Spooky Friday Night
Loxley, Alabama - Night 1 of the Spook Nationals saw a ton of exciting action on the highbanks of Deep South Speedway. The 4/10 mile speedway was a bit wet to start the night because of an early evening shower but by the time the features got underway the track was in beautiful shape and made for a great show. Some of the first timers at the track would say this place was “Spooky Fast” by the end of the night as it’s the fastest dirt track anywhere on the Gulf Coast.
The Bombers took to the track first and would see cars throughout the field running side by side and passing for position. In the end Jay Coleman in the #1C, who drove a flawless and very smooth race, would take the checkers first and take home the top
prize. The #2 of Greg Burton was looking to make a late race pass for 2nd but the #96 of Keith Presnall held the position in the end with Burton 3rd.
The Stinger division would have it’s share of accidents on the night including a 3 car pileup in turn 3 midway through the race taking out 2 fast cars, the #48 of Ronald Barlow and the #28 of Geoffrey Adkins. The last 2 laps would prove to be the best 2 laps of racing in any division on the night. The top 3 cars would muscle for position all the way around the speedway with Gary Watson coming from deep in the field to take the first place finish over the #22 Curtis Gentry and the #77 of Bob Tarrant who was 3rd.
Modifieds would take to the track for the third feature of the night but they looked different tonight… NO ROOFS! They were racing topless on Friday night as they are preparing for Saturday Nights Topless 31! To open the the #G17 of Greg Hopkins would lead with a wicked fast car and lead til about half way til his right rear tire started going down allowing a handful of cars to slide by in the closing laps. Mike Ladner in the #3 would be the benefitiary as he would take his machine to the lead and not look back to take the win. The 2nd place finisher was a very fast #66 of Mike Paillou. Bennie Spicer in the #41 would be in 3rd place holding off a hard charding #37 of Kyle Rutkoski who had a nice run
The Late Models capped the night off… “uncapped”. They would race topless as well, and will again on Saturday night. This division had the hardest time getting the race started with a hand full of restarts and several wrecked cars before finally the #04 of David Odom would lead the first few laps in dominating style. Odom would have mechanical trouble though causing him to hit the wall on the front straight. As Odom bounced off the wall he collected the rocket ship #L97 of Randy Little, retiring both cars for the night. Ricky Haugen in the #22G would work his way to the lead after staring deep in the field to take the win followed by the #1 of Kevin Maher in 2nd with a fast Dale Little in the #99L in 3rd.
Saturday nights action will get started at 8pm with heat races followed by the features. All 6 weekly divisions will be on hand at Deep South Speedway including Bombers, Street Stocks, Stingers, Vintage, and of course the Topless Modifieds and Topless Late Models. All 6 classes will be racing for increased purses. The 2009 DSS Points Champions will be honored during the night. Also bring your kids in halloween costume, we will have “Trick or Treating” in the pit area with them as most of the drivers will have something for them. Deep South Speedway is located on Hwy 59 in Loxley, AL, 4 miles north of Interstate 10 exit #44. Track website is www.DeepSouthDirt.com and the phone number is (251) 964-6953.
