Paul Byrum (112) and Chad Hoopaugh (1) race side-by-side at Hartwell Speedway. Both drivers came into the night with championship hopes, but it was Byrum overcoming adversity to take the title. Photo by Heather Rhoades
After seventeen grueling weeks of fender rubbing side by side action it was time to see who would be crowned the 2011 champions at Hartwell Speedway in Hartwell, Georgia.
For most divisions that decision had already been made, but for Modified Street drivers Paul Byrum and Chad Hooapugh, all their hard work and dedication was about to play out one final time on the speedway. One driver would come heartbreaking close to winning the championship while the other would literally win on a prayer and some very handy duck tape.
Entering into Saturday night’s event Paul Byrum held only a 10 point lead over Hooapugh. With a championship hanging in the balance both drivers took to the speedway with tremendous determination. Hoopaugh’s #1 would do very well in the heat race while Byrum’s #112 would experience mechanical issues causing him to pull into the pits with a parts dragging from the rear of the car.
With the possibility of Byrum unable to fix his car before the main event all Hooapugh had to do was place 10th or better.
Byrum and his team worked like mad trying to fix the #112, and just as the announcer called the modified street division to the grid Byrum put the final touches and pulled onto the speedway with nothing but a prayer and some duck tape to hold his championship together.
At the drop of the green it would by Bowman Georgia’s Rusty Jordan who would take the lead, but like a heat seeking missile Hoopaugh would set his sights on the leader and within a few laps was right on Jordan’s bumper challenging him for the lead.
Meanwhile in the rear of the field Byrum was content just to keep up with the field. Hoopaugh would give it all he had trying to power his way around Jordan but in the end had to settle for second. Byrum would finish eighth, guaranteeing him a four point lead over Hoopaugh and crowing him Hartwell Speedway’s 2011 Modified Points Champion.
Other drivers taking home championships this year at Hartwell Speedway were Winder Georgia’s, Jimmy Johnson, for Limited Late Model, Hartwell Georgia’s, Frankie Beard, for FASTRAK Late Model, Joseph Teasley, for Stock V-8, Hartwell, Georgia’s Mitchell Godfrey, for Stock Four Cylinders, Oconee County’s Bryce Alewine, for Young Guns and South Carolina’s Steven Powell for Up Front. All these drivers and more will be honored this coming weekend in front of the crowd at Hartwell Speedway.
In other action Saturday night, Parker Herring scored the win in the FASTRAK Late Model feature, holding off Frankie Beard, who finished second. Chris Cape placed third, with Grand Jordan fourth and Kyre Mullaney fifth.
“Hot Rod” LaMance picked up the Limited Late Model feature victory. David McCoy finished second, with Parker Herring, Kenny Collins and Stephen Segars rounding out the top five.
In the Stock V8 feature, Justin Mauldin was first to the checkered flag, outdistancing second place Randy Shaw for the win. Colby Thornton placed third, with Joseph Teasley fourth and Keith Ross fifth.
Adam Smith came home first in the Stock Four Cylinder feature, beating out Wesley McDonald for the victory. Adam Byerly, Rusty Roberts and Ashley Poole rounded out the top five.
Bryce Alewine scored the win in the Young Guns feature. Joni Church finished second, with Daniel Ivester third and Mitchell Ledford fourth.
In the Up Front feature, Otis Fleeman scored the win, with Stephen Powell second, Joel Powell, Sr. third, Kalen Holmes fourth and Kevin Cox fifth.
Hartwell Speedway returns to action this Saturday, Sept. 17, with a full race program plus a Powder Puff race. For more information, visit www.hartwell-speedway.com.
Hartwell Speedway – Hartwell, GA
Race Results – Sept. 10, 2011
Modified Street
1. Rusty Jordan
2. Chad Hoopaugh
3. Ben Norris
4. Chris Jones
5. Todd Brown
6. Tyler Brown
7. Richard Jones
8. Paul Byrum
9. Shawn Mize
10. Tim Elrod
11. Sammy Calhoun
12. Ronald Ivester DNS
13. Mark Parham DNS
FASTRAK Late Model
1. Parker Herring
2. Frankie Beard
3. Chris Cape
4. Grant Jordan
5. Kyre Mullaney
6. Colby Cannon
7. Rodney Peters
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9. Blake Craft
10. David McCoy
11. Scott Holmes
12. Nick Deitz
13. Butch Riddle
14. Hot Rod LaMance
15. Wendell Chavous DNS
16. Chris Ausburn DNS
Limited Late Model
1. Hot Rod LaMance
2. David McCoy
3. Parker Herring
4. Kenny Collins
5. Stephen Segars
6. Mac English
7. Ted Crunkleton
8. J.R. Headen
9. Eric Johnson
Stock V8
1. Justin Mauldin
2. Randy Shaw
3. Colby Thornton
4. Joseph Teasley
5. Keith Ross
Stock Four Cylinder
1. Adam Smith 35
2. Wesley McDonald
3. Adam Byerly
4. Rusty Roberts
5. Ashley Poole
6. Scott Hollars
7. Scott Barnner
8. Jimmy Little
9. Nathan Bray
10. Dustin Bales
11. Mitchell Godfrey
12. Marty Hayes
13. Ryan Boles
Young Guns
1. Bryce Alewine
2. Joni Church
3. Daniel Ivester
4. Mitchell Ledford
Up Front
1. Otis Fleeman
2. Stephen Powell
3. Joel Powell Sr.
4. Kalen Holmes
5. Kevin Cox
6. Fred Sunley
7. Stacy Foster
8. Keith Hicks
