis fifth. Another week of mechanical woes left Rickie Dennis with sixth place.
Adam Hill fended off Chris Scott and a mandatory post-race inspection by track officials to take the Bomber Four win over Chris Scott. Landon Jefferies was third, D. J. Welch was fourth, and Marty Horne fifth. John Ledwell, Brian Woodyck, Ace Casten, and Gary Ames rounded out the finishing order. Welch and Ledwell both earned Danny’s Trophy Shop Hard Charger Awards for their performances.
Daniel Morris took the Bomber Six win over L. E. Mooneyham as the two put on a spirited battle for the lead most of the race. Justin Hurst took third, and David Outlaw fourth. Angela Logan was transported to Tuomey Regional Medical Center with leg injuries after being involved in a hard crash on the second lap of the event. Logan’s condition was not available at press time.
Mark Bartlette made his first start of the season and took his Monte Carlo to the Rourk Plumbing Winner’s Circle after taking the Street Stock action. Timmy Kimsey was second, Kenny Steele took home third, and a Danny’s Trophy Shop Hard Charger Award, and Pat Davis took fifth.
Craig Hall got around pole sitter Mark Horne on the first lap of the Ridge Runner feature but was only able to hold the lead for two laps until Horne retook the lead, opening up a comfortable lead on Hall for the remainder of the race. Curt Lee was third, and Joey Ayers fifth.
Manning’s Gib Gibbons posted a fast time of 16.751 to earn his first pole position of the year to lead the field to the green flag for the feature GM Crate Late Model event. Tony Ayers and Gibbons raced through turn one with Ayers opening up a quick lead. Handling problems forced Gibbons to retire midway through the event. Ayers won by a comfortable margin over last week’s winner David Rourk with Gibbons taking third.
Gib’s grandfather Slick was in attendance at Saturday’s race after spending several weeks mending from injuries sustained during a robbery attempt at his home last month.
Racing resumes Saturday with the gates opening at 5 p.m. with racing action starting at 7:30 p.m. Active duty military receive free grand stand admission and those 65 and older, with proof of age, are admitted to the stands for $5.
