From the Crossville Chronicle, Crossville, TN. Friday August 17, 2007
By Joe Dunn
With four races remaining before the ‘Chase’, Tony Stewart is on a rampage collecting wins at Chicago, Indianapolis and Watkins Glen. With seven top 10’s in the last ten races, he’s looking pretty champion like.
Tony finished third in his last outing at Michigan and is expecting to do better this time. On the other hand, Carl Edwards was the winner last time at Michigan and it has been a very good track for him. Looking forward to Michigan and the Chase, “Everything is going well ……we kinda feel like we are getting stronger” commented Edwards “we’re running well at all different kinds of tracks.” After missing the Chase last year Carl is excited about running for the Championship this year.
Robby Gordon is looking forward to Michigan too. I ran into Robby Tuesday as he was testing at Nashville SuperSpeedway. “I think coming into this weekend, it’s a place we finished 13th last year.” Robby commented “We are bringing back a similar car, but we have learned a lot from Chicago and Indy, what not to do, and we feel we can go back to Michigan and be competitive.” Robby had a chance to share some ideas with fellow Ford drive David Gilliland who was testing his Yates/Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing #38 M&M’s car.
It’s officially, Joe Gibbs Racing announced Tuesday the signing of Kyle Bush to drive the 18 car for Interstate Batteries in 2008. No official word on JGR making the switch to Toyota, but all indications are that the announcement will come soon. Furniture Row racing announced this week that Kenny Wallace will be out of the 78 car with Scott Wimmer taking over for this weeks Michigan race. It is rumored that Sterling Marlin will take over the car once his contract issues are settled with Ginn Racing. Wallace posted a statement on his website saying that he has no hard feelings and intends to continue to help FRR in a position other than driver. This all seems to blend with the comments that Kenny made to me here last month when Sterling was released and he indicated a desire to get Marlin in a FRR ride. Watch Speed Channel’s shows this weekend for Kenny to elaborate on the whole issue.
LOCAL RACING
Top fives at last Fridays racing at Wartburg Speedway;
SLM – 1. Anthony White, 2. Curt Williams, 3. Tim Ladd, 4. Glenn Vanover, 5. Freddie Dutton
Sportsman – 1. Jeff Adkisson, 2. Keith Longmire, 3. Brian Hooks, 4. Gary Lively, 5. Jeff Hamby Jr,
Pure Street – 1. Mike Brashears, 2. Troy Brown, 3. James Boofer, 4. Reagan Williams, 5. Wes Johnson,
Pure Mini – 1. Brian Frost, 2. Jason Manley, 3. Rocky McNabb, 4. Jim Frost, 5. Darren Goins,
FWD – 1. Spunky Brown, 2. Chris Morrison, 3. Joe Freels, 4. Richard ‘Flipper’ Ford, 5. Scott Webb, All classes will be in action again tonight with racing starting at 7:30 pm (EDT)
Saturdays winners at Crossville Raceway;
LLM – Joe Cline, OWM- Skylar Marlar, SS- Mike Selby Sr, MS- John Ross, FWD- Chris Morrison, All classes will be racing tomorrow night at 7:00 pm
Crossville Raceway will be off NEXT week as the Cumberland County Fair will be in full swing, as well as Nascar racing at nearby Bristol Motor Speedway. A decision on Fridays racing at Wartburg has yet to be determined.
The following weekend, Labor Day will include big races at both tracks. Saturday Sept. 1 Crossville Raceway will be hosting the Advanced Auto Parts Thunder Series for Super Late Models as well as a full card of racing. Also on hand will be the Advanced Auto Parts’ Grave Digger Monster Truck Experience. Fans of all ages will get to experience the view from behind the wheel of Grave Digger and see what driver Dennis Anderson sees as he catches air and flies over a fleet of cars and trucks and charges through motor homes, does wheelies, donuts and more.
Race fans, drivers and crews are invited to hop aboard the Grave Digger Experience free of charge on Saturday September 1st during a very special night of racing and all around family entertainment at Crossville Raceway, located at 5434 US Highway 70 North, four miles west of Crossville, TN.
Get off that couch and bring the family out to a local dirt track and support the local racers. You may just see the next Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart on his way up.