It was an eventful night for racers at Peach State Speedway Thursday, as the track hosted the Toyota Tundra Independence 125 for the Georgia Asphalt Series, the longest event for the tour this year.
A crowd estimated to be in excess of 2,500 watched as Ryan Crane from Panama City, FL, in only his second race at Peach State, ran away from the field for the victory.
It was Crane’s first GAS series race to boot.
“It’s not many times you get a car that runs like that,” Crane said. “We worked real hard on it, and got it where it would hold out for a long race. Man, was it fun!”
Ryan Crane celebrates his first GAS series win last week at Peach State Speedway. Photos by Brandon Reed
Crane Dominates For Peach State Win
Crane’s win came in a car that still has that new car smell.
“This car was new five races ago, and I’ve won three out of five races with it,” he said. “I love this thing now.”
From the start, Crane pulled out to a huge lead, leaving Jefferson’s Joey Senter, Ryan Sieg, Braselton’s Jimmy Garmon, and 2007 GAS champion Russell Fleeman to fight for second.
The night went sour early on for two Commerce racers. Four laps in, Dennis Wilder made contact with the fourth turn wall, bringing out the caution. As the field slowed in the first turn, Taylor Satterfield spun, making hard contact with the turn two wall. Wilder was able to continue after making repairs, but Satterfield, who was making his first Peach State start of the year, was done for the night.
When the race resumed, it was Crane’s show again, as he jumped out to another huge lead. That left Pendergrass racer Paul Kelley to do battle with Sieg and Senter, while 2007 GAS Rookie of the Year Kyle Fowler began moving up through the top ten.
The caution flew again on lap 89, sending many of the leaders to pit road for fresh rubber. It was the first time Peach State fans had the chance to see live pit stops all year, and the GAS teams didn’t disappoint. Fowler’s crew got him out and off of pit road first, while Crane came out third.
But rookie driver Kyle Mitchell decided to try to pull a rabbit out of his hat by staying on the track, gambling that he had taken enough care of his tires to last the final 35 laps of the event. The gamble paid off, at least for awhile, as Mitchell was able to hold off Fowler on the restart.
But Crane’s fast car would not be denied as he roared his way up to second place before the caution again flew, this time for Michael Phelps’ crash in the third turn.
On the restart, Crane quickly passed Mitchell, and pulled away from the field again. Mitchell was working to stay in the top five when his night ended with a broken rear end tube, bringing out the final caution of the night.
When the green came out, Crane dropped the hammer and moved away from all competition.
When the checkered flag flew, it was Crane for the win, Sieg second, Kelley third, Senter fourth and Fleeman fifth.
Fowler took sixth, Jefferson’s Clay Dale was seventh, T.J. Reaid eighth, Josh Adkins, who came back from a qualifying crash, took ninth, and Jefferson’s Nick Potts rounded out the top ten. It was Potts’ sixth top-ten finish of the year.
Sieg’s second place finish handed him the GAS points lead over Fleeman by six points. It’s the first time that Fleeman has not held the series points lead since summer of 2007.
The GAS series next heads for Anderson Motor Speedway, where they’ll race on Friday, July 18.
In local racing action, after being sent to the back for contact with another car, Hoyt Stephens thundered back through the field to take the win in the Outlaw Late Model division. Stephens had to pass teammate Russell Shore for the lead late in the going, but was able to hold Shore at bay for the final laps. David Murphy finished third, with Terry Martin fourth and Chad Atha fifth.
Wes Whitfield led from the pole, and held off a charge by Matthew Rouse to take the victory in the Toyota Tundra Supertrucks division race. Roger Adkins finished third, Andy Gaddis fourth and Leslie Law finished fifth.
It was another wild and wooly Mini Stock event, with 22 cars taking the green flag. At the end, Aaron Calvert was flagged the winner. But Calvert was disqualified after his car was found illegal in post-race inspection, giving the win to Scotty Beck. Trace Embry took second, with Jefferson’s Steve Hill third, Wayne Hammond fourth and Wayne Smith finishing fifth.
Also on hand were the Pro Challenge racing series cars, making their first appearance of the year at Peach State. Clint King took the victory, with Nicolas Stroupe finishing second, Brandon Williamson third, Terry Horak fourth and Hunter Kent fifth.
The next scheduled local events at Peach State will be on August 30, along with the GAS Series.
“This car was new five races ago, and I’ve won three out of five races with it,” he said. “I love this thing now.”
From the start, Crane pulled out to a huge lead, leaving Jefferson’s Joey Senter, Ryan Sieg, Braselton’s Jimmy Garmon, and 2007 GAS champion Russell Fleeman to fight for second.
The night went sour early on for two Commerce racers. Four laps in, Dennis Wilder made contact with the fourth turn wall, bringing out the caution. As the field slowed in the first turn, Taylor Satterfield spun, making hard contact with the turn two wall. Wilder was able to continue after making repairs, but Satterfield, who was making his first Peach State start of the year, was done for the night.
Joey Senter (10) and Jimmy Garmon (97) chase Wes Burton (44) in the early laps.
The caution flew again on lap 89, sending many of the leaders to pit road for fresh rubber. It was the first time Peach State fans had the chance to see live pit stops all year, and the GAS teams didn’t disappoint. Fowler’s crew got him out and off of pit road first, while Crane came out third.
But rookie driver Kyle Mitchell decided to try to pull a rabbit out of his hat by staying on the track, gambling that he had taken enough care of his tires to last the final 35 laps of the event. The gamble paid off, at least for awhile, as Mitchell was able to hold off Fowler on the restart.
But Crane’s fast car would not be denied as he roared his way up to second place before the caution again flew, this time for Michael Phelps’ crash in the third turn.
On the restart, Crane quickly passed Mitchell, and pulled away from the field again. Mitchell was working to stay in the top five when his night ended with a broken rear end tube, bringing out the final caution of the night.
When the green came out, Crane dropped the hammer and moved away from all competition.
When the checkered flag flew, it was Crane for the win, Sieg second, Kelley third, Senter fourth and Fleeman fifth.
Josh Adkins recovered from this crash in qualifying to finish ninth in the event.
Sieg’s second place finish handed him the GAS points lead over Fleeman by six points. It’s the first time that Fleeman has not held the series points lead since summer of 2007.
The GAS series next heads for Anderson Motor Speedway, where they’ll race on Friday, July 18.
In local racing action, after being sent to the back for contact with another car, Hoyt Stephens thundered back through the field to take the win in the Outlaw Late Model division. Stephens had to pass teammate Russell Shore for the lead late in the going, but was able to hold Shore at bay for the final laps. David Murphy finished third, with Terry Martin fourth and Chad Atha fifth.
Wes Whitfield led from the pole, and held off a charge by Matthew Rouse to take the victory in the Toyota Tundra Supertrucks division race. Roger Adkins finished third, Andy Gaddis fourth and Leslie Law finished fifth.
It was another wild and wooly Mini Stock event, with 22 cars taking the green flag. At the end, Aaron Calvert was flagged the winner. But Calvert was disqualified after his car was found illegal in post-race inspection, giving the win to Scotty Beck. Trace Embry took second, with Jefferson’s Steve Hill third, Wayne Hammond fourth and Wayne Smith finishing fifth.
Also on hand were the Pro Challenge racing series cars, making their first appearance of the year at Peach State. Clint King took the victory, with Nicolas Stroupe finishing second, Brandon Williamson third, Terry Horak fourth and Hunter Kent fifth.
The next scheduled local events at Peach State will be on August 30, along with the GAS Series.
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