Travelers Rest Speedway
Weeks rules SAS East at Travelers Rest
By Gene Murphy
DirtonDirt.com correspondent
Ricky Weeks gets rolling on the first lap. (Gene Murphy)
TRAVELERS REST, S.C. (Feb. 23) — Debuting his 25th anniversary race car, Ricky Weeks of Rutherfordton, N.C., led every lap at Travelers Rest Speedway for an O'Reilly Southern All Star East victory worth $4,000. “We are just happy to win," the polesitting Weeks said after his season-opening victory at the 3/8-mile oval. | Slideshow
John Pursley started outside the front row and held an edge halfway through the first lap. Weeks dove under Pursley entering the third corner and there was light contact between the frontrunners as they exited the fourth corner to complete the first lap. Pursley pulled up lame entering turn one to bring out the first of many caution flags.
Weeks wasn't seriously challenged until Dennis “Rambo” Franklin mounted a charge during the race's middle stages. That assault was short-lived as Franklin’s machine developed a tight condition. “Sometimes you just get beat," Franklin said, "and tonight was one of those nights." Defending series champion Casey Roberts finished third with Tony Knowles and Johnny Pursley rounding out the top five.
Finish: (1) Ricky Weeks, (2) Dennis Franklin, (3) Casey Roberts, (4) Tony Knowles, (5) Johnny Pursley, (6) Petey Ivey, (7) Jeff Smith (8) Chris Meadows, (9) Tim Christie, (10) Monk Gulledge, (11) Dale Hammond, (12) G.R. Smith, (13) Frankie Beard, (14) Gabe Wilson, (15) Travis Pennington, (16) Kevin Tessner, (17) Larry Timms, (18) Dean Bowen, (19) Freddy Smith, (20) Furman Parton, (21) Jimmy Ivester, (22) Shawn Chastain, (23) John Pursley, (24) David Smith. Fast qualifier (among 33 cars): Weeks, 15.764 seconds. Consolation race winners: Jeff Smith, Johnny Pursley. Provisional starters: Travis Pennington, Jimmy Ivester.
