Johnson Tops North Georgia Late Models

CHATSWORTH, Ga. (Aug. 3) In a hard fought battle Ronnie Johnson out dueled Late Model point leader Gary McPherson to take the Late Model feature win at North Georgia Speedway Friday night.

Johnson and McPherson dueled side-by-side lap after lap before Johnson was finally able to move past McPherson for the lead with seven laps remaining in the 30-lap feature. For the remaining laps Johnson would hold off McPherson who was holding off Jamie Perry as the lead trio flashed under the checkered flag.

With the drop of the green McPherson would take the early lead over the 19-car field with Johnson in second applying the pressure. Perry, who was running in third was just waiting for the Johnson/McPherson battle to get a little too heated and open the door for him to move to the front. However the two cagey veterans kept the battle to themselves and Perry had to be content with a third place run and finish.

When the checkered flag fell Paul Hollander and Lamar Scoggins crossed the line in fourth and fifth. Kevin Gibson, Brad Coffey Aaron Ridley, Rodney Weeks and Mike Satterfield were the second five across the stripe.

Davey Davis showed the way in the 20-lap Limited Late Model feature. The Tunnel Hill driver led every lap holding of a determined Shannon Bearden who racked up another second place finish. Brian Jackson was third, Brian Burke fourth and Leon Brindle fifth.

Brindle went into the night leading the points by 21 over Paul Doss and 35 over Jackson. The combination of a fifth place finish for the ageless veteran, a third by Jackson and Doss not racing gave Brindle a 33 point lead over Jackson and a 42 point lead over Doss.   

Doug Kilgore led every lap of the Crate Late Model feature to take the win over last week's winner John Ownbey. Randy Hill was third, Jeff Smith fourth and Derek Ellis fifth.

Lee Gray took the lead from Scott Jackson three laps into the Sportsman feature and went on to take the win. Jackson would keep second with Spencer Singleton moving past Lisa Cantrell and Randy Dillard early for third. Scott Hall and Roy Smith would round out the top five.

Jeff Kile, who took the early lead in the Hobby feature, would give way to Jamie Parker six laps into the 15-lap event. On the 12th circuit Larry Higgins would move into second as Kile began to fade. Tanner Works would cross the line in third, Tim Ford fourth and Kile fifth.

Grady Stokes out ran Chris DeFore, Billy Callahan, Cody Perry and Ralph Langston to take the Pony feature win.

John Bingor won the Bomber feature with Donnie Price crossing the line in second. Richard Dixon, Tom Darby and Wesley Brown rounded out the top five.

Next Friday night will be the 30-lap Hobby Championship event paying $600 to win, plus racing in all other divisions including Late Models.

Located in Chatsworth, Ga. North Georgia Speedway is a third-mile clay featuring dirt track racing at it's best from March to October. The track address is 300 N. Georgia Rd. Chatsworth, Ga. 30705. Coming south on I-75 take Hwy. 52 (Exit 333) east approx. 11 miles to Hwy. 225. Go south on 225 approx. six miles. Track is on the right. Coming north on I-75 take Hwy. 225 (Exit 317) north 13 miles. Track is on your left. Go to www.northgeorgiaspeedway.com for more information including area motels.