Hardeeville race report 2001-05-19

Hardeeville Motor Speedway Salutes Victors and Armed Forces

HARDEEVILLE, S.C. (May 19, 2001) - Armed Forces Day was celebrated in grand style Saturday night at the Hardeeville Motor Speedway. The Color Guard from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., along with Commander Flinn from the Naval Hospital, Beaufort, S.C. were in attendance for Military Appreciation Night. Those having the "force" to take the victories tonight were Chris Beach, Donald Cannon, Jonathan Haidon, Raef Judd, Mark Terry and Billy Tysinger.

Sixteen-year-old Chris Beach from Hardeeville, S.C. recorded his second victory in a row and third win this season in the O.C. Welch Ford-Lincoln-Mercury Late Models division. Corey Hendrix of Statesboro, Ga. started from the pole, but Steve Smith of Savannah, Ga. quickly jumped into the lead, and led the field until lap 28 when Tommy Porter, Jr., also of Savannah, Ga., slipped underneath. Beach started last in the nine-car field and quickly worked his way to the front, taking the lead away from Porter, Jr. on lap 34 and leading the rest of the race until the checkered flag flew on lap 50.

Seven cars took the green flag for the Xtreme Stock Cars race, with the first caution flag waving at lap three, when the car of Christie Anderson, from Ellabell, Ga., got tagged from behind by Jonathan Jones of Savannah, Ga. Donald Cannon, the latest winner in the Xtreme Stock Cars, took the lead on lap five from Keith Sanchez and pulled out to a dominating lead. The battle was for third place between Don Dean, Anderson and Bob Gossett. Once Dean was able to gain position, the pack set a mount to catch second-place Sanchez. Dean, Anderson and Ray Smith made it past Sanchez to finish in second, third and fourth positions, and Bob Gossett rounding out the top-five.

The combined Pro, Masters and Semi-Pro Legends Cars race provided plenty of action, along with an intense interest by Debbie Minor of Beaufort, S.C. Minor selected Corey Fletcher of Bloomingdale, Ga. as her "Hardeeville Millions" driver of the week, for the chance to win a day's interest off a million dollars. Fletcher started at the rear of the field, and quickly worked his way up to the front to battle with the top runners. Tommy Wrape, from Heath Springs, S.C., led the field for most of the 25-lap race, until Jonathan Haidon of Hilton Head, S.C. overtook him coming out of turn four on the last lap. Wrape was able to slide in between Haidon and Fletcher to take second place. Fletcher rounded out the top-three, but was unable to capture the "Hardeeville Millions" for himself and Minor.

The only two drivers to have taken a victory in the Mini Stock division continued to wage a battle in this Saturday's event. Mark Terry of Rincon, Ga. and Stephen Moore of St. George, S.C. ran side by side for several laps before Terry was able to pull ahead and win his third race this year. The two are now tied with three victories each. Marcus Dampier of Savannah, Ga. finished third.

Last weekend's Open Wheel Modifieds winner, Dan Schultz, led the field to the green flag this Saturday, but was quickly overtaken by Raef Judd, who led the rest of the 20-lap feature event. Judd, who resides in Charleston, S.C., captured his third victory this season. Schultz of Beaufort, S.C. followed in second place, with Richard Branton from Summerville, S.C. finishing in third place.

Billy Tysinger, a native of Hardeeville, S.C., captured his fourth victory in a row in the Legends Cars Young Lions division. Tysinger took the lead from Trey Carr of Evans, Ga. at the drop of the green flag and never looked back, leading every lap of the 20-lap feature race.

Hardeeville Motor Speedway will recognize Little Leaguers next Saturday, May 26. All team members in uniform will be admitted free. Scheduled to compete are the O.C. Welch Ford-Lincoln-Mercury Late Models, Mini Stocks, Street Stocks, Open Wheel Modifieds and Bandolero Cars. Hardeeville Motor Speedway is located three miles southeast of I-95 on Highway 17. Grandstands open at 5:00 p.m., with qualifying races beginning at 5:30 p.m. Feature races will begin at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, with reduced rates for seniors, military and children. Children under five are admitted free.

For complete event information, contact the Hardeeville Motor Speedway at (843) 784-RACE (7223) or visit online at www.hardeevillespeedway.com. <pre> HMS RACE RESULTS SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2001

O.C. Welch Ford-Lincoln-Mercury Late Models:

1. Chris Beach (Hardeeville, S.C.), 2. Tommy Porter, Jr. (Savannah, Ga.), 3. Steve Smith (Savannah, Ga.), 4. Skeeter Godbee (Sylvania, Ga.), 5. Bubba Jones (Savannah, Ga.), 6. Corey Hendrix (Statesboro, Ga.), 7. Bill Marburger (Beaufort, S.C.), 8. Kenny Cranston (Beaufort, S.C.), 9. Bruce Taylor (Savannah, Ga.), DNS: Andrew Blaske (Beaufort, S.C.)

Xtreme Stock Cars:

1. Donald Cannon (Rincon, Ga.), 2. Don Dean (Sheldon, S.C.), 3. Christie Anderson (Ellabell, Ga.), 4. Ray Smith (Early Branch, S.C.), 5. Bob Gossett (Hilton Head, S.C.), 6. Tim Dasher (Bluffton, S.C.), 7. Keith Sanchez (Hardeeville, S.C.), 8. Jonathan Jones (Savannah, Ga.)

Legends Cars (Pro, Masters, Semi-Pro):

1. Jonathan Haidon (Hilton Head, S.C.), 2. Tommy Wrape (Heath Springs, S.C.), 3. Corey Fletcher (Bloomingdale, Ga.), 4. Garrett Shurling (Ellabell, Ga.), 5. Walter Reardon (Savannah, Ga.), 6. Matt Harter (Jesup, Ga.), 7. Adam Congrove (Hilton Head, S.C.), 8. Kevin O'Brien (Burton, S.C.), 9. James Dent (Hinesville, Ga.), 10. Kevin Eves (Guyton, Ga.), 11. Justin Forehand (Sylvania, Ga.), 12. Jason Colson (Rincon, Ga.), 13. Randy Forehand (Sylvania, Ga.), 14. Bob Gossett (Hilton Head, S.C.), 15. Andrew Smith (Savannah, Ga.), 16. Thomas Coburn III (Ridgeland, S.C.), 17. Dave Sondles (Johns Island, S.C.)

Open Wheel Modifieds: 1. Raef Judd (Charleston, S.C.), 2. Dan Schultz (Beaufort, S.C.), 3. Richard Branton (Summerville, S.C.)

Mini Stocks: 1. Mark Terry (Rincon, Ga.), 2. Stephen Moore (St. George, S.C.), 3. Marcus Dampier (Savannah, Ga.), 4. Jim Hughes (Rincon, Ga.), 5. Randy Day (Beaufort, S.C.), 6. Johnny Brown (Bluffton, S.C.), 7. Doug Butler (Hardeeville, S.C.), 8. Patrick Mikell (Rincon, Ga.)

Legends Cars (Young Lions): 1. Billy Tysinger (Hardeeville, S.C.), 2. Louis Hawkins (North Augusta, S.C.), 3. Jimmy Lang (Bluffton, S.C.), 4. Timmy Dasher, Jr. (Hardeeville, S.C.), 5. Trey Carr (Evans, Ga.)

-HMS-