PARTS Pro Trucks: Young Celebrates Homecoming with Win

30 June 1998

BRASELTON, Ga. -- It has been years since Clay Young raced on the Road Atlanta Motor Sports Center road course, but he hasn't forgot much about how to get around the twisting road racing circuit.

Young of Roswell, Ga. drove his Performance Radiators Chevrolet to victory in the Bob's Candies Road Race Saturday (June 27) in the Big Daddy's PARTS Pro Truck Series only road race of the season.

The full-size trucks normally race the short tracks of the Southeast, but the visit to Road Atlanta gave the drivers a chance to have a little fun and learn how to make right-hand turns in addition to turning left.

It was Young who was giving the lessons. After taking the Re/Max Pole award, the veteran road racer led the entire 25 laps in taking the win. David Elliott of Lawrenceville, Ga. and PARTS point Leader Kevin Barrett of Cleveland, Ga. were able to keep Young in sight, but could not get close enough to threaten for the lead.

Elliott finished second in the Bill Heard Chevrolet Wholesale Parts Division Chevrolet and the Barnacle's Restaurant Chevy, piloted by Barrett finished third. Scoring his best finish of the season was Derek Hagan of Cadillac, Mich. in the Easy Care Chevrolet. Rounding out the top five was Jimmy Traywick of Marietta, Ga. in the Sports and Imports Motors Chevrolet.

Young had run thousands of laps around Road Atlanta in SCCA and IMSA competition prior to climbing behind the wheel of a race truck. Even with his experience, this was the first time he raced on the newly designed 1.837-mile road course. Several drivers made a strong showing in the event, mastering the course under competition conditions. Short-track ace Danny "Coon" Ayers of Mt. Airy, Ga. claimed the Mama Mary's Hard Charger Award, finishing 13th after starting in the 31st position.

Young, a former SCCA and IMSA champion, claimed the Finish Line Racing School Half-way Leader Award as a result of his dominate showing. He also gained five bonus points for leading the most laps.

The next event for the Big Daddy's PARTS Pro Truck Series will be the Maalox 100 at Lanier National Speedway in Gainesville, Ga. on July 11.