1. RACE AGAINST AUTISM – Langley Speedway

    September 30, 2008 by Winstead

    The Plaid 19’s Race against Autism was a success as it raised well over $1000 for Autism research as well as helped raise awareness of Autism. The Plaid 19 is a non profit organization that works to help ease the lives of families affected by Autism. A.J. Winstead, 2007 RTM champion supports the Plaid with donations from his winnings each year. This started RTM president, Jerry Sink thinking he wanted to do more. So the RTM racing community hosted the 1st annual Champions Charity Race, and “since A.J. was the 2007 champ his Charity was chosen.”
    Unfortunately, the night did not go as well on the track for the 2007 Champion. During the second practice his racing engine expired after setting some of the fastest practice times of the day. Winstead said, “That is two motors in two weeks that is not the type of luck we need coming down to the end of the championship points chase.” The SunTrust Mortgage/ Commonwealth Environmental Services team had another engine delivered from Richmond to install in the car while at the track. After feverously trashing to complete the install, it was to no avail as the new engine would not build any oil pressure.
    Winstead stated, “I proud of how everyone pulled together to get the new engine installed, but I am deeply disappointed since we had a large group of supporters here tonight that we were unable to put on a show for.”
    Once the racing was under way it was 1999 and 2000 Champion Ronnie Davis setting the fast time during qualifying. Joe Scarbrough once again defended home turf this Saturday as he wheeled his yellow and blue #30 car into victory lane for the fourth time this season as he won the evening feature event. Doug Paasch and Aubrey Thurston, who are in the thick of the overall championship race, finished a respective 2nd and 3rd while defending champion AJ Winstead had a day plagued with engine trouble, rendering him to a last-place finish, and knocking him back to 3rd place in the points standings.
    It’s now crunch time as the tour begins to wind down the 2008 season with only two points paying races left on the schedule. The next event is this Saturday, October 4th at Southern National Raceway Park in Kenly, NC.
    Official Results:
    1. #30 Joe Scarbrough
    2. #2 Doug Paasch
    3. #21 Aubrey Thurston
    4. #8 Mike Hanbury
    5. #14 Ronnie Davis
    6. #16 Ernie Dettbarn
    7. #5 Michael Leech
    8. #7 Tony Ingram II
    9. #27 Andy Kemp
    10. #77 Hunter Slayton
    11. #39 Toby Davis
    12. #2x Larry Penny
    13. #06 Gary Wheaton, Jr.
    14. #9 Tony Ingram
    15. #99 AJ Winstead
    Pole: #14 Ronnie Davis – 16.816

    Category: Langley Speedway, RacesComments (0)

  2. NIGHT OF MODIFIEDS – Southern National Speedway

    September 16, 2008 by Winstead

    Making his season debut, John Thorpe returned to Victory Lane at Southern National Raceway Park this past weekend, finishing several seconds ahead of 2nd place Doug Paasch and third place finisher Ronnie Davis.

    The top two qualifiers, John Thorpe in the Infinity Payment Systems and US NAVY sponsored car and A.J. Winstead in the SunTrust Mortgage and Commonwealth Environmental Associates car would be inverted to start sixth and fifth respectively. Darrel Bryson and Ronnie Davis lead the field to green flag as Davis took the point on lap three. The top five where Davis, Bryson, Paasch, Winstead, and the #11 of Irvin Bell.

    On lap 8, Winstead made a move to the outside of Paasch for third, and as the two drivers raced side by side for two laps until Winstead slipped allowing the inside lane of Paasch, Thorpe, and Bell to pass. The on track action became fast and furious as Thorpe made it past the #2 of Paasch, and Irvin Bell then tried to clear the #2 but as the spot closed up Bell collected Paasch. Winstead was able to check up and avoid those two, but the #21 Strutmasters ride of Aubrey Thurston ran over the back left side of Winstead’s car as he slowed to avoid Bell. Bell was forced to retire for the evening as Paasch and Winstead were able to continue at the rear of the field after several lengthy yellow flag pit stops.

    One the ensuing restart Thorpe went to work on the current leader Davis and took the lead on lap 15. The top five were as follows: 63,14, 01,the 44 of Whelan Modified Tour regular Buddy Emory, and rookie Hunter Slayton. The next twenty laps were pretty quiet as both Winstead and Paasch worked their way back into the top 5. By lap 45, the battered car of Winstead was back to second place and beginning to track down Thorpe as Paasch worked his way past Buddy Emory for 4th place. Two laps later Winstead’s great march to the front eneded as his engine expired forcing him to the pits.

    Over the final 28 laps Thorpe ran unchallenged as Paasch moved into second, but was unable to catch Thorpe.

    Aubrey Thurston managed to increase his points lead after misfortune would find AJ Winstead’s #99 car. Doug Paasch was able to close the points gap for third place, in which a mere 70 points separate the top three, with three points paying races left in the season.

    Official Results:
    1. #63 John Thorpe
    2. #2 Doug Paasch
    3. #14 Ronnie Davis
    4. #44 Buddy Emory
    5. #01 Darrel Bryson
    6. #75x Johnny Petrozelle
    7. #21 Aubrey Thurston
    8. #39 Toby Davis
    9. #77 Hunter Slayton
    10. #99 AJ Winstead
    11. #06 Gary Wheaton, Jr.
    12. #11 Irvin Bell
    13. #2x Larry Penny
    14. #9 Tony Ingram
    Pole: #63 John Thorpe

    Category: Races, Southern National SpeedwayComments (0)

  3. WASH OUT – Coastal Plains Raceway

    September 12, 2008 by Winstead

    Racing at Coastal Plains Speedway was cancelled for the Labor Day Weekend event.

    See you at Southern National Speedway on September 13th.

    Category: Coastal Plains Raceway, RacesComments (0)