From the Archives of the
Western Kentucky
Dirttrack Gazette

AMA Southeast Amateur Dirt Track National
Paducah International Raceway
Paducah, Ky
April 16-17, 2005

SouthEast Showdown
By Bobby Lewis


     Riders from eighteen states converged on Paducah, Ky’s PIR facility to do battle on three different tracks within a two day period. Nearly 400 entries were on hand to compete for the number one plates and close racing was the norm. Both dominating rides and two classes that ended in a three way tie, along with the appearance of Jake Johnson, Kevin Vanes and the Suzuki dirt track squad made for an exciting weekend.
     The first race on hand was on the brand new short track that developed a narrow groove that required a steady throttle hand to get through the slightly rough slick corners.
     Georgian Brett Sassaman kicked it off by topping the 450-cc four-stroke class by a very close margin over Derrek Weber and Brandon Robinson. Justin Hanna was fourth as Brock Schwarzenbacher moved from the second row to fifth over Jeremy Anderson, Tyler Porter, D. J. Slosser, Stevie Nace, Colt Chebultz, Spencer Shoff and Patrick Pyle.
     Sassaman then rolled onto the back straight in front of the 505-cc field also and held off Robinson for his second win of the night.
     Robinson returned in the 250-cc two-stroke class and got the much needed hole-shot to hold off Schwarzenbacher for the win. Matt Weidman filed into third over Weber, Payton Sassaman and Nathaniel Vowell.
     Colby Chandler controlled the 250-cc four stroke ranks by sweeping the class along with the DTX. Weidman chased him for second in each with Michael Johnson a close third in the four-stroke division over Dakota Simmons, Katie Hawkins and Chaz Landers.


     Daytona short track winner Jake Johnson won the fastest of the three heats in the Open-Pro class then backed it up with a fast paced victory in the main. A.J. Eslick held off a determined Matt Burton for second while John Faulkner held firm for fourth over Aaron Ladd, Clayton Riggle and Ricky Marshall. Dean Faulkner was the next in line over Alan Stay, Danny Stookesberry, Kevin Varnes and Bill Gruwell.
     Ladd led the 450 Pro division with Johnson looking for a way past. At the halfway point the red flag came out resulting in a single file restart. Ladd led once again but two laps later Johnson was by and rode on for the win. Ladd was a solid second over Eslick, Varnes, Marshall, Alan Stay and Kyle Whitis.
     Frankie Lee Gillim stayed smooth on the groove as he held off a last corner charge by Cory Richard to win the 85-cc DTX class. Haden Avery was a firm third over Andrew Johnson and Levi Mayer.
     Gillim was off the gate good in the 85-cc 12-15 year old final also but had to settle for second over a hard riding Michael Johnson. Wisconsin’s Jacob White slid into third over Ricky Leak, Mayer, Brett Neville and Blake Tabor.
     Andrew Johnson led the 85-cc 7-11 year old pack for two laps before sliding off the notch and letting Avery take over. Jake Lewis slipped into second and tried a move for the lead that took him and Avery off the groove. Avery gathered it back up to take the win as Richard moved into second over Lewis, Johnson, Ethan Gillim, Kody Vaughn, Jacob Cummingham and Logan Demaa.
     Dallas Mayer had the track wired as he won both the heat and main in the Vet class. Mike Dunaway just managed to hold off Ronnie Brown for third. Lee McAnally was next over Tony Watkins and Travis Woods.
     McAnally returned to dominate the Senior class with a convincing ride. Skeeter Williams led the pack for second which consisted of Steve Burroughs, John Gilligan, Marty Allison, Byron Ward, Gene Yopp and Bill Zentmyer.