A big crowd was on hand to witness Saturday’s J.T. Kerr Memorial NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series race. The action did not disappoint.
A 15.586 second lap in qualifying was enough to earn point leader Brad Seagle the pole for the scheduled 20 lap Sportsman feature. A very strong 17 car field was on hand to do battle for the $700 in front of a jam packed crowd. The green waved and Jed Emert used the high line to rocket off turn two and into the lead ahead of Seagle, Andy Ogle and Clyde Stanton. Brad Seagle didn’t waste any time trying to get the lead away as he worked the low line. The first caution would wave for Eric Webber and Clyde Stanton who got together off turn two. The caution would be called on Webber with Stanton getting his position back. Back under green and the attention was once again on Stanton who worked the low line trying to get third away from Andy Ogle. Warren McMahan started back in the 8th spot but was on the move as he worked over Wayne Rader for a spot inside the top five. The drive of the race may have been from David Kerr who started at the rear after not putting in a qualifying lap. Just past halfway and the #14 of Kerr was all the way up to 8th. The yellow would wave again this time for Stanton who was involved in another incident going for a spin in turn four. Jed Emert would pull away in the final laps to pick up the win.
1: #98 Jed Emert
2: #31 Brad Seagle
3: #68 Andy Ogle
4: #c11 Clyde Stanton
5: #33 Warren McMahan
6: #14 David Kerr
7: #50 Van Lester
8: #3 Floyd Self
9: #46 Stephen Martin
10: #32 John Adams
11: #87 Scott Gardner
12: #24 Philip Shockley
13: #68 Brandon Starnes
14: #01 Wayne Rader
15: #25 Eric Webber
16: #222 Rex Coffey
17: #7 Jimmy Calloway
2: #31 Brad Seagle
3: #68 Andy Ogle
4: #c11 Clyde Stanton
5: #33 Warren McMahan
6: #14 David Kerr
7: #50 Van Lester
8: #3 Floyd Self
9: #46 Stephen Martin
10: #32 John Adams
11: #87 Scott Gardner
12: #24 Philip Shockley
13: #68 Brandon Starnes
14: #01 Wayne Rader
15: #25 Eric Webber
16: #222 Rex Coffey
17: #7 Jimmy Calloway
Up next was the 20 lap Classic Car feature. The classic guys always put on a great show and believe me when I say this was no exception. John Stevens would put his #7 machine on point ahead of Lee Merritt and Josh Chesney who rounded out the top three on the start. Trouble would find Ritchie Overholser who slowed in the opening laps bringing out the caution. Back under green and the fight was on between Stevens, and Merritt for the lead. Adam Engel was also in a battle with point leader Eli Keck for the fourth position. Engel had moved his way up into the third spot as he, Stevens and Merritt had an incredible three way battle for the top spot. The fight for the lead was getting more and more intense every lap and you could feel that something was gonna happen and it did. Coming off turn four to the white Stevens and Engel made contact for the lead with stevens spinning. Lee Merritt would be in the right place at the right time to pick up the win.
1: #78 Lee Merritt
2: #88 Ritchie Overholser
3: #96 Adam Engel
4: #98 Jerry Acuff
5: 8 Eli Keck
6: #17 Luke Ellis
7: #1 Daisy Lockhart
8: #9 Rick Overholser
9: #24 Scott Lacy
DNS: #18 Rusty Welch
DQ: #7 John Stevens
DQ: #1 Josh Chesney
2: #88 Ritchie Overholser
3: #96 Adam Engel
4: #98 Jerry Acuff
5: 8 Eli Keck
6: #17 Luke Ellis
7: #1 Daisy Lockhart
8: #9 Rick Overholser
9: #24 Scott Lacy
DNS: #18 Rusty Welch
DQ: #7 John Stevens
DQ: #1 Josh Chesney
Up next it was the 40 lap JT Kerr NeSmith late models paying $4,000 to the winner. Fresh off a dominating steelhead victory the night before, Cory Hedgecock picked up where he left off by setting fast time in qualifying with a 14.838 second lap time. The green waved in the air as lightning lit up the background and Cory Hedgeock put his #23 machine into the lead ahead of Tanner Works, Jason Manley usually races with the Steelheads but had a great run going as he moved himself into the seventh spot. Hedgeock was setting such a furious pace that he was already in lap traffic after just a handful of laps. Jimmy Elliott and Barry Goodman had their own race going as well trying to work their way up through the pack. Trouble would find Rusy Ballenger as he spun going into turn three. Ballenger had a strong top five run going but his chances at victory were over after his accident. Jason Manley had moved himself into the top five but he and Jesse Lowe tangled in turn four bringing out the caution. The yellow would be called on Lowe but both drivers were done for the night. Hedgecock would never really be challenged as he pulled away late in the race to pick up the big win.
1: #23 Cory Hedgecock
2: #B1 Ronnie Johnson
3: #T35 Tanner Works
4: #95 Brandon Williams
5: #9 Heath Hindman
6: #33 Scott Dedwylder
7: #24 Greg Martin
8: #07 Jason Cardwell
9: #0 Ross White
10: #J39 Jimmy Elliott
11: #1 Connor Meade
12: #22R Will Roland
13: #19 Marcus Minga
14: #99 Justin Summers
15: #18E Chase Edge
16: #101 Forrest Trent
17: #24C Barry Goodman
18: #30 Ryan King
19: #23A Barry Anderson
20: #32 Jason Manley
21: #5J Jesse Lowe
22: #98 Eric Hickerson
23: #29 Rusty Ballenger
24: #15 Jason Britton
DNS: #2x Anthony White
DNS: #71 Pierce McCarter
DNS: #B00 Josh Henry
DNS: #17 Matt Henderson
DNS: #32 Greg Husky
DNS: #15 Andy Standridge
DNS: #51 Mack McCarter
2: #B1 Ronnie Johnson
3: #T35 Tanner Works
4: #95 Brandon Williams
5: #9 Heath Hindman
6: #33 Scott Dedwylder
7: #24 Greg Martin
8: #07 Jason Cardwell
9: #0 Ross White
10: #J39 Jimmy Elliott
11: #1 Connor Meade
12: #22R Will Roland
13: #19 Marcus Minga
14: #99 Justin Summers
15: #18E Chase Edge
16: #101 Forrest Trent
17: #24C Barry Goodman
18: #30 Ryan King
19: #23A Barry Anderson
20: #32 Jason Manley
21: #5J Jesse Lowe
22: #98 Eric Hickerson
23: #29 Rusty Ballenger
24: #15 Jason Britton
DNS: #2x Anthony White
DNS: #71 Pierce McCarter
DNS: #B00 Josh Henry
DNS: #17 Matt Henderson
DNS: #32 Greg Husky
DNS: #15 Andy Standridge
DNS: #51 Mack McCarter
Up next would be the 20 lap Street Stock feature. Skimp Henry has dominated the 2016 season with an incredible 13 wins but was absent due to health problems. That meant the door was wide open for a new winner and it was Austin Neely who earned the pole with a 16.243 lap time. The green waved and it was outside pole sitter Rocky Ogle who took the top spot in front of Neely. The caution would wave quickly for Tim Kilby and Freddy Hillard who crashed in turn four. Kilby would continue on but the night was over for Hillard with heavy rear end damage. Back under green and Neely was all over the #9 machine trying to wrestle away the top spot. Brad Davis and Dale Watson had a great battle going on for the fourth position just behind the leaders as the laps ticked away. The caution waved once again for MJ Collier, Bryan McDaniel and Jason west who tangled in turn four. Ogle would inch away from Neely on the restart and go on to pick up the win.
1: #9 Rocky Ogle
2: #3 Austin Neely
3: #36 Chris Rickett
4: #88 Brad Davis
5: #34 Tracy McPeak
6: #11 Dale Watson
7: #13 MJ Collier
8: #T11 Tim Kilby
9: #35 Jason West
10: #74 Freddy Hillard
11: #20 scott Atkins
12: #2 Steve Hillard
DQ: #59 Bryan McDaniel
2: #3 Austin Neely
3: #36 Chris Rickett
4: #88 Brad Davis
5: #34 Tracy McPeak
6: #11 Dale Watson
7: #13 MJ Collier
8: #T11 Tim Kilby
9: #35 Jason West
10: #74 Freddy Hillard
11: #20 scott Atkins
12: #2 Steve Hillard
DQ: #59 Bryan McDaniel
The final event of the night was the 20 lap Open Wheel Modified feature. Amon Bunch set fast time in qualifying with a 15.914 lap time being the only car under the 16 second mark. After a false start i was Jeff Hamby who took the lead with Bunch, Ricky Tinch and Don Adams in chase. Josh Brock moved past Wayne James to put himself into the top five early on. With Hemby inching away Tinch was closing in on Amos Bunch for the second spot. The caution would wave for Steve Smith who was making his first appearance at 411 Motor Speedway in the 2016 season. Bunch knew he had to strike fast and he dove under Hamby on the restart trying to get the lead away. Hamby would pull away in the second half of the race and cruise to his second straight win.
1: #15 Jeff Hamby
2: #50 Amos Bunch
3: #T92 Ricky Tinch
4: #90 Don Adams
5: #17 Josh Brock
6: #36 Billy Palmer
7: #4 Wayne James
8: #J4 Tyler James
9: #0 Terry James
10: #2 Steve Smith
2: #50 Amos Bunch
3: #T92 Ricky Tinch
4: #90 Don Adams
5: #17 Josh Brock
6: #36 Billy Palmer
7: #4 Wayne James
8: #J4 Tyler James
9: #0 Terry James
10: #2 Steve Smith
Next Saturday night it’s the Chevy Performance Super Late Models paying $3,000 to win!
