Something Has Got To Give

Submitted by: Leo Johnson

  

The excitement of the opening of Needmore Speedway has brought everyone together. Enemies have been seen talking and putting feuds aside to welcome back racing to the 3/8 mile oval. Over the last two races, however, there have been questionable moves on the track by some of the drivers.  From all the talk, some competitors are getting ready to see a new face in victory lane. The first two races of the season have seen the same winners in all divisions but one, the Enduro class. Patience may be growing thin, but the car owners wallets aren't and we may actually see an engine hoist Saturday night.


Gene Ross has seen fast times and won both features so far this year in the late models, but Steven Roberts with his crate motor, has shown he can run down Ross.The start is key because both weeks they have started on the front row and Ross has won out both times. If it happens again don't look for Roberts to go down easy. Deep Dixie will have to mount an in-car camera in one of the two.

The driver to watch this week in the late models may be Josh Southerland. A bad start and a brush with the wall has caused him to have to come from behind in the first two races. Look for him to be strong if he can qualify good.

The best racing and competition has been in the Hobby division. Leon Childs has won the first two, but didn't look to have the better car. The veteran has fought off the likes of Newsome, McDonald, and Wilkerson, but old Leon has brought home the trophies. Look for a drama filled night in the Hobby division.

Enduro is the only division with a different winner this year. With over twenty cars each week, if you just survive, you have a chance to win. On June 2 Ryan Hembree held off young gun Daniel Thompson to give his car owner his second victory of the night. Thompson drove him clean and looks as if he gets out front he maybe hard to beat.

The Limited's are running for a bigger purse and Cole Exum has to be the favorite. Chris Davis subbing for Lonnie Roberts in the last race made a show out of it, but Exum pulled away in the end. The extra money should bring in some new cars along with regulars like Maine and the Summerlin Gang, but Exum is on his game.

Mini Stock has been dominated by the Boyette's. Tyler and Grandpa Billy Joe have made it look easy. The Mini Stocks have been doing a lot of paint swapping the first two weeks and it should carry over to this week.

Michael Ford in the Superstreet class may be the strongest of all the racers at Needmore. Chris Cunningham is probably still on the high of the last race, leading half the laps, but Ford looks like he's on cruise control to me.This Saturday night at Needmore should be exciting. The question is who's strike and patience will still be intact?