gb81racing
12-19-2007, 10:01 PM
December 12th, 2007 - FAYETTEVILLE, NC – Ricky Weeks stood in front of the crowd at The Speedway Club at Lowe’s Motor Speedway last January and told everyone in attendance he was going to win more races in 2007. Ricky Weeks is a man of his word!
The veteran racer from Rutherordton, NC put together a remarkable season to win his fourth straight Carolina Clash Series Championship. Weeks’ seven victories on the season were a career high in a season that saw he and his team overcomes some mid season turmoil. Weeks’ split with his car owner in August before he clinched another $10,000 championship.
Weeks’ started the season off in style with a flag to flag victory over a strong field at Carolina Speedway in Gastonia, NC. The next stop on the tour was the ultra-fast Lancaster Speedway, where Weeks’ again put on a clinic on a frigid night in early March to collect his second straight $5,000 win.
The series then headed south to Lenny Hobbs’ Gordon Park Speedway where former Carolina Clash Champion Ed Basey used his extensive knowledge of the track surface to put a stop to Weeks’ winning streak.
Next up was the first of four stops at Fayetteville Motor Speedway. Jeff Smith again showed his strength at the 4/10 mile oval as he collected his first win of the season. Week’s fell out of the event with mechanical problems and with his win Smith found himself atop the point standings for the first time in 2007.
The following weekend the ‘ Carolina Bad Boys’ headed west for a pair events. The first stop saw ‘Rambo’ Franklin capture his first win of the season as he led wire to wire at Thunder Valley Speedway. He was followed by Ray Cook, aboard a Bill Elliott owned Masterbilt and Weeks, who struggled all night with engine problems. The next night Weeks’ returned to his old stomping grounds of Harris Speedway. Weeks’ that lives just three miles from the track captured his third victory of the season and retook the points lead, this time for good.
Next on the slate was the series’ first 2007 visit to Fred Brown’s Wythe Raceway. Always a fan and driver favorite Weeks again showed the way as he rolled to the $4,000 victory over Smith and Franklin.
As the summer months heated up so did Gaffney, SC’s Franklin. Franklin aboard the Barry Wright house car held off a determined Furman Parton to claim his second victory of the season at Lancaster Speedway on June 23 rd. The next week the series headed to Laurens County Speedway for the ‘James Burnett Memorial’ and Franklin dominated the field to collect his second win in as many weeks.
During his hot summer streak Mother Nature was the only thing to could slow down the ‘Rambo Express’. Rain stopped the scheduled $5,000 to win main event at Fayetteville Motor Speedway on July 7th. The next week the Carolina Clash tour rolled into Travelers Rest Speedway for the first time. Again it was Franklin who made an early race pass on Weeks and then held off the veteran to claim his third straight win.
The true test to Franklin’s hot streak was the August 4 th visit to Fayetteville Motor Speedway. Jeff Smith had won seven straight shows at FMS including his Lucas Oil Series win in August. But Smith was no match for ‘Rambo’ as he dominated the field for his fourth straight win.
On August 11th the series made its second stop at Wythe Raceway where Franklin looked to be on his way to his fifth straight win. While leading he broke a brake rotor and slammed the outside wall taking second place running Brandon Kinzer with him. After the dust had settled on the 40 lapper, Mt. Airy, NC veteran Billy Hicks was standing in victory lane for the first time in 2007.
The tour then headed south to ‘The Legendary’ Toccoa Speedway in Toccoa, GA for the first time in 2007 and it was local favorite Benji Cole showing the fast way around the Georgia bullring. September started off with a return trip to Harris Speedway where Weeks held off a determined Franklin to score his sixth victory of the year and sweep the season’s stops at Harris.
Up next was a return date to Fayetteville Motor Speedway. 27 drivers showed up for what was billed as a ‘tune-up’ to the second annual Carolina Clash Bash that was being held at FMS three weeks later. The 50 lapper turned out to be a tire war with Weeks choosing the right rubber. The gamble paid off to the tune of $5,000 as Weeks rolled to his seventh victory of the season. The next event was the third and final trip to the scenic Wythe Raceway. On a cool September evening Brandon Kinzer became the first driver from Kentucky to score a victory on the eight year old series.
The final event of the season was the ‘Second Annual Carolina Clash Bash’ at Fayetteville Motor Speedway. The $8,000 winner’s check was the largest in the history of the series. Jeff Smith made a late race pass of Rambo Franklin to collect his third checkered flag of the season.
Carolina Clash would like to thank the following sponsors for the dedication and support of the series in 2007: American Race Tires, Heintz Brothers Performance, Cabinets by Design, PBM Performance Parts, Starrette Trucking, Bobby Taylor Oil Company, PPM Performance Parts, Beaver Bail Bonds, TRT Trailer Sales, Performance Tee’s, Dunn-Benson Ford, Dirt Wraps by Jimmy’s Custom Decals, Coca-Cola, Erson Cams, Walters Web Design, Mayhem Motorgrafixx, Mike’s Custom Tanks, Duralite Racing Wheels, VP Racing Fuel, Sisco Fire & Safety, Wa-Don Bert Transmission, Racing Electronics.
The veteran racer from Rutherordton, NC put together a remarkable season to win his fourth straight Carolina Clash Series Championship. Weeks’ seven victories on the season were a career high in a season that saw he and his team overcomes some mid season turmoil. Weeks’ split with his car owner in August before he clinched another $10,000 championship.
Weeks’ started the season off in style with a flag to flag victory over a strong field at Carolina Speedway in Gastonia, NC. The next stop on the tour was the ultra-fast Lancaster Speedway, where Weeks’ again put on a clinic on a frigid night in early March to collect his second straight $5,000 win.
The series then headed south to Lenny Hobbs’ Gordon Park Speedway where former Carolina Clash Champion Ed Basey used his extensive knowledge of the track surface to put a stop to Weeks’ winning streak.
Next up was the first of four stops at Fayetteville Motor Speedway. Jeff Smith again showed his strength at the 4/10 mile oval as he collected his first win of the season. Week’s fell out of the event with mechanical problems and with his win Smith found himself atop the point standings for the first time in 2007.
The following weekend the ‘ Carolina Bad Boys’ headed west for a pair events. The first stop saw ‘Rambo’ Franklin capture his first win of the season as he led wire to wire at Thunder Valley Speedway. He was followed by Ray Cook, aboard a Bill Elliott owned Masterbilt and Weeks, who struggled all night with engine problems. The next night Weeks’ returned to his old stomping grounds of Harris Speedway. Weeks’ that lives just three miles from the track captured his third victory of the season and retook the points lead, this time for good.
Next on the slate was the series’ first 2007 visit to Fred Brown’s Wythe Raceway. Always a fan and driver favorite Weeks again showed the way as he rolled to the $4,000 victory over Smith and Franklin.
As the summer months heated up so did Gaffney, SC’s Franklin. Franklin aboard the Barry Wright house car held off a determined Furman Parton to claim his second victory of the season at Lancaster Speedway on June 23 rd. The next week the series headed to Laurens County Speedway for the ‘James Burnett Memorial’ and Franklin dominated the field to collect his second win in as many weeks.
During his hot summer streak Mother Nature was the only thing to could slow down the ‘Rambo Express’. Rain stopped the scheduled $5,000 to win main event at Fayetteville Motor Speedway on July 7th. The next week the Carolina Clash tour rolled into Travelers Rest Speedway for the first time. Again it was Franklin who made an early race pass on Weeks and then held off the veteran to claim his third straight win.
The true test to Franklin’s hot streak was the August 4 th visit to Fayetteville Motor Speedway. Jeff Smith had won seven straight shows at FMS including his Lucas Oil Series win in August. But Smith was no match for ‘Rambo’ as he dominated the field for his fourth straight win.
On August 11th the series made its second stop at Wythe Raceway where Franklin looked to be on his way to his fifth straight win. While leading he broke a brake rotor and slammed the outside wall taking second place running Brandon Kinzer with him. After the dust had settled on the 40 lapper, Mt. Airy, NC veteran Billy Hicks was standing in victory lane for the first time in 2007.
The tour then headed south to ‘The Legendary’ Toccoa Speedway in Toccoa, GA for the first time in 2007 and it was local favorite Benji Cole showing the fast way around the Georgia bullring. September started off with a return trip to Harris Speedway where Weeks held off a determined Franklin to score his sixth victory of the year and sweep the season’s stops at Harris.
Up next was a return date to Fayetteville Motor Speedway. 27 drivers showed up for what was billed as a ‘tune-up’ to the second annual Carolina Clash Bash that was being held at FMS three weeks later. The 50 lapper turned out to be a tire war with Weeks choosing the right rubber. The gamble paid off to the tune of $5,000 as Weeks rolled to his seventh victory of the season. The next event was the third and final trip to the scenic Wythe Raceway. On a cool September evening Brandon Kinzer became the first driver from Kentucky to score a victory on the eight year old series.
The final event of the season was the ‘Second Annual Carolina Clash Bash’ at Fayetteville Motor Speedway. The $8,000 winner’s check was the largest in the history of the series. Jeff Smith made a late race pass of Rambo Franklin to collect his third checkered flag of the season.
Carolina Clash would like to thank the following sponsors for the dedication and support of the series in 2007: American Race Tires, Heintz Brothers Performance, Cabinets by Design, PBM Performance Parts, Starrette Trucking, Bobby Taylor Oil Company, PPM Performance Parts, Beaver Bail Bonds, TRT Trailer Sales, Performance Tee’s, Dunn-Benson Ford, Dirt Wraps by Jimmy’s Custom Decals, Coca-Cola, Erson Cams, Walters Web Design, Mayhem Motorgrafixx, Mike’s Custom Tanks, Duralite Racing Wheels, VP Racing Fuel, Sisco Fire & Safety, Wa-Don Bert Transmission, Racing Electronics.