My Hard Charger Award goes to...........

Daymond Long #28 Sportsman Class

Daymond started back racing a couple years ago after being away from the oval track for years.  Stock Car racing had advanced ahead of Daymond while being away.  When Daymond got back in his car he was way off and had to work very hard to make changes.  Now, Daymond has had some seconds that looked like he was about to get his first victory.  Let me say this, Daymond won many races back in the day, so he is a winner.  Back to the story, as to why I named him the "HARD CHARGER".  He ran many number of laps all the way to the end of the race in second.  He was chasing down a very good and well known driver, Beau Mitchell of Owensboro, Ky.  The thing that impressed me the most with Daymond was how hard he raced.  First he sailed his car off into turn three a car and half deeper than anyone else.  Then hit wore the rear end of the #1 car out.  Daymond did what most driver don't do, He hit Mitchell hard but square.  Hitting another car is racing on the short tracks, but there is a good clean way to do it.  Coming out of a turn is correct and Daymond do so.  Hitting the other cars bumper square and not at an angle, which Daymond did.  Hitting another car at an angle causes them to spin and wreck.  Beau said in his interview at victory lane, he loved the hard racing and that he thanked the other drivers for racing hard but clean!  In closing, a former great driver once told me this, "Sometimes it's more classy for a driver to finish second than to win"  the late Wade Johnson.  Daymond you was a class act.  Your win is coming!  Congratulations on your award for "HARD CHARGER"

POSTED 4-18-10 HARD CHARGER AWARD FROM 4-16-10 RACE

Local Racing News and Rumors by ODELL "HARD CHARGER AWARD" goes to Dakota Gibson #5a Front Runner Figure-8 driver.  Dakota started the night by breaking the figure-8 track record for 2010.  He then finished third in the Front Runner race.  Then topped off the night with a win in the Front Runner Figure-8 race.  Good Job Dakota!

POSTED 4-10-10 LOCAL RACING NEWS AND RUMORS BY ODELL HARD CHARGER AWARD FOR 4-9-10

This week my choice for the "HARD CHARGER AWARD" goes to late model driver Davey Coble #14.  Davey started third, moved to second was in a spin and goes to fourth then back to third when another spin brings out the yellow with Davey not being a part of.  With those two cars going to the rear, Davey goes to first and holds off top gun Sammy Sanders #12 to take the win.  Congratulations to Davey Coble #14 of Nashville, TN.

POSTED 1-20-10 DRAG RACER EDMOND RICHARDSON PICKS UP AWARD

Edmond Richardson was honored Saturday night for his Division 3 Stock Eliminator Championship as we'll as his Runner-up finish in the Division 3 points in Super Comp. Edmond was also honored at the NHRA banquet for his Stock Eliminator World Championship.

POSTED 9-12-09 MY HARD CHARGER AWARD

Hello race fans. I'm a week behind due to being very busy and under the weather. First let me say to Joe Reynolds, sorry for taking so long to get this on my site. Each week I post a "HARD CHARGER AWARD" and for last Friday night 9-4-09. I selected #00 Joe Paul Reynolds. Joe came out this year in one of the top looking sportsman car in the field. There was one problem, Joe has not raced for sometime and has very little seat time. He has been starting in the back and running in the rear to middle of the pack. This is a smart move to get some experience. Experience? It must have worked. He started back in the pack and worked his way to a second place finish. This was not a fluke, like cars falling out or no cars in the field. Joe passed many good cars, he passed a winning car of Kevin LaMastus #21 to take second and was closing in on points leader #99 Robert Cohron. I even went to the pits and ask Joe if his father former driver Jimmy Reynolds was driving his car. Joe laughed and said NO, and Jimmy laughed even more and said " I couldn't do that good anymore" I bet Jimmy could. Congratulations Joe Paul Reynolds you are our "HARD CHARGER AWARD" driver.

POSTED 8-3-09 HARD CHARGER AWARD THIS WEEK

My "HARD CHARGER AWARD" goes to late model driver #28 Steve Ashley. Friday night I watched all the races and this award could have went to several different drivers. Steve has been coming to Beech Bend Raceway for a few years now. He started out and ran in the back of the pack. Every week I have seen this car get faster. Friday night Steve finished 5th. You might say why give this to a 5th place finisher? First of all he was a car to 1/2 car behind the 4th place car which was very close to the 3rd place car. They were all in a fairly close pack. Steve has never won a race at Beech Bend Raceway in a late model that I know of but he drove a very good race Friday night. Hang in there Steve, victory is on it's way. Congratulations Steve! As always you win absolutely nothing by getting this award. See Steve and other drivers on Friday nights at 8:00 p.m. I'll see you there. Odell

POSTED 7-20-09 MY HARD CHARGER AWARD FOR THIS WEEK

My "HARD CHARGER AWARD" goes to the winning driver of the Front Runner Figure-8 this week. Jeff Hogan #41 is this weeks Hard Charger. Jeff has lead probably more laps in the Front Runner figure-8 than any other driver to come up in second or worst. If my mind serves me right this is Jeff's first figure-8 win. Good driving and a job well done Jeff! Congratulations.

POSTED 7-5-09 HARD CHARGER AWARD FOR THIS WEEK

LOCAL RACING NEWS AND RUMORS BY ODELL Gives the "HARD CHARGER AWARD" And it goes to two drivers to share for this week. First driver is #11 Danny Marr. Danny ran second to Tony Rothe in the Modified Street class. He ran a almost perfect line and bumped Tony but didn't spin him. Danny was very fast and I know as a former stock car driver that the temptation was there to make a bone head move, Danny never did that. Like him or not he drove the wheels off that #11 Chevy. A winning Modified/Sportsman driver once told me this "The best driver doesn't always WIN, sometimes it's best to finish second and have respect from fans and drivers" (The Late Wade Johnson) The other driver is #12 Sammy Sanders. I know before I start this story some of you are going to say that Sammy is stinking up the late model show. I heard that from fans in the stands as I took Sammy's winning pictures. That is another story for another time and we will talk about that later. Now for the reason to give Sammy the award. Sammy had fast time with 50lbs added to him, he ran a good clean race in race one. Second race Sammy had to start in the back with good drivers like Bo Miller on the pole. By the way another story for later, did Bo Miller Miller have REAL trouble and fall to the back so he could be on the POLE in race two? Did anyone else see that? Back to the real story, Sammy started in the back and picked off one at a time until he got to the better cars and then did you see what he did? He passed them on the outside. On that track you just don't usually do that. Very impressive Sammy! And then closing in on then race leader Bo Miller and he (Sammy) plants his car in deep and hard on Bo in turn one on the inside and makes a very clean pass. I will give it to Bo, he give Sammy plenty of room. Good Job Sammy. And to both drivers, Congratulations on sharing the "HARD CHARGER AWARD" this week. As always you guys win absolutely nothing by winning this award. See you next race at Beech Bend Raceway.

POSTED 6-13-09 THIS WEEKS HARD CHARGER AWARD

This week I am giving the "HARD CHARGER" award to All American Bomber driver #21 David Harrod. This was only David's second race in 2009. Tonight's race was ran backwards and the #17 of Darrell Alford jumped out in the lead quick. However, David was all up on the wheel and passed Alford for the lead and never looked back. Congratulations David!

POSTED 6-7-09 NEW AWARD FOR THIS SITE "HARD CHARGER" OF THE WEEK

If I were to give out an award for the racer of the night, it may surprise you! I have watched racing for years and this driver did one of the best jobs I've seen in years. No, he didn't win. I know enough suspense, OK. My award for "HARD CHARGER" of this week goes to none other than, Baby Grand Pro Series driver #84 Dr. Jack "Doc" Buzzard. Doc lead most of the race only to be passed on the last lap. Congratulations Doc with a great second place finish! (NOTE: Sorry this award comes with no trophy or money. Just recognition!)