MonticelloLive
Todays News. Today

____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

Exciting Racing Action At Monticello Speedway
By Linda M. Horn

 

On Saturday, August 11th, Monticello Speedway held an excellent night of racing action for racers and race fans alike. Being the first opportunity I have had to travel to Monticello this season, I was very impressed with the nights events. Monticello Speedway is an excellent facility with some of the nicest owners and track personnel in the area. Not to mention the warm welcomes I received from so many of the drivers, their crew and families, as well as many of the spectators. The “family” of racers at Monticello Speedway is among the most friendly, cheerful people you would want to meet at a race track.

 

The racing action on any given night at Monticello Speedway is enjoyed by many race fans that travel each week to be a part of the fun and excitement that the Chapman family strives to provide. Many hours of work go into a track throughout the week, to prepare for one single night of racing action. The Chapman family has overcome many hurdles since they first opened, with the start of their 2007 Season probably being the toughest of all. They have continued to hold their heads high, where many of us would have probably thrown in the towel and called it quits. For these reasons, they have truly earned the respect which I give them, as well as so many others.

 

In honor of the hard work, dedication and determination to the sport of Dirt Track Racing, Joseph and Michelle Chapman and the entire staff of Monticello Speedway deserve much more thanks and gratitude than any of us will ever be able to extend to them. They have added so much to the Monticello Community, from entertainment to more tax dollars, it all comes back to them wanting to provide a welcoming track for anyone wanting to enjoy a good night of racing.

 

With this in mind, I would like to thank the Monticello Speedway Staff, owners, drivers and race fans for the enjoyable night I spent there on August 11th. Many things have transpired since that night, but all things aside they were minor technicalities that should not render ill feelings from, to or at anyone. Take each day as it comes to you, enjoy what you’ve got while you can because you may not be able to tomorrow. But most importantly, be safe both on and off the track, show good sportsmanship to your fellow racers and by all means, have a good time. As long as the drivers are having fun on the track, the fans will have fun in the stands. Now for the rest of the story………

 

The Saturday night show at Monticello Speedway in Monticello, Arkansas was a special event featuring the AMP Late Model Series. Many well known names were in attendance for this event. Several of the SUPR Series drivers took advantage of the SUPR’s not having a race Saturday night, and traveled to Monticello to get in on the $2,000 to win Late Model show.
 
The AMP Series allows Late Models running “Spec” or Crate engines to compete in their events. Among the drivers and race fans Spec motors are thought to have a performance advantage over the Crate engines, but the Saturday night show was a combination of both types of engines performing excellent side by side racing action.
 
The 40 Lap Feature event held 24 competitors, each who had removed their roof’s to compete in the AMP Topless 40. The combination of SUPR, AMP and Crate drivers making up the field was enough to make any race fan anxious to see the green flag start, but before this could happen each of the drivers were introduced to the crowd then they were kind enough to present the AMP Series Leader, Christy Hudson, with a dozen red roses. Hudson had spent the entire week, and up to 6 hours before the race, in an Arkansas hospital with complications from a blood clot and other health issues.
 
Race car drivers are a breed all their own, but the drivers in this event Saturday night were like none other that this racing reporter has ever met. Fierce competitors on the track, the best of friends in the pits. They walk around among other drivers and race fans, blending in the crowd, friendly, smiling and happy to be able to put on a good show for the fans.
 
After their presentation, the drivers were commanded by the spectators in a load, cheerful demand to “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines”! Once engines roared, drivers made a lap around the track then split into a glorious 4-Wide Parade Lap and waved to the race fans to show their appreciation for such a wonderful turn-out.
 
The Green flag dropped, starting the much awaited 40 lap Feature, the race was on and it was all Jon Mitchell with the 5 car from Greenbriar, Arkansas. With 23 of the original 24 cars on the track, it was side by side racing action throughout all 40 laps of the race.
 
Mitchell was able to maintain the 1st place position and take home the $2,000 prize money for the night. Several attempts were made by the A1 car of Duke Whiseant to take the lead, with several close calls near the end of the race. But at the stripe, Whiseant held tight to the 2nd place position. Texas driver, Patrick Daniel (75) moved up through the field from an 8th place start to grab 3rd at the finish line.
 
Through several laps of the Feature, a strong battle for the 4th place position was held between Ray Moore (93), SUPR Series driver from Shreveport, LA., and the Jay Mallard Ford #38 car driven by Mark Andrews of Marion, LA. With only a few laps left of the show, Moore moved around Andrews to take the 4th place spot in the finishing order, with Andrews rounding out the Top 5.

 

Jon Mitchell maintains his 1st place position in the AMP Series Points Standings thus far in the season with an impressive 1,488 points, giving him a 225 point lead over the 2nd place man. In the standings, the 2nd and 3rd place drivers are both "AMP Rookies". Kyle Beard is currently 2nd in points with only a small 26 point gap between him and Joseph Long. Things could get rather interesting between Beard and Long in coming weeks as each of them strive to close the gap before the end of the season.
 
The excellent racing action seen on the Monticello Speedway surface Saturday night by these wonderful drivers was a fine example of great driving, sportsmanship, clean racing but most importantly a full field of drivers having a really good time. The exciting racing action was topped only by the filling of the stands by the spectators. Vacant seats were extremely hard to find in the grandstands. But everybody wanted to get a seat to witness the excellent racing action from drivers in the AMP Late Model Series as well as the regular Monticello Speedway classes.

 

Among the other classes on the track for this event were the Cruisers. An excellent class for anyone interested in getting an inexpensive start in the sport, Cruisers are fastly becoming on of the largest classes at many tracks across South Arkansas and North Louisiana. The Cruiser class held a field of 16 drivers, some with passengers, but all with a checkered flag win on their minds.

 

Running a 10 lap Feature race with only one car being able to hang on for the lead, the remainder of the field saw drivers advancing from the rear to finish close to the front of the pack. Don Pharr (#7), of Monticello took the win for the night, with Cody Chadwick (14cc), of ElDorado, claiming 2nd at the finish. The 3rd place finisher for the night was Tony Gillespie (11A), of Dumas, after starting this show in position #11 of the starting order. Charging up for a 4th place finish in this race was the #26 car, driven by Brian Pharr, of Monticello, after starting way back in 15th place. Rounding out the Top 5 finishers was Doug Davis in the 0 car from Monticello.

 

The Hobby Stock class at Monticello Speedway featured 13 cars competing against one another for that 1st place trophy and prize money. Leading from the starting line was the 225 car of Kenneth Harvey, from Monticello. With only a few laps to go in the show, Harvey briefly lost the lead position to Ricky Wrinkle in the 54 car, but a caution called for the cars to be restarted. With Wrinkle on the front, Harvey edged past him after the restart to lead the final two laps of the race, giving him the win. The 15 car of Jason Craig moved up from an 8th place starting position to take 2nd at the finish line. The 3rd place finisher was Monticello’s Roger Hayden in the 27 car, who had originally started the race in 2nd place. The 4th place finisher, and coming from 12th in a field of 13 cars, was none other than Miss Mandy Hayden in the #8 car of Monticello. Managing to start and finish the show in the 5th place position was yet another Monticello driver, Mark Bayird and his B29 car.

 

The Street Stock Feature held a bit of excitement for race fans on August 11th, with several cautions and only 8 of the starting 17 cars finishing the race. The one car that was able to hold on to the lead position throughout the race was the #99 truck, driven by Ronnie Via of Pine Bluff. Taking the 2nd place position was the 27K car of Mike Kongenske, also of Pine Bluff. David Nichols and the 88 car held on for a 3rd place position in the finishing order, with David McCann (M20) claiming 4th and C.J. Harris in the 272 car rounding out the Top 5.

 

The Junior Limited Modifieds class hosts a field of drivers ranging from 15 years of age and younger. These drivers have one big advantage over many of us in the racing world, their youth combined with the ability to learn from the best on the track. With this in mind when you watch these guys perform on the track, you must know that some of them are still in the learning process, while some of them have a full years experience under their belts. These kids are the future of Dirt Track racing, and should be commended for their excellent abilities at such a young age.

 

Jacob Stockstill (222) from Crossett led all 8 laps of the Feature to add another win to his racing career. Stockstill has raced many types of racing events, from Motocross to drag racing to dirt track and has always been one to watch for those interested in a driver with the intent to win. His drag racing skills were excellent each time I have seen him make a pass, but I would expect nothing less from a child with a teacher such as his grandfather, Junior Stockstill!

 

Another up and coming racer is young Chase DelRio (27s), who finished this show in 2nd place. DelRio started 5th in a field of 8 cars, and quickly moved to 2nd place position. He is currently running the Young Guns class at Fast Trax Speedway, and also competes on Friday nights at Dixie Speedway in Farmerville, LA.

 

Your 3rd place finisher in the Junior Limited class was none other than Seth Reed. Seth’s driving abilities are second to none, and with the experiences he has been faced with in the 2007 Season this “kid” will go far in the world of racing simply because of his dedication to his little sister. His dedication and determination to keep her love of racing alive is by far the most honorable task a driver of such young age could do.

 

Taking the 4th place position for the night was the 17J car of Joey Simmons, from Warren. Joey has grown up around racing, watching his dad run for several years and apparently paying very close attention. Joey exhilarates a love of the sport than is unseen by many, until he rolls onto the track. He is yet another driver that Monticello race fans should pay close attention to in the future.

 

Grant Box, of White Hall, driver of the #b0x car claimed 5th place in the race on August 11th. Being my first time to see Grant, I paid close attention to him while he was on the track. It was no surprise that he also had excellent driving skills and seems to be a good contender in the sport. Keep an eye on this one also, as I feel that he will be racing for many years to come.

 

The other three drivers who were in this class Saturday night also show excellent skills and sportsmanship both on and off the track. Warren East, Eddie Underwood and Caity Curry are all a part of the future of dirt track racing. Each of the drivers who participate in this class on any race night could very well grow up to be the drivers we watch running in the NASCAR series one day.

 

Among the classes running the August 11th show was also the IMCA Southern Sport Mod class. An excellent race is pretty much the only way to describe what was seen from this class of 13 drivers. Running 15 laps of caution free, side by side racing action makes for one of the best shows of the night.

 

Among the most impressive drivers of this class was the 29 car of Andy Jones, from Marion, LA. Jones started the race in 10th place, worked his way through the field of excellent drivers ahead of him and took the lead position on Lap 9. Jones held onto this spot to take the checkered flag victory. The 2nd place finisher was Kevin Ferrell in the 26 car. Ferrell, of Wilmar, started the show in 2nd place but led the first 8 laps before losing his spot to Jones. Another impressive race was performed by Chris Reed in the F2R car out of Rison, AR., starting the show 5th row inside in 9th place, moving through the field for a 3rd place finish. The 4th place finisher was Lee Curry, normally seen in the 9c car but due to damages to his car while his sister ran the Junior Limited class, Curry drove a borrowed car in the Feature. Seth Reed was kind enough to put Curry in his car for the Feature to keep him in the show. Rounding out the Top 5 for the night was Steve Bolin of Hamburg, in the 12 car, moving up from a 7th place starting position.

 

Monticello Speedway appreciates their drivers, crew members and their race fans. Track owners would like to invite you to spend a Saturday night of racing action with them to experience the fun and be a part of the excitement as drivers from all over South Arkansas compete in the dirt oval action at Monticello Speedway.