Another great Tuesday night of racing action is complete, and it was fast, furious, and exciting! In Topless Modified, Johnny Ridings held off valiant charges for the lead from Paul Johnson and Justin Summers to earn his first win of the season. In Limited Late Model, a record 10 cautions were thrown for several incidents and spins, with Rusty Ballenger besting a hard-charging Josh Collins. The Newport Nightmare Jimmy Owens made an appearance, powering into the race lead from the getgo, leading the first 9 laps, then pulling off and rejoining the field. He would charge back up to a 4th place finish. In Mini Stock, David Singleton was cruising to his 9th win of the season, but bad luck would strike, handing the win to Sam Burgess. Travis Reno would take the checkers in the Street Stock feature, but Warren McMahan would lodge a protest. Reno refused, and McMahan was awarded the win. Next up was the final feature of the night, with Ryan King taking the checkers in controversial fashion in the NeSmith Crate Late Models.
Next up on the schedule is another regular program, with racing excitement in the Limited Late Model, NeSmith Crate Late Model, Topless Modified, Thunder & Lightning, Street Stock, and Mini Stock!
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Topless Modified
Johnny Ridings and William Hux is your front row, ready to roll, GREEN FLAG!! Ridings quickly jumps off 2 with the lead, Paul Johnson powers his way into 2nd as Justin Summers is powering his way around Josh Henry. Summers sizes up Johnson off 4, stays in line and peeks inside in 1, falls in line off 2. Ridings beginning to pull away slightly over Johnson, as William Hux closes in on Henry. 5 laps complete, Ridings still holds the race lead but Johnson is closing in on corner entry. Johnson shoots off turn 2, closes to within a car length on Ridings, looks inside off 4, loses a little ground off 2. Johnson now looks inside off turn 2, side by side into 3, but Ridings holds his own and opens the lead up slightly as 12 laps are complete. Ridings running that high line tonight, right up against the berm, Johnson continues to peek inside but just can’t make it hook up so right now Johnson is just hoping for a bobble from Ridings. Summers now closing in on Johnson as Johnson powers inside as Ridings bobbles in turn 2, maintains the race lead. Summers now powers inside, slides up and makes contact with Johnson, Ridings gets loose off turn 2, Summers slides to avoid, now Summers kicks up the dust off 2, he’s out of the picture, it’s a 2 horse race now. One last try, they beat, they bang off turn 4, RIDINGS CLAIMS THE VICTORY! Paul Johnson comes in 2nd, 3rd goes to Summers. Another exciting finish for the Topless Modified division tonight, the fans certainly get their money worth each week!
Cautions: None
Leaders: 31-Ridings (1-18); 51-Summers (19); 31-Ridings (20)
Limited Late Model
Ryan King and Jimmy Owens your front row, they’re ready to roll, GREEN FLAG IN THE AIR! King 3 wheels it off turn 2, but give Owens the race lead off turn 4! King in the 2nd spot, Brad Lowe in the 3rd spot but caution flies as Phil Helton and Josh Collins get together. Collins had trouble in qualifying, but looks like he has minimal damage, both drivers will continue on. 1 lap complete.
Green flag back in the air, Owens mashes the loud pedal as he powers into turn 1, King takes a look to his inside, but it’s all Owens off 2. B. Lowe in the 3rd spot, Rusty Ballenger pulls around Bobby Giffin as he moves into 4th. Owens running that high line as he’s opening his lead up, but Helton spins in turn 3, Kevin Gentry around in 4 as he took evasive action to avoid Helton. Caution out here on lap 3.
Green flag back in the air, Owens hard on the gas as he opens up about 2 car lengths into 1. 3 wide off 2 for 2nd, King in the 2nd spot, B. Lowe in 3rd with Ballenger right on their toes. Jason Cardwell looks to the inside of Giffin, but caution flies as Ross White slows off turn 2.
Green flag in the air one more time, again Owens leads the field into 1 and Ballenger tries to look around B. Lowe, now off turn 2 B. Lowe looks inside King, as it’s a nightmare so far in this race. Owens your leader, King trying to hang on as B. Lowe is giving him a run for his money, side by side off 4. B. Lowe looks inside once again off 2, falls in line, looks inside again off 4, dogfight for the 2nd spot. Owens has some lap cars to contend with but now Gentry spins in turn 4, caution here on lap 9.
Green flag in the air, Owens with the race lead, but here comes B. Lowe! B. Lowe trying to stink up the O-Show, now he powers into the lead off turn 4. Ballenger now makes his way around Owens, drop Owens back to 3rd. Cardwell up on the bars now as he wants to look around Owens, Cardwell on the inside off turn 2, almost up on only 1 wheel as his machine has a lot of flex in it suddenly. Heath Alvey making it a 3-way battle for the 3rd spot, Owens hanging on so far, but now Cardwell slows and stalls in turn 4. Caution here on lap 14. Owens pulls off the speedway on this caution. Both he and Cardwell return to the feature.
Green flag in the air, B. Lowe tucks his machine down low in 1, Ballenger hot on his heels, Ballenger gets sideways, now here comes Alvey, he looks inside for a moment, falls back in line. Owens making his way back up through the field. Now Gentry will spin in turn 4, caution out here on lap 16.
Green flag in the air, B. Lowe again tucks down low into 1, Owens looks 3 wide off turn 4, he’s making some ground here as he’s knocking on the door for 8th. Ballenger meanwhile looking for room around B. Lowe, now we see Collins running his patented top line, he’s up to 5th as B. Lowe breaks off turn 4 from the race lead, what a tough break for him. Caution fest here tonight as we‘ve now made it to lap 20.
Green flag in the air once again with 5 laps remaining. Ballenger with the lead off 4, but don’t look now, here comes Collins, but now Helton has spun again in turn 2, caution again, still lap 20.
Green flag back in the air, looking for 5 green flag laps to finish this one up. Collins up high 3 wide as Owens powers inside Roger Best, caution flies for debris on the backstretch here on lap 20. Looks like something came off the fence and shattered part of the Cory Cate machine. (Update: Cate actually suffered a concussion as whatever the debris was, actually hit him in the helmet.)
Green flag in the air, still needing 5 green flag laps here. Layne Clifton jumps several cars, Collins powers around Best off turn 2, Owens back on the high groove, Ballenger the leader, Alvey in 2nd, Owens claims 5th, looks outside Best into 1, Collins outside Alvey, caution again as Gentry spins in 4 here on lap 22.
Green flag again, Best almost gets into Alvey, Collins around Alvey for the 2nd spot, Collins powers into turn 1 on the last lap, can’t make it stick this time, has 2 more turns, can’t happen, Ballenger takes the win, Collins comes home 2nd, Alvey in 3rd, 4th is Jimmy Owens, and Roger Best in 5th.
Cautions: 10 (Record)
Leaders: 14-Owens (1-9); 16-Lowe (10-19); 29-Ballenger (20-25)
Mini Stock
David Singleton and Mike Townsend ready to roll, GREEN FLAG! Singleton with the early jump off turn 2, Townsend in 2nd, Sam Burgess to his inside, Keith Sands up on his outside, as Rocky McNabb looks inside Shane Taylor, gets sideways in turn 1, hangs onto his machine. Singleton pulling away, Burgess in 2nd, Townsend hot on his heels, K. Sands trying to reel in Townsend. Taylor just behind him, as it’s single file for these guys for the time being. Singleton about a 10 car length lead over Burgess, Townsend about 5 car lengths back, then you have about 2 car lengths back to K. Sands as McNabb dives inside K. Sands off 4. Singleton opening his lead as he begins lapping cars, Burgess now a half straightaway behind, McNabb now powers around Keith, Keith battles back, but McNabb pulls away, looks to reel in Townsend. McNabb looks inside Townsend off 4, dives back in line. Townsend and McNabb closing in on Burgess slightly, now McNabb looks inside off turn 4, nothing doing this lap. Singleton still pulling away, as McNabb pulls inside Townsend, again can’t make it stick into 1. McNabb’s mirror beginning to fill up as K. Sands joins to make it a 4-way battle for the 2nd spot, McNabb now finally makes it around Townsend, now caution flies as Jeff Wallace has popped the wall off 4.
Green flag back in the air, Singleton again powers away with the race lead, Burgess in 2nd, McNabb peeks inside off turn 2, gets sideways, K. Sands now pulls inside Townsend, they bump and bang, knock Townsend way back in the order, K. Sands now has a flat, now Singleton slows in turn 4, tough break. McNabb and Burgess going to battle it out for the win, McNabb tries to loosen up Burgess, but Burgess claims the win, McNabb comes home in 2nd, 3rd goes to Brady Lee!
Cautions: 1
Leaders: 25-Singleton (1-16); 23-Burgess (17-20)
Street Stock
Warren McMahan and Bradly Lewelling your front row, GREEN FLAG! Lewelling with the jump off turn 2, McMahan back to 2nd, Travis Reno in 3rd, looks inside, Reagan Williams just behind him, now Reno powers inside, looks for the lead into 3, blasts into the lead, gets sideways off 4, hangs onto it. Lewelling in 2nd, as Williams smacks the wall, pulls off in 2, he pulls off. Reno your leader, Lewelling in 2nd, McMahan and Dale Watson the top 4 with Jeremy Hershner rounding out the field, now Lewelling drops a motor in turn 3, caution here on lap 3.
Green flag back in the air, 4 cars are left out on the track, Reno powers away with the race lead, Watson looks inside McMahan, falls in line off 2. Reno beginning to pull away slightly over McMahan, now McMahan beginning to reel him back in as they’ve left Watson tied to a tree. Reno with a bobble, McMahan tries to capitalize, can’t make it happen this time, but now Reno gets sideways in turn 4, McMahan nowhere to go, punts Reno, and McMahan will go to the rear.
Green flag one more time, McMahan looks to power around Hershner and Watson to try to battle for the win, claims 3rd and sets his sights on Watson, as Reno pulls away. McMahan, now has trouble getting around Watson as Reno has a straightaway lead now over the 2 car 2nd place battle. McMahan inside, dogfight for the 2nd spot. McMahan powers into 3, still side by side off 4. McMahan powers inside once again in 3, can’t quite make it happen this time. Still side by side, now McMahan finally clears it but unless a caution flies, Reno has checked completely out with this one. Checkers in the air, Reno takes the win, McMahan in 2nd, and 3rd goes to Watson. After the race, McMahan lodged a protest against Reno. Reno refused, so McMahan was awarded the win. Dale Watson was scored 2nd and 3rd went to Hershner.
Cautions: 2
Leaders: 10B-Lewelling (1); 77-Reno (2-20)
NeSmith Crate Late Model
Ryan King back on the pole, this time in the Crates! Outside him will be the David Crabtree machine. Ready to go green, turn 4, GREEN FLAG! Crabtree with the lead off turn 2, King drives hard into turn 3, doors Crabtree, Crabtree stalls in turn 4. Caution here on lap 0.
Green flag back in the air, looks like King may have some right-front damage, Mark Vineyard powers into the race lead, King powers into turn 3, steals the race lead, now he slides up into Vineyard, Vineyard off turn 4 makes contact with King, Vineyard goes hard in the frontstretch wall here on lap 0. Vineyard very upset, shows his displeasure on the frontstretch.
Green flag back in the air, going try it again. King down on the bottom, Adam Beeler outside him for the lead, King powers into turn 3, King gets sideways, slides up into Beeler, and sends King around in 4. Still 0 laps on the board.
Green flag back in the air, King and Beeler touch into turn 1, all drivers will continue. King with the lead off 4, Beeler hot on his heels, Mack McCarter in 3rd. Now McCarter has a mirror full of Greg Martin off 4, Martin looks inside McCarter off 2, as King is your leader. Beeler in 2nd, Martin in the 3rd spot as he sets his sights on Beeler. Beeler chasing down King as they dive into 3, 5 laps on the board. Martin peeks inside Beeler for a moment, falls in line off 2. Martin now inside off 2, Beeler up high, King just ahead of them as lap traffic isn’t far ahead. Beeler running down King, he’ll get sideways in 2, Martin looks to claim the lead, looks inside into turn 1, side by side off 2 with lap traffic just ahead. Martin down low, 10 laps on the board. Martin with the lead off turn 2, has an issue getting around a lap car, King claims the lead, now Martin pulls back inside, side by side for the lead into turn 1. Martin and King touch in turn 3, side by side into 1. Beeler closing in on those as Cory Hedgecock reels in Beeler. King with a slight advantage over Martin, Martin looks inside off 2, off turn 4 side by side, with heavy lap traffic just ahead of them. Martin down low, King with the run up high down the straightaway, Martin has to pull back in behind King. King now makes very slight contact with Stone Fuller as he’s being placed a lap down. Caution flies as Johnny Phillips stalls with a flat here in turn 2 on lap 19.
Green flag back in the air, Martin now with a clean track ahead, looks inside on King, can’t make it stick, now Beeler looking for room around Martin up high, Martin gives him plenty of room, side by side off 2. Beeler now moves into the 2nd spot, as he chases King. Gets high off turn 2, white flag in the air, but Hedgecock spins in turn 4. Caution here on lap 24.
Green and white flag in the air, one lap to get it done. King powers off 2, and off turn 4, King with the win, Beeler in 2nd, Martin comes home 3rd, with McCarter in 4th and 5th will be Hunter Best
Cautions: 5
Leaders: 30-King (1-25)