(9/15/07) - - Everything was going Randy "The Dream" Weaver's way, on Saturday, at the "New" Green Valley Speedway, in Glencoe, AL. Everything, but the last half, of the last lap. The Crossville, TN driver, was the fastest qualifier, in group qualifying, for the Southern Regional Racing Series' Crimson Laundryman 75-lapper, promptly won his heat race, to take the Performance Connection Pole Award, and led seventy-four and one-half laps, of what was, arguably, the best SRRS race ever. That's when Weaver's day, turned into a nightmare.

The day's featured event, had a little bit of everything. A few young lions, some storied veterans, a good points battle, three-wide racing, and a top five, that changed every lap, over the last twenty or so circuits. After all, there was $10,000 on the line, for the winner.The opening laps, saw Weaver go to the lead, with Batesville, AR's Wendell Wallace in tow. Cleveland,TN's Billy Mayo, current SRRS points leader, battled with Brasstown, NC's Ray Cook, and Chattanooga's Ronnie Johnson, three-wide, down the backstretch, before Cook settled into the third position. Less than five laps in, Ellenwood, GA's Mike Head spun, bringing the field to caution.As the green flew again, Johnson went to third, and set his sights on Wallace, with Laurel, MS's Jason Smith, grabbing fifth from Mayo. Lapped traffic would be an issue for Weaver, as Wallace and Johnson closed down his lead, before Northport, AL's Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, brought the big Super Late Models, back to yellow, on lap thirteen. He would leave, finishing twenty-second. Linden, TN's Eric Hickerson also got caught up in that incident, in turn two. He was able to continue. Lap fifteen saw Byron Michael, of Florence AL, start to make himself known to the top five, as he got by Smith. On the same lap, Jack Sullivan, brought out caution number three. the Greenbriar, AR driver, broke a shock, ending his night. He was credited with twentieth.The top five would stabilize, over the next eighteen laps, with Weaver, Wallace, Johnson, Cook, and Michael, training around the 3/8 mile oval. Athens, AL's Anthony Burroughs, went for a spin on lap thirty-three, bringing out caution number four.

The next green flag segment, saw Weaver continue his domination, with Wallace right in his tracks, followed by Cook, Johnson, and Michael, all nose to tail. With less than twenty laps to go, Cook dicided it was time to make his move. He went after Wallace, with Johnson hooked onto Cook's rear. Cook slid high, out of turn four, and Mayo, out of nowhere, grabbed third. Johnson got by Cook, then went three-wide with Wallace and Mayo, for second, as Michael watched, intently. Mayo got a nose, out in front of Wallace, but couldn't hang on. Michael made his move, dispensing of Mayo, and going to the low side, and getting by Wallace, after riding side-by-side, for several laps.

On lap seventy-two, the leader and Michael, got caught up behind Head, a lapped car, on the backstretch. Wallace took advantage of that, going high, and getting by Weaver, just as Weaver and Head got together, sending Head spinning. Unbelievably, Weaver, nor Michael, received damage. The race would revert back to the last completed lap, lap seventy-one, with Weaver Michael, and Wallace, the top three, with Johnson and Gadsden, AL's Bo Shirley, rounding out the top five. Wallace got back by Michael, as the green flew on the final four laps, and looked to the high side of Weaver, as the white flag waved. As the two, exited turn two, a virtual dead heat, Wallace smacked the outside retaining wall, midway down the backstretch. Michael shot by both drivers, to the inside, and held off Weaver, to the checkered flag. Shirley rode home third. Wallace was fourth, and Mayo, took fifth.


Final results
Green Valley Speedway
Glencoe, AL

B17 Byron Michael
116 Randy Weaver
111 Bo Shirley
88 Wendell Wallace
115 Billy Mayo
12 Jason Smith
53 Ray Cook
58 Garrett Durrett
66 Tony Knowles
22 Robert Gant
5 Ronnie Johnson
54 Dane Dacus
54 Mike Head
81 Aaron Ridley
70 Mike Luna
98 Eric Hickerson
21 Royce Bray
M31 Tony Morris
60 Gar ****son
18 Jack Sullivan
49 Dingus Griffin
8 Ronny Lee Hollingsworth
121 Anthony Burroughs
T1 Todd Morrow