EASTABOGA, Ala. (Oct. 1) — Douglasville, Ga, driver Michael Page survived a steady onslaught from fellow front-row starter Tyler Millwood in a nose-to-tail, cat-and-mouse duel during the 60-lap Red Farmer Tribute event Saturday night at Talladega Short Track, earning $6,000 for a flag-to-flag victory in the Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series event at the third-mile oval.
The top four finishers were tied closely together while negotiating their path through slower traffic in the waning stages of the main event, and the leading Page-Millwood duo was trailed across the stripe by Dillon Brown and Joseph Joiner, while Tennessean Cory Hedgecock placed fifth in a 27-car starting field.
The extra-distance event held to honor the local short track legend, who is soon to turn 90 years old and still competes on a regular basis at the third-mile oval, was sponsored by El Bandito Yankee Tequila Company. It was the Adam Stewart-managed touring circuit’s 15th race of the season, and followed on the heels of a 37-lapper held the previous night that was won by Milton, Fla., driver Joseph Joiner.
Red Farmer Tribute
Page became the 12th different winner of the season on the Eastaboga, Ala-based touring circuit, and crossed the stripe 1.266 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger after turning back Millwood’s efforts during two separate stretches of the event when lapped traffic came into play. A narrowing track surface made it difficult to find plentiful racing room amid the slower cars, and kept the lead pair tied closely together as the race played out.
“I kept closing on him in traffic a little more, and a little more,” Millwood said. “It was a pretty good race, and it felt like we ran nose to tail for about 40 laps. I was there to capitalize on a mistake, but there wasn’t a mistake made.”
Page, who led every circuit after starting from the pole next to Millwood, was well aware of his challenger’s constant presence at his rear bumper.
“Yeah, I could feel him on me,” Page said. “Them lapped cars…it just seemed like they wouldn’t get out of the way. Every restart I’d try to set a pace where you don’t catch ’em as quickly. It felt like forever before the checkered flag come out.”
New Car, No Brakes
Page debuted a brand new Black Diamond Chassis for the weekend, wheeling it the first time in a Super Late Model event held the previous evening in the $3,800-to-win Jerry Goodwin Tribute to Beat Cancer.
He used the same car both nights, and battled brake issues in the closing stages in the machine’s second appearance while trying to hold off Millwood’s determined efforts.
“I started losing them about halfway through the race, and they’d go to the floor,” Page said. “That makes it hard to not miss the corner, and you worry about that in a nose-to-tail battle like we had tonight. It was pretty sketchy at times.”
Meanwhile, Millwood poised ready to pounce on any opportunity. He tried the high side twice, but each time found too little traction in the upper lane.
“I wasn’t feeling no huge pressure from behind until the last few laps, so I tried to roll around the outside of him [Page] a couple of times,” Millwood said. “It just didn’t work. He and I have raced together for years, and that battle we had tonight was fun. There wasn’t a lot of room to race, but I wouldn’t run over anybody in that situation, because I wouldn’t want that done to me either. The track was getting more narrow late in the race, and he never opened the door enough for me to stick my foot in there.”
During its maiden voyage, Michael Page’s Black Diamond Race Cars entry carried sponsorship from Baird Truck & Trailer Sales, National Transportation Insurance Specialists, T&T Trucking, Cove to Coast Marine, Schaeffer’s Racing Oil, Sweet Victory Apparel Company, CSR Aluminum Fabrication and Modern Images.
“It’s a brand new car built by Ronnie Stuckey and them guys down there at Black Diamond Race Cars,” Page said. “It’s actually a car I designed. I’m a person who likes to be different, and I just never wanna be like everybody else. I drew it out on paper the way I wanted it, and he built it for me. There ain’t another one out there that’s just like it.”
While happy with his victory and the financial windfall that arrived with it,” Page revealed that he’d only raced “about 10 times this season since my dad passed away.
“It just ain’t the same,” a subdued Page said. “It’s a struggle sometimes. He was really the main reason I raced. It just seems weird with him not being here. I got into racing because of him, and I miss him a lot.”
Joiner Earns $3,700 on First Night
Starting second on the grid, Joseph Joiner of Milton, Fla., led every circuit and earned a $3,700 top prize on the opening night of the Red Farmer Tribute weekend, wheeling his Capital Race Cars-built entry to the finish line 1.267 seconds ahead of veteran driver Ronnie Johnson.
The top six finishers all held their positions for most of the distance on a difficult track surface that offered few passing opportunities, and Joiner was never seriously challenged en route to the checkered flag over pole position starter Johnson, Cory Hedgecock, Jadon Frame and Jimmy Thomas.
The race was slowed by a single caution flag, and 17 drivers finished on the lead circuit in the 37-lap affair at the third-mile oval.
Joiner’s Capital Race Cars-built entry carried sponsorship from Langenfelder Mechanical Contractors, Hunt the Front, Base Race Fuels, Trading Paint, Penske Shocks, Matthew Henry’s Pump & Irrigation Service, The Law Offices of Cole & Davis, Dirt Track Bank, DirtCarLift.com, Wehrs Machine, QA1, Jones Racing Products, XS Power Batteries, Earnhardt Technologies Group, Schoenfeld Headers, Gorsuch Performance Solutions, StopTech Brakes, MSR Mafia and ATC Bolts & Fasteners.
About Crate Racin’ USA
The economical Chevrolet Performance 602 and 604 Circle Track Engine is utilized by competitors in the various divisions presented by Crate Racin’ USA. It’s in stock and available from Newsome Raceway Parts in Hartsville, S.C.
Each engine is built and sealed at the factory to prevent any expensive modifications. To place an order, call 1-877-497-3624.
For more information and rules, visit the organization’s website at www.crateracinusa.com, or follow our extensive social media programs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Newsome Raceway Parts, a division of Raceway Chevrolet in Hartsville, S.C., is the title sponsor of Crate Racin’ USA. E-Z-GO Golf Carts is the title sponsor of the second-year E-Z-GO $100,000+ Challenge.
Chevrolet Performance is an official sponsor of the organization, along with Advanced Laser & Machine, Cruise with the Champions, Hoosier Racing Tire, KRC Power Steering, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, My Race Pass, VP Racing Fuels and Lubricants and Willy’s Carburetors.
Official chassis sponsors include Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis and CVR Race Cars.
Red Farmer Tribute (Night Two): 1. Michael Page, 2. Tyler Millwood, 3. Dillon Brown, 4. Joseph Joiner, 5. Cory Hedgecock, 6. T.J. Brittain, 7. Ronnie Johnson, 8. Jeff Helms, 9. Mario Gresham, 10. Cody Overton, 11. Jimmy Thomas, 12. Jason Hiett, 13. Wil Herrington, 14. Kam Boyd, 15. Jason Welshan, 16. Jake Rainey, 17. Cody Ballard, 18. Matthew Brocato, 19. Jake Knowles, 20. Mitchell Stanley, 21. Tanner Collins, 22. Jeremy Pate, 23. Jason Markewitz, 24. Matt Henderson, 25. Cameron Weaver, 26. Adam Gauldin, 27. Morgan Alexander.
Did not start - Red Farmer.
Boyd-Bilt Fast Qualifier: Michael Page, 14.412 seconds
Lap leaders: Michael Page 1-60.
Margin of victory: 1.266 seconds
KRC Heat Winners: Jimmy Thomas, Cody Overton, Cody Ballard.
Red Farmer Tribute (Night One): 1. Joseph Joiner, 2. Ronnie Johnson, 3. Cory Hedgecock, 4. Jadon Frame, 5. Jimmy Thomas, 6. Tyler Millwood, 7. Jason Welshan, 8. Mitchell Stanley, 9. Jason Hiett, 10. Mark Whitener, 11. Jake Knowles, 12. Dillon Brown, 13. Cody Ballard, 14. Wil Herrington, 15. Mario Gresham, 16. Steven Holcomb, 17. Matthew Brocato, 18. Jake Rainey, 19. Jason Markewitz, 20. Jeremy Pate, 21. T.J. Brittain, 22. Mark Fleischer, 23. Jonathan Chapman, 24. Matt Henderson, 25. Cody Overton, 26. Adam Gauldin, 27. Jeff Helms.
Boyd-Bilt Fast Qualifier: Ronnie Johnson, 14.412 seconds
Lap leaders: Joseph Joiner 1-37.
KRC Heat Winners: Jason Welshan, Mark Whitener, Jake Knowles