10/8/2014
County Line Raceway
Thomas Picks Up First Late Model Victory
Our first event of the night, the Super Stock 4 cylinder division, lined up on the backstretch with Hunter Bailey on the pole & Bill Winstead on the outside. Hunter Bailey would take the point out of turn 2 followed by Eric Hill, Damien Bryant, Bill Winstead and James Manning. Lap 1 would see some outstanding driving as these guys were racing 3 wide all the way down the backstretch, into turn 3, finally doubling up side by side out of turn 4. Caution on the backstretch when Gary Thiede got loose and spun around in front of oncoming traffic. Austin Larrison would bear the brunt as he went head on into the wall. Back green with Hunter Bailey leading Austin Holcombe, James Manning, Bill Winstead and Jamie Bailey. By Lap 8, the leader was catching lap traffic. Caution for the 2nd time as 4 cars spun over in turn 4. Back green with Hunter Bailey still leading Austin Holcombe, James Manning, Bill Winstead & James Bailey. Lap 10 would see another couple of cars get together on the backstretch. Glenn Bottoms & John Proctor had a little dust up resulting in heavy damage to the points leader. Back green with Hunter Bailey leading Austin Holcombe, James Manning, Bill Winstead & Jamie Bailey. Jamie would experience some kind of mechanical issue that would slow him drastically on the start moving Gary Thiede into the top 5. Lap 17 would see a car spin over in turn 4 bringing out the caution again. Back green with Hunter Bailey leading Austin Holcombe, James Manning, Bill Winstead & Gary Thiede. Manning would take over 2nd spot as they took the white flag. Hunter Bailey would bring home the win followed by James Manning, Austin Holcombe, Bill Winstead & Gary Thiede. Tying up the championship, John Proctor would bring home his 3rd in a row. Congratulations John!
Next up, the ARCO Restoration Thunder & Lightning division, with Matthew Bissette & Kent Wright on the front row. The Thunder & Lightning division was the closest points battle we had coming into tonight's race with only 47 points separating Skeeter Liles & Matthew Bissette. Green flag and Skeeter Liles, who started 3rd, was already challenging for the lead. Matthew Bissette held steady holding onto the lead with Liles falling in behind for 2nd. Kent Wright, Britches Liles and Lane Proctor rounded out the top 5. Wright would lose 2nd to Britches Liles, while Lane Proctor took over 4th. Mark Boykin, holding onto 6th spot, kept trying to break into the top 5. Britches Liles would fall back to 5th as Lane Proctor and Kent Wright got around him. Mark Boykin would work for a few laps to get around Liles to take over 5th spot, but Liles would rally back just as the caution came out for Mark McDaniels, who'd gotten roughed up a little bit by Joe Taylor. Boykin would retreat to the pits for a flat tire due to the contact with Liles. Back green with Bissette leading Skeeter Liles, Lane Proctor, Kent Wright & Britches Liles. Britches would get around Wright to take over 4th spot as they took the white. Coming to the checkers, it was all Matthew Bissette. Skeeter Liles finished 2nd, Lane Proctor 3rd, Britches Liles 4th & Kent Wright 5th. If calculations are correct, Skeeter Liles would clinch the championship with his 2nd place finish.
Out next, the PL Woodard Pure Stock V8 lined up & were ready to roll for their 15 lap feature. Kevin Beard & Gary Whitley would bring this field to green. Beard would take the point followed very closely by Gary Whitley, Roy Hall, Wade Ferrell & Paul Peele. Beard would consistently hold off charges by Whitley, as Roy Hall suffered a mechanical issue that would send him to the pits, pushing Wade Ferrell into the top 3. With 3 to go Whitley would really put the pressure on Beard for the lead but would not be able to complete the pass. Kevin Beard would bring home the win followed by Gary Whitley, Wade Ferrell, Paul Peele & Willie Schwann. Wade Ferrell would bring home the championship as well, as he had a good points lead coming into tonight.
The always exciting Pure Stock 4 cylinder division was ready to go with Brandon Whitley and Robbie Causby on the front row. Brandon Whitley would lead lap 1 followed by Robbie Causby, Gary Dillon, Cody Keith and David Haggins. Lot of shuffling through the field as Brandon Whitley maneuvered through traffic, all the while holding off a hard charging Cody Keith, who had gotten around Causby for 2nd spot. Lee Hardie worked his way up to 5th spot and was battling for 4th just as the caution came out for 2 cars on the backstretch. Under this caution, the leader, Brandon Whitley, would suffer some kind of issue that would send him to the pits. Cody Keith would lead this field to green followed by Robby Causby, Gary Dillon, Lee Hardie & JP Brantley. Coming to the checkers it would be Cody Keith followed by Robby Causby, Gary Dillon, Lee Hardie & JP Brantley. Gary Dillon would bring home the championship with an outstanding 11 wins this season under his belt.
Our final feature tonight, the Late Models, would line up on the backstretch with Christian Thomas & Cy Nelms, Sr. on the front row. Nelms, Sr. would slip a little out of turn 2 allowing Michael Batten to move up into 2nd spot. Derrick Francis and Bobby Bottoms would also get around Nelms, Sr. relegating him to 5th spot. Lap 4 would see the caution as Dakota Whitley spun and hit the wall in turn 4. Back green with Christian Thomas leading Michael Batten, Derek Francis, Cy Nelms, Sr. & Bobby Bottoms. Thomas would continue to dominate this feature, lapping traffic as he approached it. Lap 25 would see a big wreck over in turn 3 when 2 cars split a slower car and got tangled up. Spencer Liggon & Bobby Bottoms would hit the wall hard suffering a lot of damage, but both reported to the tower they were ok. Back green with 5 to go. Thomas leading Batten, Francis, Nelms, Sr. and Roger Lucas. Michael Batten would challenge the leader several times, getting side by side but not could not complete the pass. Side by side at the line they would cross, but Christian Thomas would bring home his first ever win. Michael Batten not only brought home a 2nd place finish, but he also brought home the championship with his strong run. Derek Francis, Cy Nelms, Sr. and Roger Lucas rounded out the top 5. Congratulations Christian on your win & Michael on your championship!
Every year, County Line Raceway, puts on a powder puff race so that ladies can have the opportunity to race just like the fellas! Miranda Saunders, Laura Kearney & Andrea Creech would be our 3 participants for the V8 Powder Puff race. 5 laps would decide who took home the trophy. Miranda Saunders would bring home the win & a nice trophy!
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