Brothers Jeff Moxley (green mower) and Billy Moxley (yellow mower) battle it out with Tommy Alley Jr. (black mower) in the second turn in racing action during last Saturday night's CarQuest Mow Down in the mini super modified division. Jeff Moxley took the checkered flag in this particular heat race.

About 1,500 attend mower race

A crowd of about 1,300 turned out on a damp, drizzly evening for the second-annual CarQuest Spring Mow Down last Saturday at the Alleghany County Fairgrounds.

The event, which was organized by the Alleghany Mower Racing Association (AMRA) and the Alleghany Fair Committee, had been postponed two weeks earlier due to inclement weather, and Saturday's race was once again threatened by impending rain.

"We were extremely fortunate to get the race in becasue of the rain, but we're extremely pleased with the crowd," said AMRA spokesman Walt Green. "The racers are doing this to help the community, with funds going to the Alleghany Fair Committee and the Sparta Fire Department."

All proceeds from last Saturday's race went to the Alleghany Fair Committee, including money that in the past went to race winners. "The racers ran just for trophies this year," Green said. "They were great....Because of economic conditions the racers agreed to run for trophies instead of money."

Fair Committee spokesman Bob Edwards said the event went off well. "We were worried about the rain, but everything worked out great," he said. "We really appreciated the amount of effort everyone put into making this event a success.

"It just keeps getting better every time," he said, noting that the fans seem to really be excited about the race. Edwards also extended thanks to the racers, sponsors and volunteers for helping raise funds for the upcoming Alleghany County Agricultural Fair.

Above left, Roger Choate holds up the checkered flag after winning a heat race in the mini super modified class. Choate also went on to take first place overall in the class.

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