The long awaited points series event at South Georgia Motorsports Park for ORSCA didn’t finish the way anyone would have liked to see it end. Given the weather conditions by constantly monitored Doppler Radar at the track, it was surprising that the skies held the rain as long as they did. Regardless, ORSCA made their presence known September 8 - 10 at one of Georgia’s finest racing facilities.
Plagued by showers during qualifying Saturday evening and during the onset and the middle of eliminations Sunday, it was eventually a “No Choice” call made by ORSCA President, Johnny Fenn who held out through the second round of showers which stalled on top of the track before making the decision to call the race.
Dealing with extremes in temperatures, these Outlaws still produced some awesome ETs for the fans during qualifying Saturday afternoon and evening. Outlaw 10.5 did not make the 3rd round qualifying as the showers set in with the final pair of Limited Street Cars in staging. Final qualifying order stood for Sunday’s eliminations as follows:
| Steve Kirk, Jr. |
4.542 |
| Marcus Birt |
4.570 |
| Jack Barfield |
4.578 |
| Mike Hill |
4.607 |
| Michael Robinson |
4.680 |
| Jimmy Blackmon |
4.736 |
| Craig Miller |
4.746 |
| Kenneth Rainwater |
4.752 |
| Rob Hale |
4.765 |
| Bobby Cole |
4.765 |
| Brian Goethe |
4.797 |
| Rome Berry |
4.819 |
| David Sheppard |
4.825 |
| Justin Humphreys |
4.893 |
| Josh McClelland |
5.082 |
| Lance Styck |
5.195 |
Rob Hale gave the fans a scare in that last round of qualifying as through the dark at the lower end all that could be seen from the starting line was a cloud of smoke with tail lights shifting left and right and the screech of tires as fans stood in silence. Suffering mainly body damage in that lower end crash with the wall, the “Gotta Have Wings to Fly” crew worked feverishly all night to put the car back into competition Sunday. As Rob Hale stated Sunday morning, “She may not be pretty, but she’s here and she’s ready and I am just glad it was not any worse !”.
Limited Street produced a 15 car field with qualifying earned as follows:
| Darrin Hoyle |
4.872 |
| Carlton Thompson |
4.993 |
| Keith Szabo |
5.009 |
| Frank Mewshaw |
5.030 |
| Jeff Cooner |
5.042 |
| David Reese |
5.053 |
| Brandon May |
5.062 |
| Jerry Gunter |
5.078 |
| Eric Dillard |
5.109 |
| Carl Gilbert |
5.115 |
| Buck Walker |
5.165 |
| Kevin Scott |
5.242 |
| Ric Stanley |
5.361 |
| Mark Strickland |
5.396 |
| Chvek Lawrence |
5.401 |
EZ Street’s Kell Eubanks out of Southside, Alabama produced an unbelievable 5.053 ET in the 3rd round of qualifying which he was able to back up with a 5.08 during eliminations and will now hold the Official ORSCA EZ Street World Record. Congratulations to the Pure Power Motorsports Team on this long awaited come back !!
The top 10 qualifiers in EZ Street were as follows:
| Kell Eubanks |
5.053 |
| Robby Erwin |
5.061 |
| Tommy Brewer |
5.138 |
| Tim Kincaid |
5.219 |
| Shane Stack |
5.243 |
| Will Stevenson |
5.254 |
| Nick Yarber |
5.266 |
| Darrell Morgan |
5.341 |
| Spurgeon Adkins |
5.393 |
| Linwood Lamm |
5.458 |
Outlaw 5.30 made an impressive showing as the top ten qualifiers set the following:
| Lester Pitts |
5.313 |
| Kenny Acree |
5.317 |
| CG Knight |
5.318 |
| Israel Deramey |
5.327 |
| Jeremy Ellis |
5.334 |
| Allen Keller |
5.341 |
| Bo Conner |
5.359 |
| Greg Mitchell |
5.378 |
| Lizon Walker |
5.392 |
| Glenn Dutton |
5.425 |
Take notice at the closeness in qualifying times of the top 8 cars in 6.00 Index at SGMP.
| Pete Rickerson |
6.000 |
| Daryle Palmer |
6.001 |
| Eric Armstrong |
6.002 |
| Jason Richards |
6.002 |
| Glenn Dutton |
6.005 |
| Jeff Paulk |
6.006 |
| David Harvey |
6.008 |
| Will Coots |
6.018 |
The top 13 cars in 7.00 Index proved to be tight competition during qualifying as well:
| Ken Buckner |
7.001 |
| Ricky Pennington |
7.001 |
| Steve Smith |
7.002 |
| Aaron Criswell |
7.002 |
| Kevin Thompson |
7.002 |
| Ronnie Carisle |
7.003 |
| Chad Smart |
7.004 |
| Ricky Millard |
7.006 |
| Kenny Blevins |
7.006 |
| Jon Anderson |
7.007 |
| Dillon Ruttledge |
7.007 |
| Ed Bendall |
7.008 |
| Bill Jones, Sr. |
7.013 |
Sunday - Eliminations
After all the hard work to set qualifying positions, ORSCA began eliminations Sunday with a two hour rain delay. The following is where each class stood when the race finally had to be called. The remaining rounds in each class will be run at Huntsville Dragway October 1 & 2 for bragging rights, the points and the trophy.
Outlaw 10.5 - Going into the semi - final
Steve Kirk vs. Michael Robinson
Craig Miller vs. Jack Barfield
Limited Street - Going into the semi - final
Carlton Thompson vs. Keith Szabo
Jeff Cooner vs. Darrin Hoyle
EZ Street - Going into the semi - final
Kell Eubanks vs. Tim Kincaid
Robby Erwin vs. Will Stevenson
5.30 Index - Going into the semi - final
John Smith vs. Jeremy Ellis
Kenny Acree vs. C.G. Knight
6.00 Index - Going into the semi - final
Pete Rickerson vs. Jason Richards
Wesley Kelly vs. Michael Strickland
7.00 Index - last run of the 4th round and then semi - final
Andy Schafer vs. Bobby Meshow
Donnie Martin vs. who ever wins - either Josh Mackey or Steve Smith
The fans at Huntsville Dragway will get more “BANG” for their buck as these Outlaws who have been granted a delay from the semi - finals at SGMP by Mother Nature herself will be in all out war the end of the month. Come join us - September 30th - October 2nd in North Alabama for the completion of this race and the next AWESOME ORSCA ALL-STAR POINTS SERIES EVENT !!
To South Georgia Motorsports Park - ORSCA appreciates the fine staff who cooperated so whole-heartedly with difficult elements during this event. Our entire ORSCA staff and racing organization was extremely impressed with your facility and operations.. Thank You !!
Karen Bryant - ORSCA Media
Completion of South Georgia Motorsports Race – Huntsville Dragway
Here is how it all went down for the finale of the SGMP race.
Semi Finals
7.00 Index
Bobby Michaud (Win) vs. Andy Schaefer (Red Light)
Steve Smith (Win) vs. Josh Mackey - Broke pass
6.00 Index
Michael Strickland vs. Wesley Kelly (Win)
Jason Richards vs. Pete Rickerson (Win)
5.30 Index
John Smith (Win) vs. Jeremy Ellis
Kenny Acree vs. C.G. Knight (Win)
EZ Street
Kell Eubanks (Win) -5.3918 vs. Will Stevenson (Broke)
Robby Erwin (Win) vs. Tim Kincaid
Limited Street
Carlton Thompson (Win) - 4.9618 vs. Keith Szabo - 5.0051
Jeff Cooner (Win) - 4.8549 vs. Darrin Hoyle - 4.8922
Outlaw 10.5
Steve Kirk (Win) - 4.5136 vs. Michael Robinson - 4.6164
Craig Miller (Win) - 4.6196 vs. Jack Barfield - 4.6673
Finals
7.00 Index
Bobby Michaud vs. Steve Smith (Win) – 7.008
6.00 Index
Pete Rickerson (Win) – 6.021 vs. Wesley Kelly
5.30 Index
John Smith (Win) – 5.36 vs. C.G. Knight
EZ Street
Kell Eubanks - 5.2375 vs. Robby Erwin (Win) - 5.1580
Limited Street
Cooner (Win) vs. Carlton Thompson
Outlaw 10.5
Craig Miller (Win) - 4.55 vs. Steve Kirk
Congratulations to all the winners from the finish of the SGMP Race !!
Karen Bryant - ORSCA Media