Kennedy gets first 411 late model win

With the stands filled to the rim with standing room only, 6 classes of racing action was on the schedule.

First up was the 20 lap Classic Car feature. Lee Merritt would start on the front row continuing his incredible 2018 season. The green waved and Merritt took control of the field ahead of Mac Lockhart, Michael Millsap, Charlie Bates and Jimmy Rauhuff. Lockhart had a strong run going but would go for a spin in the early laps sending him to the rear of the field. Bates had a strong run going as he put the pressure on Milsap for the runner up spot. Milsap would put some distance between himself and the third spot as he set his sights on Merritt who had slowed his pace as the laps went on. Merritt seemed to have some sort of mechanical problem and would end up pulling off track before the finish. Milsap would hold on to pick up his first win of the season.

1: #42 Michael Milsap
2: #00 Mac Lockhart
3: #27 Charlie Bates
4: #3 Joe Keck
5: #14M Jimmy Rauhuff
6: #22 Hunter Graybeal
7: #14 Lee Merritt
8: #59 Shaun Sise
9: #61 Tyler Trent
10: #23 Todd Beeler
11: #5 Joshua Chesney
12: #11 Tim Bounds
13: #16 Will Carey

Brad Davis is always one of the top drivers to beat anytime he comes through the gate regardless of the track. He would earn the pole in qualifying getting himself the pole for the A main. Davis would set sail on the start with Chris Rickett, Wayne Rader and Robbie Comer giving chase. Robbie Buchanan didn’t get the best qualifying lap but picked his way up through the pack as he moved past Rocky Ogle. Another driver with a strong run was Comer who moved past Rader taking over the third spot. Davis found himself caught up in some slower lap traffic allowing the Silver Bullet of Rickett to eat into his lead as the top two ran away from the rest of the pack. Rickett would get a couple looks inside the leader but wouldn’t be able to get past.

1: #88 Brad Davis
2: #36 Chris Rickett
3: #42 Robbie Comer
4: #01 Wayne Rader
5: #P21 Robbie Buchanan
6: #13 David Clark
7: #C8 Lance Creasman
8: #9 Rocky Ogle
9: #11 Ryan Watson
10: #01 Jason Rollins
11: #XP21 Bobbie Petty
12: #6 Ben Sexton
13: #31B Willie Busler
DNS: #U12 Rick Utsman

Drew Kennedy hasn’t ran a lot of races at 411 Motor Speedway but that didn’t stop him for setting fast time and earning the pole for the feature. Kennedy took the lead with season point leader Josh Henry, Trevor Sise, and Rusty Ballenger in his tire tracks. The night would come to an early end for Brad Coffey who pulled off track with issues in the opening laps. Henry had a strong run as his #B00 didn’t seem to show any ill side effects from the hard crash last time out. Henry powered away from Sise and into the runner up spot. Rusty Ballenger also had a great run going but would go for a spin ending his bid for the win. A scary incident between Austin Neely and Mack McCarter as the two got together on the exit of turn two sending McCarter spinning wildly into the infield. Despite the wild accident McCarter was able to continue on with little damage. Neely would be sent to the rear of the field but worked his way back into the top five by race end. Up front it was all Drew Kennedy who pulled away and picked up the win.

1: #K37 Drew Kennedy
2: #B00 Josh Henry
3: #73 Trevor Sise
4: #51 Mack McCarter
5: #3 Austin Neely
6: #68 Andy Ogle
7: #29 Rusty Ballenger
8: #109 Eli Beets
9: #49 Grant Corum
10: #8 Cameron Claborn
11: #8 Eli Keck
12: #22 Terry Wilds
13: #88 Brad Coffey

The open wheel race would start with 411’s version of “The Big One”. The leader got together on the very first lap setting off a chain reaction. Michael Clayton, Wayne James, Mark Markham and Courtney Smith were among those caught up in the accident. James would be able to continue on but the night was over for the rest of the drivers with heavy damage. After a lengthy red flag, the race was on with Shon Flanary jumping into the lead. Last years track champion Jody Puckett hadn’t raced much at 411 recently but was back with a strong run as he moved into the second spot past Chase King. Billy Palmer and Jeff Hamby had a great battle for a spot inside the top five the majority of the race putting on a great show for the fans. Palmer would end up slipping outside the top five but still had a great run. Puckett would chew into the lead Flanary had built up but would run out of time.

1: #98 Shon Flanary
2: #J3 Jody Puckett
3: #44 Chase King
4: #90 Don Adams
5: #15 Jeff Hamby
6: #122 Mike Pratt
7: #43 Ben Petrey
8: #36 Billy Palmer
9: #4 Wayne James
10: #92 Matthew Hopper
11: #112 Dustin Diden
12: #29C Joey Cotterman
13: #67 Rocky Wilson
14: #2 Scott Lacy
15: #J4 Tyler James
16: #22 Tony Kowell
17: #15 Michael Clayton
18: #50 Amos Bunch
19: #19 Mark Markham
20: #7 Tyler Strickland
21: #G21 Wesley Galloway
22: #52 Courtney Smith
DNS: #14 Skip Wilson

Zach Sise has had a career making 2018 season so far. He would once again set fast time in qualifying but since he had won back to back races he would have to start in the third spot. This would put Bradley Lewelling and Brandon Miller on the front row. Lewelling put his #10 on top of the scoreboard with Miller, Sise, Jed Emert and Jake Whitehead rounding out the top five. Sise was on a mission to get back into the lead and it looked like he was gonna be tough to beat as he passed Miller and put himself into the second spot. Emert was also on the move taking the third spot from Whitehead. The top four began to pull away until Sise went for a spin bringing out the caution. It would be a tough night for the points leader as he would spin again a couple laps later and had to retire for the the night. Emert had found something in his #98 as he was working the very low line with Lewelling rim riding around the very top of the track. Brad Seagle didn’t start up front but was able to work his way up to the fourth spot by the end of the race. Lewelling would hold on to pick up the win in a fantastic race.

1: #10B Bradley Lewelling
2: #90 Jed Emert
3: #116 Jake Whitehead
4: #31 Brad Seagle
5: #89 Brandon Miller
6: #79 Josh Sneed
7: #50 Adam Mitchell
8: #3 Floyd Self
9: #43 Zach Sise
DNS: #41 Thomas Clark
DNS: #19 Anthony Conely
DNS: #30 Michael Milsap

Josh Driskill picked up his second 602 Street Stock win of the season over Brandon Johnson and Shawn Henry.

1: #B00 Josh Driskill
2: #B01 Brandon Johnson
3: #25 Shawn Henry