Smoky Mountain Speedway
Weaver edges Arp for $5,000 victory in Maryville
By Kelley Carlton
O'Reilly Southern All Star Series
Randy Weaver celebrates his second straight series victory. (mrmracing.net)
MARYVILLE, Tenn. (June 6) — Making a key move to the high side, Randy Weaver of Crossville, Tenn., overtook race-long leader Skip Arp of Georgetown, Tenn., with just three laps remaining at Mountain Raceway Park for his second straight O'Reilly Southern All Star victory. Weaver earned $5,000 for his third series victory of the season. | Slideshow
"Man, we went harder on tires and Skip really opened up during the middle stages of the race," Weaver said. "But during those last few cautions my crew kept telling to stay up on the wheel because we were faster on the stopwatch. And when our tires finally fired man we just came to life.
"I am just glad I was able to do my part and get these guys another win. I need to thank Mike Hill and all the guys for giving me such a great car."
Arp settled for second with Joe Armes of Petros, Tenn., in third. Hall of Famer Freddy Smith of Seymour, Tenn., and hometown driver David Crabtree rounded out the top five in race slowed by three cautions for minor incidents. Hill, Weaver's teammate and car owner, was running among the top five when he cut down a right rear tire in the race's closing moments, finishing 10th at the 4/10-mile oval.
Notes: Weaver's GRT Race Car has a Race Engine Design powerplant and sponsorship from Glenn’s Auto Parts, Byrd’s Radiator and PPM Racing Products. ... O'Reilly SAS points leader Ronny Lee Hollingsworth of Northport, Ala., made a 16th-to-sixth charge to earn PPM Hard Charger honors. ... Mark Vineyard of Knoxville, Tenn., raced from 13th to seventh. ... Seventeen of 21 starters were running at the finish, 13 on the lead lap. ... Southern All Star competitors take a three-week break before June 27 action at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Ga.
O'Reilly SAS @ Mountain Raceway Park: (1) Randy Weaver, (2) Skip Arp, (3) Joe Armes, (4) Freddy Smith, (5) David Crabtree, (6) Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, (7) Mark Vineyard, (8) Todd Morrow, (9) Billy Mayo, (10) Mike Hill, (11) Rick Rogers, (12) Dennis Franklin, (13) Anthony White, (14) Roger Best, (15) David Payne, (16) Jeff Neubert, (17) Ethan Hunter, (18) Doug Smith, (19) Dusty Carver, (20) Steve Smith, (21) Bobby Giffin. Fast qualifier (among 21 cars): Weaver, 17.49 seconds.
