Modifieds take to the speedway this weekend

Hope everyone caught the recent return of the ISCARS Dash Series at the Dillon Motor Speedway, formally the Goody’s Dash Series, along with the Rolling Thunder Modifieds … more on that in a minute … If not, there’s another opportunity to see speed in action … plan to attend this Saturday’s return of the ASA Southern Modifieds race.

These cars, with their unique hot-rod body styles and wide tires, were cancelled last month due to thunderstorms. They will return to Dillon to provide race fans with exciting racing action and local stock car asphalt racing from the Seneca Super Trucks, the Palmetto Auto Auction Chargers and Missy’s Four-Cylinders. Grandstands open at 5 p.m. with racing beginning at 7:30 p.m. For information, visit us online at http://www.dillonmotorspeedway.com or call, (843) 774-1888.

On July 12, racing drivers from all areas of the United States made their way to Dillon Motor Speedway for the return of the International Sports Compact Auto Racing Series (ISCARS) race. This series, formally known as the Goody’s Dash Series, provided a route for drivers to advance their way into racing within the Nextel Cup and the Nationwide Grand National Series.

Along with the ISCARS, another touring series, the Rolling Thunder Modifieds rocketed their way around Dillon’s asphalt track. Seventeen of these modified cars soared around the track with racing so intense that almost every car traded paint with either another car or the wall. Also, racing fans cheered for their local favorites from the NAPA Street Stock and Missy’s Four-Cylinder divisions. The night began with race fans cheering for their favorite drivers from the NAPA Street Stock division. This was an “all-out, pedal-to-the-metal” race where the race winnings for the Street Stocks were increased to $500. Randy Hall stole the show again and declared victory at Dillon Motor Speedway for another week. Barry Flowers threatened Hall with the lead several times. However, he crossed the finish line controlling second place. William Haynie and Chris Peele ended their night with solid performances finishing in third and fourth places, followed Danny Minnehan, who rounded out the “top five.”

Another dynamic race occurred within the Missy’s Four-Cylinder division. A new DMS winner emerged from the Four-Cylinders last Saturday. Will Smith in the #23 car scorched the field with his dominating machine landing him the checkered flag. However, Bailey Miles, put up a great battle for the win to end his night in a close second place. Mike Stafford and Kevin Jackson fought fiercely throughout the night to finish strongly in third and fourth with Leon Vincent ending his night respectively in fifth place.

The next class to grace the track consisted of the awesome racers from the Rolling Thunder Modifieds Series. Seventeen of these drivers charged around Dillon Motor Speedway in their open-wheel modified machines with roaring engines that typically make approximately 500 horsepower. These cars provided such competitive racing that most race fans remained out of their seats for entire race. A.J. Winstead was the victorious leader at this weekend’s RTM race at Dillon Motor Speedway. This 2007 Series Champion from Dinwiddle, Virginia, held off another hard-charging Virginian, Aubrey Thurston from Richmond. Thurston finished with a strong second place finish. The reigning ISCARS Series Champion, Danny Bagwell was also held off so that Winstead would capture his second victory of the season.

Finally, it was time for the ISCARS competitors to encircle the track leaving some racers testing the track to extremes while towing others off of the track. Danny Bagwell of Cordova, Alabama, collected his second victory of the 2008 ISCARS DASH touring season on Saturday, July 12th at Dillon Motor Speedway, in the Charles Ray III Diabetes Association 150. Bagwell finished ahead of pole sitter Joey Miller, and rookie Chelsea Schillig in the Charles Ray III Diabetes Foundation Dash 150. However, earlier in the day, it did not look like Bagwell would even be in contention for the race. As the green flag came out on lap 139, Danny Bagwell jolted away at the front of the field. Joey Miller of Wilmington, NC, was able to track Bagwell down and made a great run off of turn two on the last lap. However, it was too late as Danny Bagwell took the checkered flag. Rookie Chelsea Schillig from Apopka, Florida, came home with her best career finish in third, followed by Jake Hobgood from Winnsboro, SC, in fourth, and Gary Young of Burlington, NC, in fifth.