Junie Donlavey to be Honored Friday Night

Here's wishing Junie a wonderful evening on Friday night at Southside Speedway. Wish I could be there at the place where Sonny Hutchins scored so many memorable wins in the Donlavey #90 Ford Modified.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Southside Speedway - The Toughest Short Track in the South!
September 14, 2011
Attn: Sports Department
From: Chris Stefi
Competition & Marketing Director
(804) 640-6332
racesouthside@yahoo.com
Subject: Friday Nights, September 16, 2011 Races

Friday Nights Race to Salute NASCAR
Legend, Junie Donlavey

MIDLOTHIAN, Va . Thanks to the rain last Thursday night, Southside Speedway will end Race Week in Richmond instead of kicking it off. The Speedway will make-up last Thursday nights show on Friday, September 16, 2011 with a big night of racing to salute NASCAR Legend, Junie Donlavey . A 150 lap Late Model race, the biggest race of the season, will highlight the night of racing at The Toughest Short Track in the South! The largest Late Model car count of the season is anticipated. The U-Car division will also be on hand for a 25 lap feature, the Champ Karts will battle for 20 laps and there will also be a Driver Meet & Greet, where the fans can come on to the track before the races and see the stars and cars up close.
The big star of the night will be Richmonds own, Junie Donlavey. Donlavey, who based his familiar #90 Sprint Cup Series team in Richmond for nearly six decades, had over 60 different drivers pilot his cars. The star-studded list included everybody from David Pearson, Harry Gant, Benny Parsons, Jody Ridley, Dick Brooks and Kenny Schrader, to Virginia drivers Ricky Rudd, Bill Dennis, Lennie Pond, Rick Mast and Hermie Sadler. A special pre-race salute to Mr. Donlavey , hosted by Joe Kelly is planned for the night.
Pit gates will open at 3:00 p.m.; front gates open at 6:00 pm; Qualifying will get underway at 6:15 pm, the Driver Meet & Greet will begin at 7:00 pm and the first race will get the green flag at 8:00. Ticket prices are $12 for adults; seniors and military are $10; kids 6 - 12 years of age are $6; and kids 5 and under get in for free. For more information, log on to www.southsidespeedway.com .
Southside Speedway is a 1/3 mile, paved oval located on Genito Road in Midlothian, VA. The speedway was established in 1959 by J.M. Wilkinson and is currently run by his daughter, Sue W. Clements. The speedway features 8 divisions including Late Models, Modifieds, Grand Stocks, Street Stocks, U-Cars, Champ Karts, Legends and Pro-6. In 2011 the speedway will host 10 nights / afternoons of racing from June 17, 2011 through October 16, 2011.
12800 Genito Road Midlothian, VA 23112
www.southsidespeedway.com

Ray,

If you get a chance, let us know how it turns out. Hope the weather is good tonight.

Ray,

Thanks so much for posting the photos of Junie and Ronnie Elder and Lennie. That 1VA car could flat get around Southside. So good to see Junie & Lennie. Been a long time.

Note the Retro Lennie Pond 60s-70s Lookalike Paint Scheme on Upended Late Model

WILD SOUTHSIDE FINISH ON JUNIE DONLAVEY TRIBUTE NIGHT

MIDLOTHIAN, Va. The biggest race of the season had one of the wildest finishes ever at Southside Speedway on Friday night. On a night that paid tribute to NASCAR legend, Junie Donlavey , Timmy Langford drove his #39 Chevrolet to the high side of two wrecking cars to pickup his second career win and his first since June 2004. Langford had luck on his side from the start as fastest qualifier, Billy Morris, drew a six on the redraw and put Langford on the pole to start the 150 lap race.
The cone restarts and several lead changes throughout the night lead to the wild finish. Early in the race, Eddie Johnson, Chris Dodson, Jeff Oakley, Nick Smith, Chris Johnson and Billy Morris traded positions back and forth numerous times before the final few laps started to unfold. Rookie, Andrew Dean spun in turn 2 on lap 146 to bring out the caution and put the race into overtime. Eddie Johnson led Chris Dodson, Lin ONeill, Timmy Langford and Jeff Oakley. On the cone restart, Johnson appeared to spin the tires and he and Dodson got together as they crossed the start / finish line. Johnson spun and Dodson was black flagged for debris hanging off his car. That put ONeill on the point for the final green / white / checkered. On the final lap, Chris Johnson spun in turn 1 as Lin ONeill led the field off of turn 2. Points leader, Jeff Oakley made a bonsai run under ONeill going into turn 3. As the two cars washed up the track, Lin ONeill tried to turn back under Oakley. Coming off of turn 4 Oakleys car broke loose and came across in front of ONeills familiar number 1. The two cars collided and ONeills car climbed on top of the left front fender of Oakleys car as they spun toward the finish line. With just feet to go, Timmy Langford drove by on the top side to pick up the win. After reviewing the tape for the finish, the official finish order included Timmy Langford first, Raymond Pittman second, the sliding cars of Jeff Oakley and Lin ONeill third and fourth respectively and Billy Morris rounded out the top 5.
Mike Chapman continued his winning ways in the 25 lap U-Car race by picking up his third win of the season. He drove his orange number 87 to the win ahead of Frank Silva, Jamie Hite, Tyler Davis and Jason Marshall.
Stanley Holmes lead the Champ Karts across the finish line, but Jason Higginbotham was credited with the win as Holmes kart was disqualified for failing post race inspection. David Emory came home second, Justin Emory third, Buzz Moore fourth and Trey Williams finished fifth.
Next Friday night, September 23, 2011, Southside Speedway will crown 3 champions on the last Friday night race of the season. The races, originally scheduled for Sunday, September 25, 2011, will be the final races of the year for the Late Models, Modifieds and Grand Stocks. Along with the trophy presentations for those divisions, the Street Stocks, Champ Karts, Legends and U-Cars will all be on hand. Back Gates will open at 3:00pm, Front Gates open at 6:00pm, Qualifying at 6:30pm and racing gets underway at 7:30pm. Go to www.southsidespeedway.com for more information.

Thanks again, Ray. I knew that color scheme in the wreck photo looked real familiar. Lennie's old 1Va Late Model Sportsman was probably the sharpest looking car at Southside back in the day. Of course, they carried the color scheme over to Lennie's Rookie of the Year Winston Cup effort in 1973 in the #54 Cup car.