UNITED STATESNews and Media Releases
11th Place Finish at Duck River
16/08/2009
Gifford returned to the quarter-mile dirt track about 20 minutes from his hometown of Winchester, Tenn. with high hopes for the August 15 event.
Duck River was very disappointing, but we saw (the accident) one way and the track officials saw it another. I respect their decision, and we’ll just move on from there. I’m very excited about how well the test went at Rockingham, and I’m ready to see if I can bring home the big paycheck from Bulls Gap. It’s going to be a lot of fun.
Ryan Gifford and his No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil team finished a disappointing 11th at Duck River Speedway in Shelbyville, Tenn. last weekend.
Gifford returned to the quarter-mile dirt track about 20 minutes from his hometown of Winchester, Tenn. with high hopes for the August 15 event. After qualifying fifth for the 40-lap feature, Gifford was attempting to complete a pass as he raced side-by-side with one of his competitors around lap 10.
The two drivers made contact and Gifford spun out. While Gifford felt the other driver should have backed off, track officials felt Gifford was at fault and penalized him, dropping him back to 24th position for the restart.
Over the remaining laps, the talented wheelman worked his way back up to 11th position before the checkered flag was displayed.
Gifford and his Team Dillon Racing crew had little time to rest after the weekend’s racing. On Tuesday, August 18, the No. 29 team visited North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, where Gifford tested in preparation for his next start in a NASCAR Camping World Series event, which will come in early September at Iowa Raceway.
The 20 year-old then headed to Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tenn., where he is competing in the sixth annual Scorcher 100 – "A Salute to America's Coal Miners!" on Wednesday and Thursday, August 19-20.
Qualifying and heat races are scheduled on Wednesday, along with a 25-lap Fastrak Racing Series-sanctioned "Courtesy Chevrolet" Pro Late Model feature.
Thursday is the date of the sixth annual Scorcher 100 – "A Salute to America's Coal Miners!,” which pays $1,200 to start the race and a prize of $20,000 for the winner. The night's racing action begins with last chance B-mains to complete the starting field for the Scorcher 100.
Following the B-mains, money will be up for grabs in the six-lap "Dash For Coal" among the six heat race winners from Wednesday night. The Dash For Coal pays $2,000-to-win while second-place receives $1,000, with the event paying $200-to-start.
Hot laps are tentatively scheduled to begin each evening around 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, to be followed by qualifying and racing action.
For more information, visit www.volunteerspeedway.com.