IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

September 8, 2009 Results from Five Flags Speedway 9/4 Scotty Anderson paid the perfect tribute by driving John Shuffler’s car to victory Friday night in the 35-lap Wayne’s Diner Super Stock Showdown at Five Flags Speedway. Shuffler suffered a stroke earlier in the week and is hospitalized in Fort Walton Beach. Anderson works on Shuffler’s car and keeps it in his Opp, Ala., shop. “He called me from the hospital and insisted that I drive his car,” Anderson said. “I couldn’t say no.” And when Anderson stopped in Victory Lane, he quickly called Shuffler, saying, “I won. I won this race for you.” And he did it in dominating fashion, leading the final 30 laps and through several restarts. Earl Polk started on the outside front row and led the first five laps. He was elated with his second-place finish. “Scotty deserves it,” Polk said. “This was a great finish for us. We had good restarts every time.” Anderson caught Polk on Lap 5 and passed him on the backstretch to take the point with Tommy Rollins in third. It stayed that way through Lap 17 when the caution came out for a car that stopped on the backstretch. Shortly after the restart, points leader Shannon Jackson got underneath Chris Cotto. But they both spun out in Turn 1 and hit the wall. During the caution, Rollins pitted, giving up his third-place spot, and did not return. Anderson was able to pull away from Polk after each restart. He and the crew had to make heavy repairs after the previous race when Shuffler hit the wall and had to climb out of a burning car. They repaired the car, then when Shuffler suffered a stroke, Anderson went from mechanic to driver. “There was only one goal tonight,” Anderson said, “and it was this trophy.” David Jones of Mobile won the 40-lap Pro Late Model feature. Keith Thorpe started on the pole and led the first 38 laps. He seemed in position to take over the points lead when Ronnie Smith spun out and suffered some damage on Lap 3. In fact, as the race neared the end, Thorpe was about to put Smith a lap down. But Brandon Odom caught Thorpe as they weaved through lap traffic. Odom bumped Thorpe, who spun on Lap 38. Both drivers had to start at the rear of the lead-lap cars, putting Jones on the point. He pulled away from James Kimbrough on the final two-lap sprint for his first victory. Keith English took third. Thorpe was working his way back, but he spun out on the final lap and finished ninth. Smith was eighth and unofficially the two drivers are tied for the points lead. Randy Thompson won the 20-lap Sportsman feature when Stevie Mercer was disqualified in postrace inspection. Mercer passed Thompson on Lap 6 and went on to take the checkered flag. Brannon Fowler was second and Steve Buttrick third. Kenny Bullard won the 20-lap Bomber feature when Pete Kitchen was disqualified in postrace inspection. Kitchen had led all 20 laps to take the checkered flag. Michael Kitchen was second and Mike Goraum was third. Pro Late Model feature – 1. David Jones; 2. James Kimbrough; 3. Keith English; 4. Shain Cheney; 5. Mike Alexander Jr.; 6. Kyle Bryant; 7. Brandon Odom; 8. Ronnie Smith; 9. Keith Thorpe; 10. John Thompson; 11. Bobby Knox; 12. Hannah Baker; 13. Chase Knox; 14. Troy Grisaffi; 15. Ricky Vice Super Stock feature – 1. Scotty Anderson; 2. Earl Polk; 3. Darryl Rudd; 4. Randy Thompson; 5. Jody Henderson; 6. Paul Jean; 7. Chris Cotto; 8. Shannon Jackson; 9. Mike Moore; 10. Roger Cain; 11. Tommy Rollins; 12. Jessie Reid; 13. Bo Wilkinson; 14. Sean Goodwin; 15. Greg Young Sportsman Feature – 1. Randy Thompson; 2. Brannon Fowler; 3. Steve Buttrick; 4. Billy Hoover; 5. Shanna Ard; 6. Jim Pokrant; 7. William Kitchen; 8. Bubba Winslow; 9. Bo Resmondo; 10. Donald Hardy; 11. David Poole; 12. Eddie Craig Jr.; 13. Wayne Burkett; 14. Freddie McCall; 15. Darin Matthews Heat #1 – 1. Shanna Ard; 2. Jim Pokrant; 3. Freddie McCall Heat #2 – 1. Randy Thompson; 2. Billy Hoover Bomber Feature – 1. Kenny Bullard; 2. Michael Kitchen; 3. Mike Goraum; 4. William Goulet; 5. Michael Nelson; 6. Sam Mellema; 7. Cameron Adams; 8. Eddie Hobbs; 9. Brandon Burks; 10. Leonard Craig Jr.; 11. Dayton Sidner; 12. Chad Roberts; 13. Gary Goodwin; 14. Rick Thompson; 15. Bo Hancock; 16. Courtney Rodrigues; 17. Daryl Lynchard; 18. Devron Brooks Heat #1 – 1. William Goulet; 2. Kenny Bullard; 3. Mike Goraum Heat #2 – 1. Michael Nelson; 2. Gary Goodwin; 3. Chad Roberts Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!