Clayton News Daily

From Staff Reports

More than half-way through the 2009 Thursday Thunder season, Atlanta Motor Speedway's sixth week of short-track action is sure to feature on-track excitement as points races heat up approaching the season's end.

Week six of Thursday Thunder is Joe Momma Night and the "Thunder Ring" will be brimming with eight classes of Legends, Bandolero and Thunder Roadster racing, heat races and promoter's choice events.

Joe Momma Night

Atlanta Motor Speedway's feature theme for week six of Thursday Thunder is Joe Momma Night, giving fans named Joe the opportunity to bring their mother to the event and both will receive free admission. Race fans are encouraged to dress up like "Joe Dirt", sing "Joe's Garage," or come armed with their best "Your Momma" jokes.

Making Joe Momma night even more inclusive, the event is open to all variations of the name Joe, including Joey, Joseph and the Hebrew-variant Yosef, among others. Even female variations are valid, such as Josefina. Participate Joes and variants will be required to show a photo I.D. to receive free admission.

Bell Takes Lead 

Tight points races continue to define the 2009 Thursday Thunder season and Evan Bell's week five Young Guns win provided the Buford native with his first points advantage of the season.

After claiming the pole position, Bell led the week five Young Guns feature wire-to-wire en route to his third win of the season. After entering the event tied with Joey Padgett for first in points with 385, the win, coupled with Padgett's third-place finish, gave Bell a 15-point advantage entering week six.

Including the M&S Auto Bandits, six-of-eight Thursday Thunder classes feature points leads of 15 points or less.

Influx of Bandits

Leading up to the 2009 Bandolero Nationals at Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 24 and 25, Thursday Thunder continues to see impressive car counts and racing among the M&S Auto Bandits each week.

Through five weeks, each M&S Auto Bandits race has featured 15 or more cars in the field and many competitors are making long hauls to race on the "Thunder Ring" in preparation for national competition.

Week five's M&S Auto Bandits feature included nine competitors from six states outside Georgia, with Kyle and Clayton Weatherman of Wentzville, Mo. taking the title of furthest from home.

In total, the 2009 M&S Auto Bandits class has seen drivers from eight states outside Georgia; Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.