Racing run pays off for 'Gambler'

An Evans resident known as "The Gambler" received a nice payoff earlier this month in Concord, N.C.

Ed Basey was the big winner at the Carolina Clash SDRA Super Late Model Series 2003 awards night at Lowes Motor Speedway.

The race-car driver earned the championship trophy, a $6,000 paycheck and a leather jacket for winning the 2003 Carolina Clash Crown.

Basey, who has 22 years of racing experience, nailed down the award with a number of high finishes during the season.

Driving a Pontiac Grand Prix, Basey posted a win at Wythe Raceway in Virginia, recorded 10 top-five finishes, along with 15 top 10s in earning top honors for the fourth-year series.

Basey won the title by 147 points over Larry Blankenship, who led for six weeks during the season, but could not hold off the hard-charging Basey during the final month of the Carolina Clash points battle.