SENOIA, Ga. - Third generation driver Joey Armistead patiently waited for his car to find the perfect set-up in the final stages of Saturday night’s feature race for the Limited Late Models at Senoia Raceway in Senoia, Ga. It would pay off in the end, as the 17-year-old scored his first victory in the division.
While Armistead’s car came into the correct set-up, fast qualifier and pole sitter Austin Horton of Grantville had his car’s set-up go away in the final five laps. Horton slid high on the track on lap 12, allowing Armistead to sneak past. Horton would fight back on the next lap to regain the lead. Horton’s ride again pushed high in turn four on lap 17, with Armistead able to gain ground on the low side. The duo would swap the top spot back and forth until Armistead secured it as they took the white flag.
Armistead pulled away on the final lap to score the win, while Clifton Moran slid past Horton at the line for second place. Glenn Morris finished fourth ahead of Dusty Jones in fifth.
“He (Horton) gave me the opportunity late in the race and we got on it,” said Joey Armistead. “I am real happy right now.”
In other action, Jake Traylor waited for a late race charge to capitalize in the B Cadet feature. Craig Scott had led the entire race until the final lap. Traylor gained momentum on the top side of the track as the two exited the final turn. Traylor held his ground and beat Scott to the finish line by less than two feet. Blant Duke was third ahead of Dow Kirkland in fourth and Johnny Stinchcomb in fifth.
Zach Leonhardi overtook Bubba Harry just past the halfway mark of the Legends feature, and went on to score his first dirt track win. Harry finished in second, with Joshua Hicks in third, Jason Treschl in fourth and John Ponzio in fifth.
Dylan Knowles led ran flag to flag to claim his third win of the season in the Crate Late Model feature. Matt Black finished in second, followed by Zack Shelton in third, Sean Swetnam in fourth and Jamie Brown in fifth.
Clint “Cat Daddy” Smith returned to victory lane one week after breaking a driveshaft to claim his fifth win of the season in six races. Smith shot out to a large lead while most of the crowd was watching Joe Armistead, Jr. put on a high side clinic. Armistead missed the set-up in early night qualifying and started scratch on the field. By the midway point of the race, Armistead was among the top five and then he found his groove on the top side of the track. He worked past Lavon Sparks on lap 20, but could not reel in Smith before the checkered flag. Maddie Crane, Sparks and Ricky Williams rounded out the top five.
Ben Steele outlasted a number of cautions score the win in the Hobby Stock feature. Sam Carter finished in second, with Chris Steele third, Mike Jenkins fourth and Dustin Smith fifth.
Derrick Matthews held off all challenges from Blant Duke to win the Bomber Bonus feature. Matthews engine was protested following the feature race. His engine heads, camshaft and driveshaft were inspected and found to be legal. Duke would finish in second, with Josh Roddy in third, Winford Minix in fourth and Jim Jackson in fifth.
Brandon Bright also notched his third win of the season in the Mini Stock class, besting James Stansel in second and Dorough Bright in third. Bo Chambers and Robert Caldwell rounded out the top five.
Saturday, May 16 sees the return of one of Senoia Raceway’s most popular nights, with the ‘Rides in the Race Cars’ event, when children of all ages are invited to ride with their favorite driver for a few controlled laps around the track.
A full night of racing is also planned in the Super Late Models, Limited Late Models, Crate Late Models, B Cadets, Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks and Bombers. For more information, visit SenoiaRaceway.com.
Senoia Raceway – Senoia, GA
Race Results – May 9, 2015
Limited Late Models
1. Joey Armistead
2. Clifton Moran
3. Austin Horton
4. Glenn Morris
5. Dusty Jones
6. Jayce Southwell
7. Marty Lunsford
8. Chris Carr
9. Shane Criswell
DNS: Marcus Caswell
Super Late Models
1. Clint Smith
2. Joe Armistead, Jr.
3. Madeline Crane
4. Lavon Sparks
5. Ricky Williams
6. Matt Dooley
7. Cody King
8. Lamar Haygood
9. Mason Massey
Crate Late Models
1. Dylan Knowles
2. Matt Black
3. Zach Shelton
4. Sean Swetnam
5. Jamie Brown
6. Bobby Mills
B Cadets
1. Jake Traylor
2. Craig Scott
3. Blant Duke
4. Dow Kirkland
5. Johnny Stinchcomb
6. Jake Sanders
7. Parrish Duncan
8. T.J. Joiner
9. Josh Copeland
10. Benny Croy
11. Michael Coggins
DNS: Cindy Anderson
Hobby Stock
1. Ben Steele
2. Sam Carter
3. Chris Steele
4. Mike Jenkins
5. Dustin Smith
6. Bubba Allen
7. Joe Hillman
8. Ben Wells
9. Jerry Scott
10. Lee McElwaney
11. Gary Brand
Bombers
1. Derrick Matthews
2. Blant Duke
3. Josh Roddy
4. Winford Minix
5. Jim Jackson
6. Chris Arnett
7. Tim Harmon
8. Ricky Neil
9. Blake Harmon
DNS: Bobby Arnold
DNS: Jamie Carr
Mini Stocks
1. Brandon Bright
2. James Stansell
3. Dorough Bright
4. Bo Chambers
5. Robert Caldwell
6. Darrin Parrot
7. Cassie Dingler-Still
8. Billy Allison
9. Jamie Nicholson
10. Harold Leath
Legends Cars
1. Zach Leonhardi
2. Bubba Harry
3. Josh Hicks
4. Jason Treschl
5. John Ponzio
6. Robbie Wooddall
7. Tony Armbruster
8. Tina Johnson
9. Dennis Aiken
10. Bailey Wooddall
11. Scott Moseley
12. Dwight Pilgram
DNS: Allen Spence
