Championship Night at Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Thursday Thunder concluded the 2009 season and featured the awarding of championships in eight classes.

Although county drivers weren’t in the winner’s cricle Thursday, they did especially well in the Young Lions division as Winston’s Mason Massey finished second, with Davey Matthews third.

Justin Thomas held the advantage to start the Young Lions feature, but division points leader Chad Finchum immediately took the lead from his outside pole position. After an early caution, Finchum maintained his lead position with Mason Massey and Davey Matthews trailing. Superior to his competition, Finchum cruised to his sixth victory of the season en route to the 2009 Young Lions championship.

Also of local interet, Winston’s Austin Hill placed third in the pro division, with Dalton Hill fourth in the M&S Auto Bandits.

John Holleman led the M&S Auto Bandits to the start before Clayton Weatherman drove hard into turn one from the outside position to take the lead. Clayton again surged ahead of the pack following an early caution and was soon followed by his brother Kyle who claimed the second position. After a series of cautions, the Weathermans remained in front, with Clayton taking the race win and Kyle claiming the 2009 M&S Auto Bandits division championship. Celebrating their wins together, Clayton and Kyle pulled around to the finish line together to be interviewed.

Jimmie Henderson led the Pro class to the green flag from the pole position. Henderson maintained his lead with first and second in points, Austin Hill and Zac Kittle respectively, in tow. Kittle then jumped Hill for second. Uncatchable by the points leaders, Henderson claimed the win, but Hill claimed the 2009 Pro Championship with his third-place finish.

“Thunder Ring” also witnessed the return of Beau Slocumb after a battle with cancer.

Slocumb, a fan favorite with five-career Thursday Thunder wins, returned to Atlanta Motor Speedway after recently completing treating for Synovial Sarcoma cancer at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. In a remarkable moment, Slocumb won the Thunder Roadster heat race to claim the pole position in Ed Clark’s vehicle.

Slocumb, a Juliette native, held the advantage to start the Thunder Roadsters feature race, making his return to the “Thunder Ring” following a two-year hiatus. Jeremy Kalina dove ahead momentarily after an early caution, but Slocumb soon reclaimed the lead.

Separated by just one point in the standings and fighting behind the leaders for the Championship, Chris Cable pushed ahead of Adam Gay for third. But shortly after, a hard bump from Brian Weimer spun Gay and forced a caution, eroding his Championship hopes.

After the restart, Kalina and Cable moved ahead of Slocumb. Cruising ahead of the pack, Kalina passed the finish line unchallenged for the win, while Cable finished second to take the 2009 Thunder Roadsters Championship.