POSTED 4-20-09 FAIRGROUNDS SPEEDWAY RESULTS AND RECAP FROM SATURDAY NIGHT

Photo by Mike Curran

Opening night at the Fairgrounds Speedway proved to be a smashing success! Even with the threat of rain and track management finding themselves in the unenviable position of going head-to-head with a nationally-televised NASCAR Sprint Cup race, an estimated 4,000 race fans converged on the historical short track for a night of action-packed racing. “We were thrilled with the opening night crowd and the feedback we received from the grandstands was nothing but positive. The drivers were equally impressed. We’re hoping all the off-season hard work will pay off now,” said promoter Danny Denson. Ten different racing divisions took to the asphalt short track including the headliner and premier division, the Late Model Series. Andy Johnson, a Mt. Juliet, Tennessee driver and defending 2008 Late Model champion, started off 2009 precisely the way he ended last fall, in victory circle. Starting from the pole position in the 50-lap event, Johnson never gave up the lead to his closest challenger, Mark Day. Johnson, in the #20 car, led every lap and put all other drivers in his division on notice that the way to victory circle will be through him in 2009. Johnson stated, “Getting that first championship makes you more excited to get back out there and get back-to-back titles. We’re going to try to run all the races so we can shoot for the second consecutive title. We had a really good, fast car tonight, but the lap cars were racing terrible. It was pretty exciting to look up on the grandstands and see so many race fans out here tonight watching us.” Bobby Buttrey muscled his way to victory circle in the SuperTruck division, while Lee Goddard started off his 2009 season on a winning note in the Sportsman division. Winners on the quarter-mile track were as follows: Dwarfs: Ricky McIllwain Thunderstox: Charles Goddard, Jr. Legends Pro/Master: Tyler Slayden Legends Semi-Pro/Young Guns: Cody Fernett Open Wheels: Scott Gay Bandoleros: “Weatherman” Superstocks: Robert Forsythe Next Saturday night, April 25, will mark the second event on the 2009 schedule with all divisions racing plus a demolition derby to get the fans revved up! FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF UNOFFICIAL RESULTS: http://www.fairgroundsspeedwayatnashville.com/pages/results/041809.html