Last week the racing family at 411 Motor Speedway experienced tragedy, this week everyone in attendance paid tribute to Mike Townsend by doing what he loved, enjoying the sport of racing. After a brief rain shower it was clear the track was gonna be bad fast.
Up first on the schedule was the Street Stock feature. Brad Davis and Kurt Owens would start on the front row of the 12 car field. The green waved and Davis put himself into the lead with Owens in his tire tracks. The night didn’t go very well for James Crowe as he slowed after just a couple laps and retired for the evening. On lap 4 Jeff McLemore made a move past Rocky Ogle and moved into the top 5. Up front Owens had closed the gap Davis had been enjoying. The top two pulled away with Owens all over Davis. After running in the top 5 early on, Rocky Ogle pulled off the track with issues just before halfway. Davis had to hit his marks perfectly as Owens kept looking inside coming off turn 2. At the halfway point the top two had pulled out to a full straight-away lead over 3rd place. The battle of the night may have been between points leader Tracy Wolfe and Jeff McLemore who battled side by side the majority of the second half. Owens was all over the lead just waiting for his chance to pounce. He got that chance as Davis got loose coming off turn two opening the door for him to drive through on lap 14. Owens would hold on the final 6 of laps and score his 1st win of the season.
1: #14 Kurt Owens
2: #88 Brad Davis
3: #01 Jerry Hux
4: #36 Chris Rickett
5: #J3 Jeff McMelmore
6: #11 Tracy Wolfe
7: #3 Austin neeley
8: #t11 Tim Kilby
9: #07A Audie Wyrick
10: #20 Scotty Atkins
11: #9 Rocky Ogle
12: #360 James Crowe
2: #88 Brad Davis
3: #01 Jerry Hux
4: #36 Chris Rickett
5: #J3 Jeff McMelmore
6: #11 Tracy Wolfe
7: #3 Austin neeley
8: #t11 Tim Kilby
9: #07A Audie Wyrick
10: #20 Scotty Atkins
11: #9 Rocky Ogle
12: #360 James Crowe
A very emotional Mini Stock feature was up next. In honor of Mike Townsend, the Mini Stock field showed their respect to the fallen driver with the missing man formation on the start of the 20 lap feature. Former champion Tommy Metler took the lead on the initial start of the race with Courtney, Lane and Byers trailing him. It wouldn’t take Courtney very long to take over the lead as he moved past on the second lap of the event. The caution would wave on said lap with Sam Burgess pulling off track. Back under green Courtney quickly pulled away from the field. With 6 wins already to his credit, John Byers put his familiar J7 machine into the top 3 early on. After another quick caution, Byers kept the charge going moving past Metler into the runner up spot. Courtney looked untouchable as he kept stretching the lead out lap after lap. On lap 7 it looked like Metler had found something as he closed in on the back of Randy Lane who had possession of the 3rd spot. It would all be smooth sailing for Courtney who drove away to pick up his 4th win and 3rd consecutive victory of 2015.
1: #171 Kyle Courtney
2: #J7 John Byers
3: #41 Randy Lane
4: #44 Tommy Metler
5: #88 Shannon Raley
6: #9 Chris Johnson
7: #31 David Darden
8: #4 Clifford Sands
9: #23 Sam Burgess
2: #J7 John Byers
3: #41 Randy Lane
4: #44 Tommy Metler
5: #88 Shannon Raley
6: #9 Chris Johnson
7: #31 David Darden
8: #4 Clifford Sands
9: #23 Sam Burgess
With three races and three different winners, the Classic cars took to the track next. Bobby Pressley took the early lead on the start, putting his #07 machine on the point. Right in his rear view was Justin Overton and John Stevens. First caution waved on lap 4 for Philip Thompson who spun in turn 3. Thompson, who dominated last weeks race had a lot of issues in this one. He would be involved in another incident a couple laps later that resulted in several cars heading off the racetrack including Thompson and Joe Keck. After another quick caution the top three of Pressley, Overton and Stevens pulled away from the pack. At the halfway point, Overton was all over the back of Pressley for the lead. Eli Keck was also on the move as he took over the 4th spot.On lap 14 Overton again looked inside for the top spot. It looked like he was setting up his move and that paid off on lap 18 as he pulled past Pressley and into the lead with just two laps left. Overton would hold on to become the first repeat winner of 2015 in the Classic division.
1: #98 Justin Overton
2: #07 Bobby Pressley
3: #7 John Stevens
4: #8 Eli Keck
5: #65 Michael Maiden
6: #07A Adam Pressley
7: #24 Philip Thompson
8: #78 Joe Keck
9: #18 Rusty Welch
DNS: #88 Richie Overholser
2: #07 Bobby Pressley
3: #7 John Stevens
4: #8 Eli Keck
5: #65 Michael Maiden
6: #07A Adam Pressley
7: #24 Philip Thompson
8: #78 Joe Keck
9: #18 Rusty Welch
DNS: #88 Richie Overholser
After a couple weeks off the Limited Late Models made their much anticipated return. With a 14.157 lap time Trevor Sise put his #73 machine on the pole. Beside him would be the current points leader Jason Cardwell with a 14.309 lap. Cardwell had moved over to the #16 machine instead of his usual #07. With the yellow gone Cardwell jumped out to the lead over Sise and Hedgecock. The battle for second was intense right from the start with Hedgecock working the inside groove early on under Sise. David Crabtree who is usually a contender every time out pulled off track very early with issues. Once again Hedgeock looked under Sise but had to fall back in line. By lap 7 the top 3 cars had pulled away looking to settle it amongst themselves. After several laps of working him over, Hedgecock was able to move past Sise and into the second spot. He wasn’t done there as the #23 quickly closed in on the back of the leader. Cardwell protected the inside grove, forcing Hedgecock to try the outside line. The moment of the race came on lap 15 as Cardwell spun while leading. With the lead now in his hands, Hedgecock started to run away from the pack. A couple spots back “The Iceman” Jason Manley was on the move and he slipped into the 4th spot. His impressive run would literally hit a wall as he jumped the cushion with just two laps left making significant contact with the turn two wall. Up front Hedgeock was all alone as he drove to the win.
1: #23 Cory Hedgecock
2: #73 Trevor Sise
3: #39 Eddie King Jr
4: #31 Brad Seagle
5: #16 Jason Cardwell
6: #2 Mitchell Childress
7: #32 Jason Manley
8: #31 Johnny Ridings
9: #c5 David Crabtree
2: #73 Trevor Sise
3: #39 Eddie King Jr
4: #31 Brad Seagle
5: #16 Jason Cardwell
6: #2 Mitchell Childress
7: #32 Jason Manley
8: #31 Johnny Ridings
9: #c5 David Crabtree
The final event of the night was the UCRA $2,500 to win 40 lap main feature. Jason Welshan set fast time in qualifying but his time was disallowed for not crossing the scales. It ended up being Josh Henry’s 14.695 and “The Dirty White Boy” Anthony White’s 14.672 lap times that earned the front row. DWB was in no mood to waste time as he took the lead as soon as the green waved. Hot on his heels in the opening laps was Henry, Brinkley and Ownbey. Rusty Ballenger looked strong early on, working the outside of Owenby in the opening laps. The first caution waved on lap 4 with a accident collecting several cars including Justin Owens, Bradley Lewellen and Shane Smith. After an extended cleanup Owenby pounced on Henry on the restart taking away the second spot. Just 6 laps in and Owenby had already closed in on the back of the leader. A little further back saw Jordon Horton trying to work his way through the pack. Josh Henry would use a restart on lap 11 to try and dive under Owenby and take the second spot back. The momentum on the outside derailed his chances and he fell back in line. A spin on lap 14 for Jake Teague slowed the pace. Just inside the top 5 we saw Matt Henderson putting pressure on Rusty Ballenger. The 2014 411 NeSmith champion Ryan King powered under Ethan Hunter on lap 19. Horton was on the move, going past King on lap 23 but trouble found him late in the race as he and Henderson made contact sending Horton into the pits. On the restart Owenby again dove under White coming off turn two for the lead. The two drivers would inch away from the field and put on a thrilling battle for the top spot. In the end it would be “The Dirty White Boy” who would drive into victory lane after an incredible race.
1: #2x Anthony White
2: #44 John Owenby
3: #B00 Josh Henry
4: #43 Kasey Hall
5: #10 Jay Brinkley
6: #29 Jason Welshan
7: #30 Ryan King
8: #H2 Matt Henderson
9: #3H Ethan Hunter
10: #11 Bobby Richey Jr
11: #117 Jake Teague
12: #35 Todd Coffman
13: #157 Kenny Kizzar
14: #J39 Jimmy Elliott
15: #55 Kyle May
16: #56H Jordon Horton
17: #4 Shane Smith
18: #23 Justin Owens
19: #7 William Overby
20: #29 Rusty Ballenger
21: #8a Todd Morrow
22: #10 Matthew Turner
23: #07 Bradley Lewellen
24: #43 Tom Maddox
DNS #05 TJ Brittan
2: #44 John Owenby
3: #B00 Josh Henry
4: #43 Kasey Hall
5: #10 Jay Brinkley
6: #29 Jason Welshan
7: #30 Ryan King
8: #H2 Matt Henderson
9: #3H Ethan Hunter
10: #11 Bobby Richey Jr
11: #117 Jake Teague
12: #35 Todd Coffman
13: #157 Kenny Kizzar
14: #J39 Jimmy Elliott
15: #55 Kyle May
16: #56H Jordon Horton
17: #4 Shane Smith
18: #23 Justin Owens
19: #7 William Overby
20: #29 Rusty Ballenger
21: #8a Todd Morrow
22: #10 Matthew Turner
23: #07 Bradley Lewellen
24: #43 Tom Maddox
DNS #05 TJ Brittan
Racing continues on Saturday, June 27 with the return of the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series.
