---

Race Recap July 28

With hopeful hearts of no inclement weather, fans, drivers, crew members & staff filed into County Line Raceway for a hot night of racing action! On tap for tonight, 5 divisions would take to the track for door slamming, hardcore racing! On the schedule The Rapid Red Racing Supply Thunder & Lightning division would run their $1200 to win 20 lap special, while the P.L. Woodard Pure Stock V8 division made their return to the track for a 15 lap feature. Also scheduled for their return, the DRU Inc Open Wheel Modifieds. The ARCO Restoration Pure Stock 4 division would be poised and ready to take to the track for 15 laps, as the Barnes Equipment Late Model division would see local drivers Cy Nelms, Sr & Bobby Bottoms tackle a Twin 20 lap feature. Due to the rain out last week after qualifying, the Rapid Red Thunder & Lightning division as well as the Barnes Equipment Late Models would hold a practice session as the ARCO Restoration Pure Stock 4's & DRU Inc Open Wheel Modifieds would have a qualifying session and the PL Woodard Pure Stock V8's would run 2 heat races.

First up tonight, the first of 2 Barnes Equipment Late Model twin 20 laps races. Ray Tucker & Travis Hair would start on the front row, and as the green flag fell, it was a drag race to get to turn 1. Who would lift? Tucker quickly jumped out front of Hair, but Dustin Mitchell would slide up into 2nd spot relegating Hair to 3rd spot. The caution would come out for JP Cascell as he slowed in turn 3. As we came back to the green, Tucker would be followed by Mitchell, Hair, Gary Dillon and Russell Erwin. Mitchell was all over Tucker as Hair was all over him for position as Russell Jones spun out of 4 bringing out the caution again. One lap in the books as we came back to green. As they went 3 wide out of turn 2, the caution would come out as a synchronized spin would slow the field. Russell Erwin, Cy Nelms, Sr. and Gary Dillon would perform a 3 way spin on the backstretch. The rest of the field would slam on brakes with several cars scattering, bouncing off of each other and running up on the berm. Luckily, all cars would be able to continue with little to no damage, cosmetic anyway. Back green, Tucker out front with Mitchell at his quarter panel. Coming up lap 5 Tucker would spin on his own in turn 1. Dustin Mitchell would inherit the lead as Tucker was pushed to the pits. Back green, but quickly back under caution as Cy Nelms Sr. slowed in turn 4 with a possible flat tire. Back green, Mitchell restarted the race with Hair in 2nd, Neal Sykes up to 3rd, Roger Lucas in 4th and the Blazing Beast From the East Bobby Bottoms rounding out the top 5. The caution would come out again for a bizarre chain of events. The victims of this caution were Justin Pinno, Britches Liles, Russell Erwin, Gary Dillon and Randy Lucas. With 10 to go, we were back green with Mitchell still leading Hair, Sykes, Bottoms & Ronnie Boykin. The caution would come out again as JP Cascell & Gary Dillon spun in turn 2. Under green again with Mitchell Hair, Sykes, Bottoms & Boykin battling it out in this first of 2 races.  As Mitchell attempted to stretch his lead out, Britches Liles would bring the caution out with a spin in turn 4. Mitchell would lead the final laps bringing home the win in the first Barnes Equipment Late Model twin race. He was followed by Travis Hair, Neal Sykes, Bobby Bottoms & Ronnie Boykin. Due to this being a special event, a pill was drawn by the winner and 4 cars would be inverted for the second race.

Out next, the PL Woodard Pure Stock V8 division with Jeff Stott and Jason Schlaffer. The outside pole sitter would not be able to go when the green flag fell causing the field to bunch up and a few cars to spin but continue. Bryce Pearson would challenge Stott for the lead, briefly taking it before Stott slid back under. Ronnie Owens would work his way around Pearson to take over 2nd spot, while Tony Harrell & Phillip Lamm rounded out the top 5. Owens continued to close in on Stott as the laps wound down, putting a lot of distance between them and 3rd spot. Harrell would challenge Pearson for 3rd spot, taking it and bringing Phillip Lamm and Gary Whitely with him. With 2 to go, Stott continued to lead Owens trying to put some space between them. Jeff Stott would bring home his first feature win of 2012 in the PL Woodard Pure Stock V8 division followed by Ronnie Owens, Tony Harrell, Phillip Lamm and Gary Whitley.

Our Rapid Red Racing Supply Thunder & Lightning division lined up outside turn 4 with Cy Nelms Jr & Luke Owens on the front row. Nelms would lead the first lap as Luke Owens and Michael Batten fought for position, with Owens slipping back after brief contact before retreating to the pits. Nick Etheridge would bring out the first caution with a spin in turn 4. Back green quickly with Nelms Jr still out front followed by Batten. Michael Lamm, Mark Boykin & Lane Proctor. Michael Lamm would do a complete 360 in turn 2 on lap 6, but quickly right his green machine to continue, but 2 other cars would spin bringing out the caution. Green flag out, Nelms leading Batten, Mark Boykin, Lane Proctor and Melvin Edmondson. Skeeter Liles would bring out the caution with a solo spin in turn 2. Under green again with Nelms putting a little distance between him and 2nd place as the caution would come out again for a multi-car spin. After a quick clean up, we were back green. At the half way mark, the rain would fall putting an end to the race. Cy Nelms Jr was declared the winner. He was followed by Michael Batten, Mark Boykin, Melvin Edmondson and Ethan Wilson.

Unfortunately, inclement weather would interfere for the third week in a row forcing management to call the remainder of the scheduled races. Due to having gotten half the races in, no armbands will be honored next week. With the cancellation, track management is yet again put to the test and forced to make a small tweak to this weeks schedule.  The decision was made to add the Pure Stock Four Cylinders, back to the schedule for this Saturday night to make up for their special being rained out.  They will still run for $400 to win, however, they are locked into their starting positions by the way they qualified before the rain on Saturday.  Also in action will be the Super Stock Four Cylinder, Thunder & Lightning, Pure Stock V-8, and Late Models.  The sponsor money put up for Late Model Twin Race #2, which was cancelled, will carry over making this weekend's Late Model feature a $1,500 payday to the winner.  Modifieds will return on August 25.

Be sure to join us on 98.5 the Big Dawg when Steve Summerlin & Steve Vail discuss tonight's races & preview next weeks event. Also, if you're in the area, come out to Oak Tavern on Tuesday night. John Proctor and Roy Hall will have their cars on display.

For more information please visit our website www.countylineracewaync.com/ or call the track office at (252)985-1949.  Thanks for all of your support & we'll see you next week at The Line!

Back to News