Jones snaps Moran's streak at Senoia Raceway
From Staff Reportssports@newnan.com
LaGrange’s Dusty Jones was already the points leader in the Hobby Stocks’ early race for Rookie of the Year at Senoia Raceway.
After last Saturday, he might be the biggest challenger to dethrone defending points champion Clifton Moran of Carrollton.
Last week, however, Jones led every lap of the main event including three restarts over the final three laps with Moran breathing down his tailpipe.
“Feels great to hold off a guy like him (Moran),” said an excited Jones in victory lane. “He is the guy to beat right now.”
Jones enjoyed the honors for the Summit Racing Equipment Hobby Stocks while Senoia’s Joe Armistead, Jr. won for the second straight week in the Jodeco Auto Sales Late Models. Armistead survived a first lap crash which brought out the red flag for a 14 car pile up in Turn One.
LaGrange’s Matt Woodson picked up his first career victory at the 3/8ths mile bull ring by besting the field of Newnan Bonding B Cadets. Stephen Hill, also out of LaGrange, topped the Mini Stocks while Newnan drivers Taylor Cozad and Lane Wilt captured wins in the Bombers and a special event for the Modified Minis.
“The fans are the greatest here at Senoia,” said Woodson after capturing his win. “I have wanted this for a long time.”
One week after it appeared Austin Horton had ended Moran’s winning streak in the Hobby Stocks class, another Senoia teenage young gun officially cut it off. Horton was disqualified after crossing the scales two pounds light on April 28th, but Jones weighed in perfectly after slamming the door shut on the Summit Racing Equipment Hobby Stock’s defending points champion.
Dusty Jones bolted out the race’s early lead working lapped traffic to perfection and building a straightaway length lead over Moran. The race’s first caution came out on lap 16 and closed the gap Jones had built to no more than a whisker. Moran would restart the race on the bumper of the young racer, not one time, not two times, but three times over the final four laps. Each time Jones calmly held off the dominating Moran.
The final lap the battle was side by side through each turn with Jones running the high side and Moran against the inside concrete. With the crowd on it’s feet, the two were even exiting the final turn, but Jones edged out the win by less than a foot at the finish line.
“That was one of the best finishes I have seen here since we opened the track back up,” said promoter Tim Moses. “That’s why the fans love the Hobby Stock division. The racing is so close and there are a bunch of good drivers.”
Recapping other division races on Saturday:
Newnan Bonding B Cadet
Matt Woodson’s patience paid off as he inherited the lead he was battling for when Grantville’s Blake Griffin blew an engine just past the halfway point of the main event. Early race leader, Jeff Carter of Stockbridge, had to drop out after spinning with a cut tire on Lap 3.
Woodson held off a challenge by the previous week’s feature winner, Dow Strickland of Lake Spivey, to win his first career race at Senoia Raceway. Kirkland was second and takes sole possession of the division points lead. Greenville’s Thomas Mewborn was third followed by Whitesburg’s Jason Causey and Hapeville’s Johnny Stinchcomb.
Jodeco Auto Sales Late Model
A 14-car pileup that started when Armistead bumped with Dana “Top Dog” Eiland opened the race off the first turn and the restart allowed Armistead to move into the front while holding off LaGrange driver Tod Darda for the Senoia speedster’s second win in as many weeks.
Darda, however, moved into the points lead with his second-place finish, taking a three-point lead on Locust Grove’s ‘Racin’ Jason Williams, who took third.
“I am sorry. I got into Dana on that start. It was my fault,” said Armistead afterwards. “That’s not what I intended to do. I feel real bad.”
Mini Stocks
The LaGrange contingent picked up another victory Saturday night when Stephen Hill held off Barnesville’s Gary Parker for the win in the Mini Stocks. Hill and Parker battled throughout the 15-lap main event. Parker tried everything to get around Hill, but each time he would get close, Hill slammed the door shut. Douglasville’s Erik Hogsed posted a third place finish for the Mini Stock.
Bombers and Modified Mini
Two Newnan drivers made a statement for the Coweta County competitors winning the Bomber and Modified Mini features. Taylor Cozad won his first career feature at Senoia Raceway with a tough win in the Bombers while Lane Wilt topped the field of Modified Minis. Cozad survived a crash-filled Bomber feature by holding off Griffin’s David Johnson after keeping eighty-eight year old Pappy Powell of Hoganville at bay for the first half of the race.
This Week
Senoia Raceway will be back in action Saturday with a Mother’s Day Eve racing event. All moms entering the grandstand will receive a free flower to begin the Mother’s Day celebration. A full night of racing action in the Jodeco Auto Sales Late Models, Newnan Bonding B Cadets, Summit Racing Equipment Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks and Bombers will highlight a Senoia Saturday night.
Pit gates will open at 5 p.m., and grandstands at 6 p.m. Hot laps are at 7 p.m., with the first green flag set to fly at 8. Ticket prices are $12 for adult grandstand admission, $5 for children ages 6-12 and free for kids five and under are admitted for free.
For additional information on Senoia Raceway, visit the speedway website at www.senoiaraceway.com , join their Facebook page or call the speedway at 770-599-6161.
Saturday’s Results
Jodeco Auto Sales Late Models
1. Joe Armistead, Jr., Senoia; 2. Tod Darda, LaGrange; 3. Jason Williams, Locust Grove; 4. Shane Fulcher, Thomaston 5. Glenn Morris, Fayetteville; 6. Laddie Fulcher, Thomaston; 7. Troy Tyson, Fayetteville; 8. Marty Lunsford, Newnan; 9. Randy Brown, Jr., Locust Grove; 10. Joseph Darda, Greenville; 11. Dana Eiland, Phenix City, Ala.; 12. Trey White, Stockbridge; 13. Craig Scott, Newnan; 14. Sam Carter, Covington; DNS-Jamie Carr, LaGrange. Fast Qualifier-Armistead (14.898 seconds
Newnan Bonding B Cadets
1. Matt Woodson, LaGrange; 2. Dow Kirkland, Lake Spivey; 3. Thomas Mewborn, Greenville; 4. Jason Causey, Whitesburg; 5. Johnny Stinchcomb, Hapeville; 6. Corey Payton, Newnan; 7. TJ Joiner, Lithia Springs; 8. Blake Griffin, Grantville; 9. Jeff Carter, Stockbridge; 10. Chad Etheridge, Newnan
Summit Racing Equipment Hobby Stocks
1. Dusty Jones, LaGrange; 2. Clifton Moran, Carrollton; 3. Kerry Carden, Brooks; 4. Bill Brown, Loganville; 5. Mike Jenkins, Brooks; 6. Zack Socwell, Newnan; 7. Rusty Johnson, Newnan; 8. Winford Minix, Senoia; 9. Seth Farr, Newnan; 10. Mike Hillman, Douglasville.
Mini Stocks
1. Stephen Hill, LaGrange; 2. Gary Parker, Barnesville; 3. Erik Hogsed, Douglasville; 4. Randy Brady, Douglasville; 5. Dorough Bright, Newnan; 6. Rocky Johnson, Douglasville; 7. Brandon Libri, Newnan; 8. Bo Chambers, Griffin; 9-Robert Caldwell, Senoia; 10-Victor Parrish, Roopville; 11. Tyler Salls, Douglasville; 12-Brandon Bright, Newnan; 13. Billy Jack Jenkins, Jackson Heat Race Winners: Hill and Parker
Bombers
1. Taylor Cozad, Newnan; 2. David Johnson, Griffin; 3. Pappy Powell, Hoganville; 4. Jonathan Hemmings, Newnan; 5. Jay Conner, Newnan; 6. Casey Bruce, Newnan
Modified Mini
1. Lane Wilt, Newnan; 2. Frank Long, Douglasville; 3. Michael Herman, Villa Rica; 4. Michael Spencer, Hoganville; 5. Allen Brewster, Temple; 6. Talmadge Simpson, Winston; DNS-Todd Brewster, Villa Rica; Heath Brewster, Bremen
