Boyd's Speedway
Ogle limps home to VRS victory at Boyd's
Billy Ogle Jr. (201) battles Randy Weaver (116). (mikessportsimages.com)
RINGGOLD, Ga. (May 28) — His car slowing coming to the checkered flag, polesitter Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, Tenn., survived a broken axle on the final lap at Boyd's Speedway for a $3,000 victory on the Volunteer Racing Series.
"I was done. I was just glad that was the checkered, because I wasn't going to make it another lap," Ogle said after climbing from his No. 201 in victory lane. "It broke and right rear and I was just trying to keep it off the wall." | Video | Slideshow
Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, Tenn., who nearly slipped past Ogle with five laps remaining, was too far back in second to take advantage at the third-mile oval. He finished second followed by Tommy Kerr of Maryville, Tenn., and fast qualifier Mike Weeks of Friendsville, Tenn.
Ogle jumped into the early lead but had his hands full with Randy Weaver of Crossville, Tenn., early in the race. As the frontrunners came upon the slower car of Rick Hixson, Weaver swung to the outside to overtake Ogle on the 17th of 40 laps.
Weaver appeared to be in command, but mechanical woes forced his No. 116 to a stop on lap 29, handing the point back to Ogle, who outran Johnson the rest of the way and limped to victory.
Notes: Ogle drives a Mike Kittrell-owned GRT Race Car sponsored by Grady & King Construction, Kilby Equipment, PBM Performance Products and Calhoun's Restaurant; he uses a Competition Race Engine. ... Five cautions slowed the event. Among them was on the seventh lap when Kayne Hickman slowed with a flat tire and Darrick York also departed. ... Tnext yellow would wave as an ailing Skip Arp slowed on the frontchute, collecting Chad Ogle. ... The final yellow waved on lap 32 for debris. ... Runner-up Ronnie Johnson earned $1,000 for his victory in the track's weekly steel-head Late Model feature. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature lineup: Anthony White, Jeff Fortner, Rodney Weeks and Bobby Giffin. ... The series completes the holiday weekend Saturday at North Georgia Speedway in Chatsworth.
Georgia Memorial: (1) Billy Ogle Jr., (2) Ronnie Johnson, (3) Tommy Kerr, (4) Mike Weeks, (5) Brett Wyatt, (6) Chad Ogle, (7) Derek Ellis, (8) Mike Hill, (9) Anthony Burroughs, (10) Jeff Smith, (11) Brian Hickman, (12) Rick Hixson, (13) Aaron Ridley, (14) Randy Weaver, (15) Skip Arp, (16) Todd Morrow, (17) T.J. Alford, (18) Kayne Hickman, (19) Darrick York, (20) Jamie Perry, (21) Jason Welshan, (22) Ross White. Fast qualifier (among 30 cars): Weeks, 13.536 seconds. Heat race winners: Weaver, B. Ogle, Johnson. Consolation winner: C. Ogle. Provisional starters: White, Hickman.
