Dixieland points races decided

Gonzales picks up first speedway win

By Marketta Cox
Sports Correspondent

Wednesday, August 27, 2008
MORGANS CORNER — 

The season finale at Dixieland Speedway featured some of the best racing action this season. Pat Gonzales picked up his first speedway win and each division crowned the season points champions.

The action started off with the Biggs Pontiac Super Four Division. With points leader Rickie Waters absent, Gwen Pritchard could see the light at the end of the tunnel. With 24 points to make up, Pritchard needed the win to capture the championship.

After a safe qualifying run, Pritchard lined up in fourth spot and after some very tight racing, simply ran out of time to get to the front. Todd Smith was able to claim his second victory of the year followed by Pritchard. Steve Hassell had his best showing of late in third and Travis Kemp picked up fourth. Josh Creech picked up fifth to end his season on a positive note.

The T-Tops Sportsman Division points leader Jimmy Humblett had his championship sewn up by simply starting the race. A botched qualifying run by Humblett left the door open for Pat Gonzales of Elizabeth City to drive to his first speedway win. Gonzales led all 20 laps with the last several being some of the closest racing all season.

Humblett charged to the front and challenged Gonzales but in the end settled for second and his first track championship. Mark Overman drove a solid race for third and Gragg Harkins, who missed most of the season, picked up fourth. Justin Sipe posted another top five run to end his impressive first year.

Ben Williams came into the night with a mere four-point lead in the Little Caesars Super Street Division. Starting from the tail end of an 18-car field, Williams had to think his hopes for his first championship in several years were over. Somehow, at the end of the 20-lap feature, Williams had driven to the front and was in position to win the points title. Alan Anderson picked up the win and second place in the points. Roger Bell made his season debut in third and William Tyler had a strong run in fourth. Albert Sanders finished up his strong season in fifth.

The Zero's Subs Stock Four Division was decided before racing started and Jason Corbell, earned his first track championship. The feature event was a special 35-lap event with the first 20 traveling in the opposite direction on the racetrack. After changing direction, Scott Wiatt pulled in to the lead and went on to pick up his fourth win of the year. Joe Waters picked up second, equaling his best performance, and Glenn Speight captured third. David Hollis had a strong car and earned fourth with points champion Corbell rounding out the top five.

Rodney Brickhouse came into the night with a four-point lead on the season over Ted Midgett in the Budweiser Allstars Division. Neither driver picked up the win Friday — that went to David Pearce. Pearce led flag-to-flag to get his fourth victory of the year. Brickhouse did the next best thing and ran a strong second, enough to earn him the title. Doug Flinn drove a smooth race to finish third and Midgett held on to fourth after a late-race spin. Larry Jackson drove a hard race to pick up fifth.

The track thanks all of the sponsors and fans for a great 2008 season and looks forward to a great 2009, starting in April. For schedule information, visit dixielandspeedway.net