Story by: Corey Latham ~ corey@RACE22.com
Photos by: Corey Latham ... to see more check out http://race22.smugmug.com

South Boston, VA(October 20, 2009) -- As another year of racing comes to an end, with it comes the "big" races we wait all year for. This past weekend was the season-ending event at South Boston Speedway for their Late-Model division, as in the past it has been run as a stand-alone 300 lapper for the Late Models.

Today with the PASS Super Late Model's running as a part of the show, it has now been compressed into two 250-lap races for each respected division, with the Super's taking the top billing. It looked as if the Late Model competitors didn't get that memo, as they were the highlight of the night, producing one of the best shows of the entire year in racing. As the smoke cleared, and there was plenty of it, one man emerged as the victor, not the track Champion Justin Johnson, not the NASCAR National Champion Philip Morris, not even a top 15 qualifier. You had to go all the way back to 21st spot for the winner, but it really was no surprise as the timeless veteran Eddie Johnson put on show for the win, one of the most popular of the year.

A nice field of cars were on hand, 43 to be exact, as the $10,000 to win purse attracted all the heavy hitters in the region. David Triplett, who didn't even make the race at Martinsville a few weeks ago, put his Bailey's #00 on the pole ahead of Philip Morris, Nick Smith, CE Falk and SoBo regular Lee Pulliam to pace the field. It was another tight field as the cars were separated by a second in qualifying, with everyone out of the top 15 running heat races to secure spots for the 250m lap event. It was extremely tough going for some, as the Bailey's 300 winner Jake Crum did not make the event, showing that you can really go from top of the world to down in the cellar in no time flat.

From the drop of the green, things looked different about the racing at SoBo. In recent year's, the racing action has not been what it has in the past, but on this night, everything that could possibly happen did. We were only 3 laps in when action from the infield stole the show. NASCAR was filming a commercial for their "Home Tracks" promoting local racing in the US. A large crane was used for camera angles, and as the cars rumbled around, the rigging ball from the 150ft crane came loose and crashed to the ground below, but not before going through the top of Bruce Anderson's hauler causing massive damage. No one was hurt by the 800lb ball, but it was in indication for the night to come.

We only get five laps into the event when David Triplett goes from on top of the world, to as mad as he was at Martinsville. Morris had taken the early lead, and as they were working into turn 3, Smith jacks up the rear of Triplett sending the #00 into a harmless spin towards the outside wall. The cars begin to slow, we all relax, and WHAM! Matt Waltz came into the wreck scene a good 6-7 seconds after the spin and hits Triplett at full bore, destroying both machines. business picks up then as the track closes up and the end of the field all pile in, a wad of cars are wrecked.

Triplett did get spun by Smith, but that was not his concern, "Smith spun me but that is all it should have been, a spin", said a furious Triplett. "I'm just waiting for the field to go by and all of a sudden the #34(Waltz) comes in there 300mph and about kills me. I guess it proves they still let idiots drive race cars".

For the first 100 laps of the race, it was a three car show up front with Morris, Smith and Falk separating themselves from the rest of the field.. But everything behind them was absolutely wild, as cars were battling all over the track, the best of the battles being the cars about to be lapped, as they fought feverishly. Cale Gale, Leigh Curuthers, Wesley Falk, Brandon Dean, Rodney Cook and Casey Wyatt were in a feisty pack trying to stay in front of the leaders. They finally would have to give way, but they didn't let all the leaders pass so easily.

Before any more action took place, Langley Speedway champion CE Falk was working over Nick Smith for the second spot hard, when all of a sudden his car goes quiet and falls of the pace. By a stroke of luck, David Latour loops his machine in turn four to bring out the caution, and Falk makes his way on to pit road. A loose coil wire would be an easy fix, but going to the rear of the field would not be, and more troubles were on the way for the newly crowned champ, after being the only car that could run with Morris and Smith. But we wouldn't have to worry about them very long either.

Back to the lapped cars, they were a handful on this evening, some would get out of the way, some would race every car, and some would almost crash not knowing what to do. Morris and Smith would rough the cars up a touch, but were patient for the most part getting by them. then you get back to about 6th with Kelly Kingery, and the story would change. For those that don't know who Kelly is, he's "old-school", cut from the same cloth as Jimmy Mullins, Rodney Cook or Doug Godsey, they race rough sometimes and if you don't like it you can get out and "knuckle-up", but it doesn't matter to them either way. The first driver to find this out was Casey Wyatt, as he had gave Morris a ton of problems up front, but Kingery only gave it a few laps as he gets into him in turn one taking out Bruce Anderson and Jonathon Bailey in the process. Kingery would have more action later.

We get past the lap 120 mark, and the battle up front is getting very interesting. while some drivers are moving towards the front in a hurry, Eddie Johnson from 21st to 7th, and Falk back into the top ten after his coil problem, Morris and Smith look as if they could lap the field. Smith reels in Morris and decides he wants the top spot, and looks under him lap after lap out of turn 4. Then, to everyone's surprise, Smith gets into the back of Morris, a little, then more, then he's up under the car, and finally they come to a wrecked stop 100ft before the start finish line. An odd looking wreck indeed, it looked as if it was going to be incidental harmless contact, and then Smith looked to say "the heck with it" and finished the job. Morris wasn't pleased at all, as he pulled his battered car forward and backed into the drivers door of Smith's demolished machine a few times, definitely a side of the National Champion we had never seen.

With the two dominate cars gone from the win, some of the best racing of the night was about to begin. David Quackenbush was the new leader, followed by Jonathon Cash, Tommy Lemons, Eddie Johnson and Justin Johnson. A bunch of hungry, exciting talent up front, but the one ole' veteran was about to let them know he was there. It gets to lap 144 and Eddie Johnson makes his move by Lemons and sets his sights on Cash for second, while Lemons has his hands and rear bumper full of Justin Johnson to stay in fourth. Cash sees E. Johnson coming and applies pressure to the back of Quackenbush for the lead, moving him out of the way with E. Johnson and J. Johnson pounding their way by also.

With only 20 laps to go before the mandatory break at lap 200, E. Johnson gets to the inside of Cash for the lead and J. Johnson follows him through. For the next 15 laps the pair of Johnson's would battle tooth and nail, with Justin Johnson taking the lead heading into the break for adjustments. right before the break though, more trouble for CE Falk as he and Terry Carroll get waded up in turn one, making for a long night once again, as CE was one lap down once more.

During the break, the drivers made some much needed adjustments, but it didn't help many, as the same cars that were fast before were fast once more. As the green fell, Justin Johnson, Jonathon Cash and Eddie Johnson resumed their dogfight up front, as they were going to be the cars to beat on this night. Cash goes to the inside of E. Johnson for second, but Eddie motors back around him, then goes around J. Johnson for the lead as the top 3 can be covered with a blanket. It was now J. Johnson and Cash who would be fighting the next several laps, but could they catch Eddie up front.

Meanwhile, Kelly Kingery was making more friends as he and David Latour were racing hard for position inside the top ten. Eventually, contact was made which resulted in Latour spinning and cutting down a tire, ultimately ending his night. Latour then shows his displeasure with Kingery by telling him "he's number 1" as he drove by on the caution laps. Kelly talked about that incident after the race, "You know, I didn't even know that was the driver, I thought it was some kid out of the grandstands that had got on to the track", as Kingery discussed getting the finger shown to him. "The guy chopped me off a few times then ran me in the wall twice, I just got tired of it, if he's that upset then he should come down here and talk to me about it".

Another driver who had got rougher throughout the race, was a furious Philip Morris. The National Champ had seen his chance for a win go down the drain, and knowing he had the best car at the track he was coming back to the front like a pinball.  First, Dane Rudolph gets a tire mark and then Deac McCaskill. Next up was Tommy Lemons, and then the progressed slowed a tad when he got to Quackenbush for fourth. Lap after lap, Morris was either beating the back bumper or shoving the rear fender, he didn't want to waste time.

Then with 15 to go, he didn't anymore, as they make hard contact in turn one, with Quackenbush hard into the outside wall. Quackenbush was as upset as anybody had ever seen him, and had lot's to say in the pits........................well, nothing we can print. Just cuss as much as you can and throw in the name "Philip Morris" every 5th word and you get the idea. Morris is not a favorite of many drivers, and after this night there were a few more on that list.

A few more quickie cautions develop, and it comes down to what everyone wanted to see, a green-white-checkered finish. On the previous restarts Eddie Johnson had been golden, and he was once more, as he pulls away from Cash as he spins his tires. Justin Johnson is trying everything he can to get by Cash for second, but he can't get it done, as he claims third, Cash second, and your winner is the veteran Eddie Johnson.

As Eddie pulled into victory lane, you could not have put a bigger smile on his face. That was true for nearly everyone there, as the entire top ten along with other notables came over to congratulate him on the victory before he even got out of the car. It was popular with everyone because of the type of racer Eddie is, he's respectful and patient, but at the same time he Isn't one to be messed with a lot on the track. A veteran in the true sense of the word, way to go Eddie, you deserve it.
 
Unofficial Results:
1. #57 Eddie Johnson
2. #1 Jonathan Cash
3. #44 Justin Johnson
4. #27 Tommy Lemons Jr.
5. #08 Deac McCaskill
6. #18 Dane Rudolph
7. #3 Lee Pulliam
8. #26 Philip Morris
9. #74 Ronald Hill
10. #16 Dustin Storm
11. #55 Mark Wertz
12. #5 Brandon Dean
13. #95 Cale Gale
14. #46 Wesley Falk
15. #38 Leigh Caruthers
16. #4 Kelly Kingery
17. #76 Joey Coulter
18. #42 Dennis Holdren
19. #41 Rusty Skewes
20. #83 Eric Winslow
21. #40 CE Falk
22. #90 Terry Carroll
23. #91 David Quackenbush
24. #89 David Latour Jr.
25. #2 Tommy Peregory
26. #88 Nick Smith
27. #09 Jonathan Bailey
28. #9 Bruce Anderson
29. #10 Casey Wyatt
30. #51 Wayne Ramsey
31. #77 Michael Hardin
32. #7 Scott Marshall
33. #14 Rodney Cook
34. #8 Josh Oakley
35. #00 David Triplett
36. #34 Matt Waltz