By Gil Peck
Doc Batson driving his own Batson Chiropractic Monte Carlo won the 60 lap finale for the Late Model Sportsman cars at Bronsons bullring on Sunday. He had to hold off two strong challenges throughout the feature. The first came from local favorite Kevin Durden as he nosed his Monte Carlo in tight behind Batson, but could not make the pass. Durden had company on his tail for the first 10-laps with Chris Tedder in the Silver Streak Transport Chevrolet and SARA Rookie of the Year Mike Faulk giving him fits. Tedder and Faulk spun in turn two and had to go to the rear, but Faulk made a real show of things as he then proceeded to march through the field of sixteen cars to come back and challenge Batson. I had a lot of car under me, Mike ( Faulk) told me after the race. I could close on Doc and got under him a couple of times, but he raced me clean and held me off till the end. The performance, by Batson, Faulk, and Durden, was, in a word, wonderful. The near capacity crowd was on its feet for the entire event.

There was nothing boring about the rest of the Bronson Race Series, as the Pure Stocks and the Super Stock both started the largest fields of the year and left nothing on the track ( well , maybe a little debris) as they competed for position in their final race of the year Super Stock action saw Al Bouchard notch his first feature win of the year, as he brought the six week old A&L Cages /AAA Transmission 92 Firebird into Victory Circle. How bout that baby!today we got all the marbles! said an elated Bouchard after the race. This likeable driver has a new car ready for next year, already, and will tough to beat. Visiting driver Jeff Prescott was second,with David Westrich and Arthur Conquest third and fourth respectively.

PURE STOCK Everyone in the stands knew that Jerome Brown had the points locked up in this division. What they did not know, was that he would also be declared Track Champion for the year 2000. Even more of a surpise to everyone, especially Jerome, was that his Dad, Rodney had the back of the trophy HE won for track champion in 1984 engraved and presented it to Jerome at the awards ceremony following the race. The look of pride and emotion on the faces of this first ever father and son team to win championships at Bronson was something to see. Every one who witnessed it, including this writer, will remember it for the rest of their lives. Congratulations, Dad, and to our NEW TRACK CHAMPION- Jerome Brown.! I want to thank every one that helped me do this, my entire team , managed by my uncle Carrol, and especially my mom and dad., said Jerome after the race. Billy Register, better known as WASSHOPPER was the winner of the race and presented his bride to be, Cindy ( next week) with the trophy. They are still negotiating the prize money.

MINI-STOCK The pace of the feature was furious, with Clint Foley, Larry Goolsby, and Glen Ervin, Jr. scrambling to catch the Video Central machine of Tater Stalnaker. Tater was the winner of the event as was so elated that he proceeded to uncork THREE complete donuts in a cloud of smoke on the main straightaway after his win. I think he is still smiling as I write this!

These fabulous races concluded the year at Bronsons bullring. We would be remiss if we did not acknowledge publicly our champions. Thank you all drivers, fans, crews, and readers of this column, that made this year a success. As the country group ALABAMA sings in their song The Fans, were just the boys in the band! Its you , the fan that makes the show! Thank you, See Yall next year!

CHAMPIONS

LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN----# 56 Kevin Durden

SUPER STOCK----# 70 Arthur Conquest

MINI-STOCK-----#10 Jeff Stalnaker, Sr.

PURE STOCK----# 25 Jerome Brown

OVERALL TRACK CHAMPION----Jerome Brown

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR--- Kenny Drow , driver, Mini-Stock # 05

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