Story by: Corey Latham ~ [email protected]

Altamahaw, NC(August 11, 2011) — In a year where car counts have took a great hit with the economy finally hitting the racing world, Ace Speedway has had one of the most consistant counts around. Each week boasting fields of 17-20 cars they have been the most in the region until recent weeks as the numbers have began to drop. The size really shrank this past Friday as only ten cars made the trek to Altamahaw, and people were fearing the racing would suffer because of it. They were pleasantly surprised as the track showed once again that car count means nothing over quality as it turned out to be one of the most exciting and controversial races of the year.

It may have been only ten cars but it was ten good cars including the likes of Jeb Burton, Barry Beggarly, Rodney Cook, Dustin Rumley and Jason York just to name a few. Even former regular Kevin Parker made the trip down from VA as his regular track has had there own LMSC division dry up to basically no cars in recent weeks. Jeb Burton would take the pole as he has been the man to beat in recent weeks followed by Beggarly, Thomas Scott, 2008 Champion Dean Fogleman and Cook rounding out the top five.

Burton would lead early but Beggarly was making things hard for him each lap and as he constantly applied the pressure. Lap three sees Beggarly get into the back of Burton getting him sideways, Beaggarly backs off to let him save it and begins his attack once more. It was like that each lap until it came to a head on lap 12 when Beggarly and Burton make contact with Burton spinning around off turn two. It looked as if Beggarly was the one to blame in the incident but after the race Burton said after he thought about it he indeed did cut down on the black #82 of Beggarly. Burton was down but by no means out.

On the restart Beggarly and Cook check out in a hurry with Jason York getting around Thomas Scott for third. Cook was driving the car usually rented out to South Boston regular Matt Bowling to see what the bugs were in it, whatever it was he found it as he was all over Beggarly lap after lap looking to the inside, finally taking the lead on lap 25 of the 75 lap event. Beggarly was not done by an means though as he stayed right with him until a caution on lap 28 slowed the field down.

Bobby Griffin had gotten into Thomas Scott the previous lap but backed up to let him save it, Griffin would drive by a lap later only to have Scott dump him off turn four to bring out the yellow. Griffin positioned his car under yellow looking like he was going to take action against Scott but said after the race “I was thinking some crazy things right then, but my crew calmed me down and I thought better of it. I’m not the one Thomas wants to mess with, I can promise that”.

Cook jumps ahead again on the restart with Beggarly close behind, the action is for third with Dustin Rumley on the outside and Jason York inside, the tow beating each other more and more each lap. The pair have had a slight bad history before, but the beating finally subsides as York moves to third bringing Jeb Burton with him. Burton then becomes the aggressor getting into York many times as York tries to pinch him down until Thomas Scott pounds the wall coming off turn two to bring the caution out once more.

Jeb Burton would take advantage of the cone restart and move to the outside of Cook for the green flag but would have to fall in behind Beggarly for third. This is where it gets interesting. Now Beggarly has Burton all over him for third so he turns the heat up on Cook for the lead as all three cars are nose to tail up front. Beggarly looks to the inside down the backstretch on lap 51 and as they go into turn three Beggarly sticks it inside pretty hard getting into Cook and sending him around to bring out the yellow.

Under caution Cook pulls up to Beggarly down the backstretch to show his displeasure and gives him a bump in the side, which obviously Beggarly did not approve of. Beggarly kicks it in front of Cook about 20ft and stops forcing Cook into the rear of the black #82, he then puts it in reverse chasing Cook down the track backwards when Cook sticks it in first shooting by Beggarly but getting clipped in the rear in the process. Now it was Cook who was going to chase Beggarly in reverse, but misses him when Beggarly shoots around. This went on a few times and the crowd was going wild, it was exciting to say the least but these guys are definitely better forward drivers than they are reverse drivers, it was great entertainment though.

After a stop and go penalty on pit road for each driver (they were already in last anyway) they would start at the back of the field, and while the race up front was one to watch all eyes were glued on Beggarly and Cook as they had one agenda, not to wreck each other, but to beat each other. And they both drove like hell to do it, the way a racing rivalry should be, younger drivers that think wrecking cars makes them look better should take note from he veterans, beating your competition straight up is the ultimate payback.

Up Front Burton would take the lead on the restart with Rumley trying to do a cross-over move, keep in mind that Rumley still “owes him one” from getting spun on the last lap for Burton’s first ever Late Model win earlier in the season. That retaliation wouldcome to fruition as Burton would drive away from the field with the spotlight on Cook and Beggarly as they were coming through the field like madmen, Cook leading the way and Beggarly doing whatever it took to not lose tough with his rear bumper. they make it all the way to third and fourth before the caution comes out for the last time, setting up a ten lap shootout.

Cook would be the first car to take to the cone to Burton’s outside while Beggarly would stay on the inside lane in 5th which turned out to not be beneficial. Burton would get the holeshot but Cook was right there on his bumper looking to the inside for a few laps before his car gave up a little and Burton began to pull away. Beggarly would do all he could with Rumley for third but couldn’t get by as the cars in the back were beating and banging all the way around but managed to keep them going straight. Burton would take the win by 5 cars over Cook and Rumley in what was the youngsters hardest earned victory yet.

This was great birthday present for Burton who would turn 19 the next day, but he was totally drained and took a few minutes to get out of the car to celebrate, coming from the back and holding them off in 95 degree nightime weather had taken It’s toll. It was well worth it though, he had put on a show, as did the veterans of the track. Cook and Beggarly had nothing bad to say about the other, they knew it was racing and when it was over, it was over. But don’t think that when the shoe is on the other foot that a little more aggressive driving won’t come out, after all, the veterans didn’t get to where they are by being “nice” all the time.

Results:
1. Jeb Burton
2. Rodney Cook
3. Dustin Rumley
4. Barry Beggarly
5. Jason York
6. Dean Fogleman
7. Brad Kurth
8. Thomas Scott
9. Bobby Griffin
10. Kevin Parker