With a strong run in the Bank of America 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, assisted by a daring choice to stay on old tires Jeff Burton claimed his second win of the season.. The win puts Burton only 69 points behind Jimmie Johnson, who finished sixth.
It was another bad day for Carl Edwards who had ignition problems and finished 33rd. Nascar’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. joined Edwards with another bad finish after a tire went down, slamming him into the wall, finishing 36th, 45 laps down.
The series heads next to Martinsville Speedway for the Tums QuickPack 500 on Sunday October 19. The race will be televised on ABC at 2:30 pm (CT).
On the local racing scene, Crossville Raceway reopened for a One Night event at Cook & Wyatt Promotions took over the track for the First Tennessee State Championship. A nearly packed house was on hand as Super Late Model, World One Hundred winner Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, GA led all 56 laps to the checkered flag and the $6,000.00 winner’s Check. Crossville’s own Randy Weaver was in a tight battle for second with Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, GA and Clint Smith of Senoia, GA. In the end, it was McDowell second, Weaver third and Smith finishing fourth and Mike Weeks of Friendsville, TN in fifth.
Thirty Four cars from six states showed up to vie for the 24 starting positions, sending 10 cars home. Clanton was the Fast Qualifier at 12:441 seconds, and the heat winners were Brandon Kinzer of Allen, KY., Eric Jacobsen of Sea Cliffe Beach, CA. and Jake Knowles of Tyrone, GA.
In the Limited Late Model Championship, it was Greg Martin of Oliver Springs, TN. Holding off Crossville Raceway’s 2008 Champion, Brandon Williams for the $1,000.00 win. Williams of Crossville, held on for second, followed by Crossville’s Robert Edwards, Scott Shelton of Cookeville and Mark Leach of Norris, TN.
In the Pure Mini/Front Wheel Drive $300.00 to win Championship, it was Crossville’s Jason Griffith battling all the way with Cookeville’s Cameron Wilson for a close finish. Jeff Lippre of Knoxville, finished third, with Debbie Singleton of Lenoir City, and Robert Stone of Crossville, rounding out the top five.
Crossville Raceway was sold recently to a couple of gentlemen from the Knoxville area. The plans as of now call for about 6 or 8 Special Event Races in 2009. I will be meeting with the new owners shortly and will give the Crossville race fans an update on the future of the track.
