Monthly Archives: October 2015

Driver Series S02E25: Richard Quinn Capps Off Championship Season With Big Day of Destruction Win

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Richard Quinn
July 15 1982
Norfolk, VA
Hometown: Norfolk, VA
Home Track: Langley Speedway
Occupation: Automotive Technician
Education: Associates Degree in Automotive Technology

Sponsors: Wards Corner Shell – Currently seeking additional partnerships.

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You know that saying, “Going out with a bang?” Well we here at The Weekly Racer wanted to do nothing less for the 2015 edition of The Driver Series. Yes its about that time of year again when we start to wind down and give the drivers and our staff a bit of a break from all the grueling questions. However we wanted to go out on top this season by bringing you, the readers, a champion. A driver who fought tooth and nail all season to finish above the rest. Not only did this driver win the Enduro Championship this year at Langley Speedway, he also backed that up by winning the largest Enduro race of the year at Langley Speedway during the Day of Destruction.

Richard Quinn, a 33-year old auto mechanic from Norfolk, discovered his interest in the racing world in a bit of an unorthodox method – street racing. Wait, scratch that, lets be real, I am willing to bet that 80% of the male teenage to young adult community at some point in their life has participated in some kind of street race, am I right. When racing is in your blood you kind of take it where you can get it. “[I] grew up around cars,” Quinn said. “Dad was a mechanic and I just stuck with it.”

The street racing is ultimately what led Quinn into even wanting to get into closed course or “track racing.” Lets be honest, for one this time of racing was legal, it was safer, and plus you had a much larger audience to see you win! For now the Enduro series at Langley Speedway is all that Richard has competed in for now after being introduced to the series back in the late 90’s by Tim Sparrow, whom he used to help pit crew for.

For Quinn, 2015 has to go down as one of the best, if not most memorable years in his racing career so far. After earning just one win, which he inherited after a season finale DQ, Quinn wrapped up the Bojangles Enduro Championship with an impressive 41 point advantage over Ronald Klein, adding just another stat to his growing resume. Having earned a total of eight wins in the past five years of racing, being able to win the championship just makes things that much better. “Winning the Enduro race this year at the Day of Destruction was exciting surviving through such a large field,” Quinn tells us about his accomplishments in the sport. “It also capped off a great championship season”

“I am going to try and come back to defend my championship,” says Quinn about the 2016 season at Langley. “Looking to try and run a partial Super Truck season also. DQM, Richards race team Dick Quinn Motorsports, will be expanding to 3 cars next season as well. Good friend Mike Kanary Sr. will be running his first full season and son Casey Quinn will be running a partial season. Of course none of this would be possible without the help of the all important sponsors. The team is currently looking to make new partnerships for the 2016 season that will benefit all who are involved, if interested you can always contact the team through the social media links provided above.

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Late Model Drivers Set Sights On East Carolina For 2nd Annual Ronnie Barnette Memorial 200

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_ECMS edit

All eyes within the Late Model Stock Car community should be focused in on just one track right now. That track is the high banked, D-shape oval known as East Carolina Motor Speedway located in Robersonville, North Carolina. For the second year in a row the speedway will host the Ronnie Barnette Memorial. Last year headlined by the IMCA style open wheeled modified’s. This year the race will be headlined by a $6,000 to win LMSC race!

Working strictly out of the NWAAS rulebook, this race will be a true “Late Model Stock” event. Not the hybrid rules (a mix of late model and limited late model) the speedway adopted this past year to try and attract a larger field of cars. This race will with out a doubt be the largest event the track has seen in its 25-year history. In addition to the Late Model’s, a 15-lap Bandolero race and a 50-lap, $500 to win UCAR race is also on the schedule.

With East Carolina Motor Speedway being our home away from home, The Weekly Racer will have updates from the Friday afternoon practice session as well as LIVE lap-by-lap coverage of the racing action the following day. If you haven’t already, I would suggest you hop on Twitter, search @theweeklyracer, and give us a follow so you don’t miss a thing! Coverage Friday, November 6th will run from 12 PM – 5 PM. Saturday’s coverage will begin at 2:30 PM picking up with LMSC qualifying where we will have both timed laps for you guys.

For more information and/or to register your car for next weekends race please visit the link provided –> 2nd Annual Ronnie Barnette Memorial 200 Registration. To keep up today with all things East Carolina visit them on the web at ecspeedway.com or on Twitter – @ecspeedway

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Bradley McCaskill Dominates Halloween Spooktacular

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Photo credit: Alicia Hackett/Frameworks Photography

Photo credit: Alicia Hackett/Frameworks Photography

LUCAMA, NC – Bradley McCaskill’s victory in Saturday’s Halloween Spooktacular at Southern National Motorsports Park was only justice seeing as the Archer Lodge, North Carolina driver led all but one lap in the 70 lap affair.

McCaskill entered the race fresh off a pair of second place finished, both to three-time and now reigning NASCAR Whelen All-American Series (NWAAS) national champion Lee Pulliam. In fact, in 2015, McCaskill has finished no worse than second at Southern National. That trend continued when he set the fast lap in qualifying and dominated en route to his second Southern National victory in 2015.

“I think we had probably the stiffest competition here other than Lee [Pulliam],” McCaskill said. “I mean, Clay Jones and Mack Little are just awesome drivers. There again, just hard work. Yesterday, worked here all day as long as we could and dialed this car in.”

McCaskill’s victory is the latest in what has arguably been the best season in his young career. Along with his wins at Southern National this season, McCaskill also scored a victory in the elite Championship Auto Racing Series (CARS) Late Model Stock Tour back in August in Concord, North Carolina.

“Just surrounded by a great group of people,” McCaskill remarked. “Trying to thank God every race if I can remember. It’s very humbling for us just to run this good and run a different car. Surrounded by great people who give me great opportunities.”

Clay Jones finished second in his previous two Southern National Motorsports Park appearances and that is where he would again finish on Saturday after leading one lap early in the race.

“It wasn’t too bad,” Jones said. “We struggled all weekend. Struggled bad yesterday. Got a little better this morning then found some stuff after practice and picked up a ton in qualifying. I think we were good. We were flying through the corners. I could pick him up right through the center but we’d get on the straightaway and he’d be three carlengths by the end of the straightaway. I can’t thank my guys enough. We worked hard all week. All the fenders are on it so we’ll go to Hickory next weekend for the CARS race and do well there.”

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Event Preview: Halloween Spooktacular

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Field lined up prior to the start of last year's Halloween Spooktacular. (Photo credit: Andy Marquis/RACE22.com)

Field lined up prior to the start of last year’s Halloween Spooktacular. (Photo credit: Andy Marquis/RACE22.com)

LUCAMA, NC – Limited Late Model racing will be the highlight of the Halloween Spooktacular at Southern National Motorsports Park on Saturday afternoon with a strong field of over 20 cars chasing victory and the possibility of winning $2,700.

The Limited Late Model field consists of championship drivers, old and new, as well as racers who find themselves in contention for race wins. Limited Late Model racing isn’t the only thing on the card for Saturday. A strong field of U-CARs, Legends cars and Bandoleros are all set to converge on the 4/10-mile oval in Lucama, North Carolina and a 10 lap all-female Powder Puff Shootout will leave plenty of people with a lifetime of memories.

Clay Jones Sets Sights on Victory

Goldsboro, North Carolina’s Clay Jones has not been as active on the Limited Late Model scene this season as he has been in the past. The veteran racer has been focusing on Super Late Model racing, but, when he has raced in his blue and black no. 15 car, he’s every bit the threat he has always been. Jones has recorded victories this season at Wake County Speedway in Raleigh, North Carolina and at Carteret County Speedway in Swansboro, North Carolina. Now, in his first Southern National appearance of the year in a Late Model, he expects to bring home a win.

Moody Getting Back on Track

2014 Southern National Motorsports Park Limited Late Model racer Haley Moody has not been able to duplicate the success she had one year ago. Last year, she scored three wins. This year, the 20-year-old from Kinston North Carolina has only two top-five finishes. Despite having enjoyed tremendous success at Southern National Motorsports Park, Halloween Spooktacular will be Moody’s second Southern National appearance of 2015. Last year, she finished third in the Halloween Spooktacular. This year, she believes she is willing and able to win.

Wertz Hoping to Make a Mark

Two-time Langley Speedway track champion and popular veteran Mark Wertz is one of the more than 20 drivers who will be competing on Saturday. Wertz is making his first Southern National appearance since the 2013 Thanksgiving All-Star Classic and he comes in with momentum on his side after snapping a five year winless streak earlier this year out at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Virginia.

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Driver Series S02E24: While It Was A Unique Way Into The Sport, Scotty Buchanan Enjoys Every Minute In His Enduro

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profileScotty Buchanan
July 17, 1974 (41)
Portsmouth, VA
Hometown: Suffolk, VA
Hometrack: Langley Speedway
Occupation: Mechanic – Lipton Tea

Sponsors: Ross Electrical Contractors, Grafik Trendz, Creditmax, and Auto Sales. Of course my demolition derby team DDP.

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Everyone has a unique story of how they have ended up where they are now. I actually take pride in being able to bring these stories to you, have to admit, its pretty fun hearing them told. This particular one is no different. Usually we hear how a driver came through the ranks of karts, midgets, their time on dirt, or even converting from racing motocross or something of the sort. This week, I bring you a gentleman by the name of Scotty Buchanan; a father of three: daughters, Courtney and Lindsey, and a son named Zachary.

“When I was a kid my dad was always working on cars on the side,” Buchanan told us. “Me and my middle brother were made to help out. My dad did it all from motor swaps to bodywork and painting cars. Now I make a living working on machinery and my brother is a painter at a local body shop. So I got to give big props to my pops for teaching us at a young age a skill that helped lead to a career.” The interest all started when he started going to the Suffolk Peanut Festival just to spectate. In 1998 the opportunity to compete in one came up and since then Buchanan was hooked.

Okay but this is a “Weekly Racing” website your probably thinking, how in the world does this translate to that, right? Well I am getting there don’t worry! It was in 2006 when Langley Speedway started doing their now annual Day of Destruction – which by the way is tomorrow, perfect timing for this interview if I do say so my self. The following year Buchanan built an enduro car and started competing every year at the Day of Destruction starting in 2007.

A scary moment for Buchanan in 2011 when he broke his foot in one of the derbies after his transmission exploded. One of the inherit risk you take getting behind the wheel in any type of racing, glad to hear it was not more serious than it could have been and he was able to recover. It was actually during that recovery process Buchanan started to get the itch, no not from having his foot in a cast though I am sure there was plenty of that, but the itch to get back to the track.

“I was just getting back walking good and still out of work when Derrick Boggess asked me if I could I come pit for him,” Buchanan tells us. “I was coming to [enduro] races, hanging out in the pits with everyone and the bug really got to me to want to try it. So Derrick had hooked much up with Mr Enduro series himself Larry Drommerhausen and he offered me a car to drive in 2013 and thus my racing career I guess you say took off at Langley.” Which ended up being a pretty decent year for the rookie driver. Buchanan would finish 9th in points, yes these drivers race for the fun and for the points, and ultimately lock up the Rookie of the Year award.

Fast-forward a couple years to 2015 Buchanan, sporting car number 73 in the Bojangels Enduro Division, came into the season with one goal, to get his first win. That he did which he tells us he owes a great deal to Derrick Boggess. “Derrick has helped me step my game up a whole lot these past two year. We rented the track a couple times and made it to numerous Thursday practice sessions,” said Buchanan. “I tell you what man our last 2 race couldn’t have ended up more perfect. The race before his last I got my first win and he finish second and the next race he won and I finished second. Couldn’t ask for a better ending to our last putting in the enduros together.”

Next year there are still a few things up in the air for Buchanan, with Boggess moving up into the Super Truck division next year at Langley Speedway, he really wants to try to make the move along with him. However, he did tell us that he plans on helping his son make his introduction to the Enduro Series. Just like always though we had to send Scotty through the ringer, sat him down in the hot seat, hit him with the rapid fire. I must admit he handled himself admirably. Come on in and meet one of the front running Enduro drivers out at Langley Speedway.

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Entries Fly In for Halloween Spooktacular At Southern National

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SNMP Sook Race 2015

Ronald Renfrow (07) and Haley Moody (50) are both entered in Saturday’s Halloween Spooktacular at Southern National Motorsports Park. (Photo credit: Corey Latham/RACE22.com)

LUCAMA, NC – A stout combination of championship drivers and championship hopefuls have pre-entered for the Limited Late Model portion of Saturday’s Halloween Spooktacular at Southern National Motorsports Park.

18 drivers have already entered the race. That list includes Wake County Speedway champion Alex Fleming, former Southern National Motorsports Park champions Clay Jones and Haley Moody, former Bowman Gray Stadium champion Mack Little and regional regulars such as Bradley McCaskill, Zachary Marks, Zach Henshaw, Rusty Daniels and Ronald Renfrow.

Alex Fleming and Clay Jones are both making their first Southern National starts of the season. Jones has been competing in the Championship Auto Racing Series (CARS) Super Late Model Tour and Fleming won the track championship at Wake County Speedway in Raleigh, North Carolina. Haley Moody is making her second Southern National start of the season and looking for her first 2015 win after scoring three wins in 2014.

Bradley McCaskill has one win and four second place finishes at Southern National in 2015 and is a favorite to win, but Rusty Daniels could be a threat to him. Daniels also has a Southern National win this season.

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Balluzzo Etches His Name In Langley Speedway’s Record Books With Eighth Title

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Balluzzo 8th ChampLangley Speedway waved the checkered flag over their 65th season just over a week ago, and crowned champions in the remaining six divisions that call the facility home. Not only were champions crowned, history was re-written when Shawn Balluzzo clinched his 8th Modified division title at the tricky .395 mile oval. Now, I would be a horrible media outlet if I did not give credit where credit was due as Robbie Babb won some of the battles but was just not able to win the war.

Babb entered the season finale seven points behind Balluzzo and on a mission, if I do say so my self. Babb set the pole earlier in afternoon with a time of 16.396, citing the car was a little slow due to the cooler temps. It did not matter come race time however for Babb who set a blister pace throughout the 75-lap feature. No doubt in anyone’s mind that night on who the fastest car was. Not taking any credit away from Babb’s performance on the night but with a seven-point gap Balluzzo did not need to push the car to its limits. All he needed was a solid finish; why not take it easy when you can.

Babb, in victory lane was a bit from a celebratory mood as he locked up his sixth win in dominating fashion. “Yeah, it’s a little bittersweet,” Babb said. “There’s a lot of things I can say, but I’m gonna just leave it at that, they know what they did and it’ll come around.” Babb did have a couple less than ideal moments towards the end of the race trying to get by some slower cars who were battling for position, one almost sending the leader into the grass on the backstretch.

Needing only a seventh place finish on the night – even with the Babb win – Balluzzo took what some would call an aggressively modest approach to the night. Okay, I am pretty sure no one said those two words together as I had to sit back and look at them again. Yes, Robbie had the fastest car that night and deserved to win, but as I said before, Balluzzo was not in the position to need to push his car, his crew, or his ability to their limits

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