Stocks: Willard Pads Points Lead with Peach State Win
10 September 1999
JEFFERSON, GA - Wayne Willard of Buford, Ga. showed why he was the American Short Track Racing Organization (ASTRO) points leader by winning his fourth race of the season Sept. 5 at Peach State Speedway.Williard started outside the front row, beside pole sitter Lance Goodson. For the first eight laps, Williard was content to follow Goodson, but that didnt last. On lap nine, Willard took the lead and never looked back
By the time the 200-lap race was over, some of the pre-race favorites had run into trouble while Willards Jerry Brown Chevrolet/Easy Care Chevrolet smoked the field. Finishing in the runner-up spot was Rusty Clanton of Jonesboro, Ga. in the Arrowhead Alternator Pontiac.
Local driver, Gary Jones of Jefferson brought the Jones Auto Parts Chevrolet home in third followed by the Lakeside Communications, Inc. Chevrolet piloted by John Cadman of Suwanee, Ga. Russell Bearden of Rocky Face, Ga. was fifth in the K&S Specialists/Clark Truck Sales Chevrolet.
" This car was good all night long. If it wasnt for these guys (crew members) I wouldnt be out here, running up front," Willard said. " I have to take my hat off to Lance. He had a heck of a car and I believe he was just sizing me up probably if he hadnt hit that car. I hated to see it happen.
"But, we got this win for Jerry Brown Chevrolet, Johnson Industries and Easy Care. I would like to dedicate this race to Barbara Brown who just passed away not too long ago, Jerrys mother and I know she meant a lot to him."
Goodson, who was holding down second in points going into the Peach State race, was the only driver who looked like they had anything for Willard. The two drivers had checked-out from the rest of the field and were the class of the field until lap 76.
"Some of these guys just dont learn," Goodson said of the incident. "We were working lapped traffic and I guess they were racing each other. I went high to get around them and one of them spun in front of me."
Goodson nailed the car in the side, destroying the front end of his car and putting him in out of competition for the night.
The best battle on the track was for second and third places. In the early stages, it was Jones fighting with Wayne Anderson, Cadman and Clanton. Keeping the large gathering of fans on the edge of their seats, the fight got even better when Freddie Query joined in.
Those drivers behind Willard swapped the positions in the top five on a constant basis. It wasnt until the final laps that things settled down to a showdown for second between Jones and Clanton.
Andersons machine started smoking badly and had to retire on lap 147. Query also experienced some mechanical problems and had to pit on lap 174.
A final caution with 18 laps remaining set the stage for a final shoot out. Willard didnt miss a beat and took charge again. Nobody was able to challenge the winner.
Clantons charge to the second spot came from the 16th starting position. Daniel Johnson started 15th and finished sixth. Query managed a seventh-place finish. Johnny Henderson came across the stripe in eighth.
Another hard charge came from Jimmy Simpson who started 20th and finished ninth. Rounding out the top 10 finishers was Warren Mobley.
The next event on the 1999 ASTRO Super Late Model Series schedule is Sept. 18 at St. Augustine Speedway in St. Augustine, Fla.
Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.