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Bringing out Busha's best
Published July 30, 2009
EASTABOGA — Moving up from his 10th starting spot, Talladega Short Track points leader Tim Busha, of Boaz, took the lead from Neil Baggett on lap 33 and motored away to take his first career Southern All Stars victory Saturday.
An emotional Busha emerged from his winning GRT in the TST victory lane amid a rousing cheer from the Talladega faithful.
“Man, I just can’t tell you how much this win means to me,” Busha said. “These races are so hard to win, and for us to win at the Michael Head Jr. Memorial is just a dream come true.
“This is definitely our biggest career win and the most special for me personally.
“I appreciate the opportunity the Kilpatricks have given me to drive their car. They deserve this win because they made it possible.”
During Sunoco Race Fuels Race for the Pole Qualifying, Shannon, Miss., driver Baggett captured his first career Southern All Stars Sunoco Race Fuels Pole Award by touring the one-third mile high-banked oval in 14.637 seconds, besting 39-car field and taking the $200 fast qualifier bonus.
Talladega Short Track record holder Stacy Holmes put his Barry Wright Fusion on the outside pole with his lap of 14.762 seconds.
Brandon Kinzer, of Allen, Ky., clocked in third-fastest, with Alexandria’s Dingus Griffin and William Thomas, of Phenix City, rounding out the top five in time trials.
Bub McCool, Jake Knowles, Skip Arp, Terry Smith and eventual winner Busha completed the top 10 drivers locked in to the feature.
When the green flag waved over the field for the start of the feature, Baggett took the point with a three-wide battle for second among Holmes, Kinzer and Griffin.
Griffin made his move through the middle of Kinzer and Holmes to take over second on the third circuit, leaving Holmes and Kinzer to fight for third.
It only took Griffin a few laps to reel Baggett in as the leader began to reach backmarker traffic.
Baggett was running the extreme low groove with Griffin on the very top of the racetrack. Griffin nosed ahead on lap 10, with Baggett reassuming the lead the next lap.
Griffin finally took over the lead on his own when Baggett got hung up behind a lapper.
Once out front alone, Griffin seemed to be in cruising mode, picking off lapped cars as he caught them.
Baggett had to work a little harder to bypass the slower machines, as most were racing in his lane of choice.
Meanwhile, the 10th-starting Busha had broken into the top five and was chasing Thomas for the third position.
Back up front, Griffin continued to open up daylight between himself and Baggett.
Griffin had developed a 10-car length lead when entering turn four, his machine slowed dramatically.
Baggett flashed by to take the lead as Griffin rolled to a stop on the front straightaway with a flat right rear tire.
Griffin pitted for fresh rubber and rejoined the field in 17th for the restart.
When the green flag reappeared, Baggett went back to his bottom-dwelling line right around the track’s hub.
Kinzer opted for the outside in the double-file restart, which placed the now third Busha to his inside.
Busha and Kinzer raced door to door for the next two laps with Busha covering the spot on lap 24.
Busha now set his sites on Baggett. Busha, just as Griffin before him, worked the top of the track in his quest for the lead.
By lap 30, Busha was nosing to Baggett’s outside, and just three laps later, he rolled by Baggett to take the lead out of turn four.
Baggett tried to rally back on the bottom, but Busha’s highside momentum propelled his GRT mount easily to the lead.
Over the final 20 circuits, Busha worked lap traffic masterfully. Busha picked and chose his spots to overtake the slower machines.
And yet again, Baggett had to deal with those same machines running in his preferred line.
Randy Weaver, who started 11th, suddenly emerged to challenge Baggett for second.
Lap after lap, Weaver would take a peak to the inside of Baggett, only to find no real estate on which to work.
Weaver was relentless in his pursuit of Baggett and appeared to be just slightly faster than the Shannon, Miss. driver.
With just two laps remaining, Weaver tried the high line through turns three and four.
Weaver got a great run and it appeared that he might grab the second spot through one and two. However, Weaver had to check up as Baggett moved by a lapper who rolled up into Weaver’s line.
Weaver’s momentum was broken, and he lost about three car lengths to Baggett as Busha took the white flag.
Busha held a half-straightaway advantage over the duo battling for second.
Weaver was able to mount one final charge on Baggett but was unable to make it work.
Busha took his first career Southern All Stars win with Baggett taking second and Weaver finishing third.
Busha’s winning GRT Race Car Impala SS was powered by a Southern All Stars SPEC Engine built by RaceTek Race Engines and sponsorship from Kilpatrick Chevrolet, Sand Mountain Toyota, Pierson Chevrolet-Jeep, Stealth Racing Carburetors and Hoosier Racing Tires.
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