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Best 9 of '09: Best Moments
4/18/09 - Presnell Wins in 2nd Start
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Dylan Presnell isn't exactly a household name in Late Model Stock Car racing, well not yet at least, but his April 18th victory at Lonesome Pine Raceway put him in a special group of "rookie winners". In fact, Presnell probably leads that list with his first win coming in his second career start, one start quicker than even Matt DiBenedetto's first victory. Presnell's win was special in so many ways for his team and that benchmark he set with a victory in his second start may not soon be bested even with incredibly talented young drivers continuing to come down the pike.
4/25/09 - Rodenbeck Wins First
Paddy Rodenbeck's Performance in his first career victory put him on the list of "Best Performances", but it wasn't exactly Paddy that put his first win on this "Best Moments" list. His father, Pat teared up in victory lane as he was overflowing with emotion upon Paddy's first victory in a Late Model Stock Car. The Rodenbeck's were all very exciting and luckily they were all together in victory lane and able to celebrate the win in Concord, NC though much of the family lives several hours away in Odessa, Florida.
4/25/09 - Monteith Wins For Fallen Crew
Chris McCracken passed away on April 10th ... he was a member of Nate Monteith's 2008 championship winning Late Model Stock Car team at Lonesome Pine Raceway. On April 25th ... Monteith took his car to victory lane in a fitting tribute to his fallen crew member and started a trail that led him back to a second straight championship. It was the start of a healing for Monteith and the crew and we're sure that McCracken was up in heaven smiling down on Monteith just 15 days after his death.
5/15/09 - Cook Wins One for Father
When Rodney Cook lost his father, Calvin during the 2008 off-season, he nearly lost his will to race. Cook thought about hanging up his helmet and walking away from the sport he and his father had shared for so many years, but in the end it was because of his father that he decided to return. Calvin, being a racer himself would have been upset had Rodney quit because of his death and Rodney pressed on. Cook on May 15th took an emotional victory as he teared up in victory lane dedicating the win to father at Ace Speedway. It was a special moment for the Cook's and all his team & fans!
5/30/09 - Yontz Wins One for Brother
2009 was probably the toughest year of young, Alex Yontz' life both on the track with multiple disqualifications and off the track with the loss of first his brother, Donald "Duck" Tilley and later his mother, Dee Ann Yontz. Following the death of his brother, Yontz gathered up all his strength and returned to the track ... it had to be hard to carry on, but his brother would have wanted him to. Yontz put his helmet on, strapped in and went racing ... he also went to victory lane and said later he could hardly keep his emotions in check the last few laps as he thought about his brother. Everything else forgotten, this was a special moment for the young driver, who honored his brother the only way he knew how.
8/15/09 - Quack Attacks Victory Lane
David Quakenbush has been racing Late Model Stock Cars around South Boston Speedway for several years now, but one thing had continued to elude him ... victory lane. Quakenbush had been in thick of things all season long including a quite intense championship batle, but it wasn't until the second twin race on August 15th that he put himself in a position to take home the victory. Quakenbush walked away with the win and solidified his place among South Boston Speedway's history books, something he had been waiting a long time to do.
10/4/09 - Underfunded Crum Wins
If the winner of the Bailey's 300 had been a repeat winner from years past or a veteran, it wouldn't have been that big of a deal on the grand stage, but when an underfunded, 18-year old, who has been setting the world on fire of late in a fast accelerating career ... it's a little bit of a story. Jake Crum's win in the Bailey's 300 was easily the biggest of his career to date, but as the young driver continues to climb the ranks it was a huge hurdle for him to get past. Crum's win came against two other 18-year olds including one of which, Brandon McReynolds, who is his biggest rival. It was a magical moment that will last him the rest of his life.
10/11/09 - Pressley Breaks Slump
To say that 2009 was a struggle for Coleman Pressley would be an understatement as the young driver went winless through the month of September. Pressley knew it was time and just after his 21st birthday, he would find himself breaking through for what had become an elusive victory. Pressley would dominate the Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway on October 11th and then one week later on the 18th, he won the UARA-STARS Series race at Hickory and again won a third race on Nov. 14th at Concord Speedway ... it was certainly a good thing for Pressley that he turned 21!
11/28/09 - Ransone Wins On Dad's 50th
Larry Ransone turned fifty years old on November 28th and his son, Lucas, who had already won a USARacing Pro Cup Series race this season and the USAR Rookie of the Year, but he needed a special birthday present for dad. Hey Dad, how's a win in the second biggest Late Model Stock Car race of the year??? Larry was extremely happy as was Lucas to tell everyone that his father was turning fifty. OK, so Lucas .... what are you going to do for your fathers 51st birthday???
The list above is in Chronological Order and was not ranked by the "RACE22.com Crew" ... There
were many moments in the 2009 season that stood out, but here is nine of the best for sure!