|
| The "Doc" Wins Bronson Sportsman Feature | By: Sharon Fancher
Late Model qualifying started the nights events, with Michael Faulk in the #36 setting the track on fire with the fastest time at 13.050 almost setting a new record. Putting him on the pole to start the Feature with Tom McCann in the #16 with the second fastest qualifying time of 13.21 starting on the outside.
A total of 15 Late Models started this Feature with the #6 of Mac Johnson quickly taking the lead. The red quickly flew before a lap could be completed as the #6B of Jerome Brown and the # 57 of Doyle Boatwright tangled causing Jerome to hit the front straightway wall, taking a hard hit, ending both Driver's nights with Jerome's car sustaining major damage. Luckily Jerome walked away uninjured.
A complete restart ensued as the green dropped again. Mac Johnson quickly grabbing the lead once again with Michael Faulk in the #36 hot on his tail. Gary Southard in the #29 spun in turn 2 as the caution flew once again in this wild event.
As racing went back to green, Mac Johnson and Michael Faulk were in a heated battle for the lead as Mac proved to outslick Michael taking the lead. Meanwhile behind the two a battle was going on for 2nd by the #01 of Robbie Smith and the #16 of Tom McCann, Robbie proving to be the stronger and taking that position but not without Tom hot on his tail.
Out in front Michael Faulk was still making Mac Johnson work hard to keep that lead position as he looks to the inside and outside trying to make a move to capture that position. Gary Southard once again spun between turn one and two bringing out his second caution of the night eventually ending his night due to mechanical problems. Very unusual for Gary spinning with years of experience at Bronson International Speedway.
The fight for the lead once again was Mac Johnson and Michael Faulk as the two could smell victory just a few short laps away as the #16 of Tom McCann grabbed third when the #01 of Robbie Smith started loosing ground.
As the leader Mac Johnson entered lap traffic he made contact with #88 of Brock Oglesby bringing the caution out again. With two laps to go the green dropped and the top three #6 of Mac Johnson, #36 of Michael Faulk and the #16 of Tom McCann are nose to tail coming out of 4 to take the checkered, Mac Johnson took the victory with Michael Faulk hot on his tail for second, followed by Tom McCann for third.
The second exciting Class to hit the Speedway was the wild and crazy Dwarf cars as they zoomed around the track at an enormous speed.
20 cars showed for this event but 3 were knocked out early in the heat race's due to mechanical problems leaving 17 to start the Feature event. This was a remarkable race with NO cautions being thrown through the entire race. It was just as exciting as the green dropped and the #50 quickly took the lead followed by the #28 of Don Hess.
As a heated battle erupted for second as the #22 was hot on Don's tail proving the #22 to be stronger of the two as he took second. The top four # 50, #28, #22 and the #21 are nose to tail when the #22 went to the infield with mechanical problems ending the night after a terrific run for third. As the #28 of Don Hess took advantage and outwitted the #50 to take the lead due to the #22 misfortune. Leaving the #50 and the #21 battling for second as Don takes advantage of this battle and works himself further away from the field as he takes the checked with a clear lead followed by the #50 for second and the #21 for third.
The Sportsman Class was next in line to strut their stuff for the third event of the evening. The Sportsman Feature got underway as the #4 of Doc Batson was on the pole with the #71 of Brody Giddens starting on the outside. The green dropped and Doc Batson grabbed the lead early in the race with the #98 of Bobbie Cooper hot on his bumper as the #71 of Brody Giddens dropped to third.
Brody made contact with the #47 of Dusty Bouchard between turn three and four bringing out the caution as fuel begins to pour from under Bouchards car, while Giddens proceeds to spin wildly in turn four as he exits the track with apparent damage to his car. Dusty was sent to the pits also to take care of his fuel leak but quickly reenterd the track under the yellow after apparently leaving his fuel cap off.
As the green flew again with Doc Batson taking the lead, while a battle for 3rd was being fought for by the #70 of Arthur Conquest and the #18 of Bubba Hodges with Arthur quickly grabbing that position. The caution flew as contact was made by the #47 of Dusty Bouchard and the #5 of Larry Welters Jr.
Tightening the field up once again as they went back to green flag racing with Doc Batson in the #4 car still the leader but Robbie Cooper begining to turn up the heat on Batson as he tried to out maneuver Batson. Contact was made by the #70 of Arthur Conquest as he was trying to take second from Robbie Cooper in the #98 causing the #18 of Bubba Hodge to hit the front straightway wall. Bubba acting fast and got his car back under control continued to race with Arthur grabbing 3rd. Bubba exited the track after sustaining apparent damage to his car ending his night. Doc Batson held onto that lead position and breathing clean air as he moved ahead of the field to take the checkered followed by the #98 of Robbie Cooper, leaving Arthur Conquest in the #70 to settle for third.
Our next exciting event of the night was the Mini Stock Class. 10 Mini's turned out for what proved to be two wild heat events of the night followed by a caution free Feature race. The first heat got underway with the #0 of Glen Ervin Jr. on the pole, with the #29of Mathew Harrell starting on the outside. As the green drops Glen Jr takes an early lead with the #14 of Tater Stalnaker and the #05 of Rick Sirmans close behind battling for second as they came out of turn three nose to tail. Victory going to Glen Ervin Jr. The second heat got underway and proved to be very exciting as the #33 of Tim Riviere started this heat event. Racing got underway with Tim Riviere taking the lead and never looking back as he half tracked the field. With one lap to go the leader apparently blows his engine causing him to spin in turn one collecting the #27 of Larry Goolesby ending the night for both driver's as the #27 sustained major damage. Leaving Jeff Stalnaker Sr. in the #77 to take the checkered. The feature got underway with the #04 of Josh Hars on the pole with Rick Sirmans in the #05 on the outside. The green drops and Josh Hars takes the lead but it is short lived as Rick Sirmans comes knocking at his door. The #14 of Tater Stalnaker taking advantage of Rick's move for the lead grabs 2nd as Josh Hars starts to loose his ground. Nose to tail in a battle for the lead and 2nd is Rick Sirmans and Tater Stalnaker. Not giving up without a fight Rick Sirmans clings to the lead as Tater can't get around him. Battling for third is Jeff Stalnaker Sr. and Glen Ervin Jr. while the top two cars see the opportunity to take advantage of the controversy for third and quickly half tracks the field. Meanwhile Glen is still trying to work his way around Jeff Sr. with no luck as Jeff proved to be the stronger car as the leader Rick Sirmans took the checkered followed by Tater Stalnaker for second, Jeff Sr. third, Glen Jr. fourth and Jeff Stalnaker Jr. to follow in fifth. The night wasn't over for the winner as the second place finisher protested his flywheel and he was torn down only to be found legal.
The fourth event of the night was the Purestock Class. 11 cars turned out for this feature event as the #4 of Krystal Batson was on the pole with the #6 of Joey Hunt starting the outside row. As they green drops the Krystal Batson in the #4 jumps out front to take the lead controversy for the lead erupts as the #78 of Wesley Keller tries moving on the inside of Krystal Batson as she quickly shuts the door on Keller maintaining position which is short lived as Keller finally gets under Batson. Contact being made by the #72 of Doug Webster and the #45 of John Ray McNeal as they battled for fifth while McNeal held onto that position. The third place car in the #17 of Jason Holbrook slipped a couple of positions as McNeal took advantage and moved into the fourth place position. While the a battle for second was emerging as the #4 Batson made contact with the #59 of Greg Collins in turn 2 causing Collins to spin bringing out the caution. The green drops as Keller takes the lead moving away from the field to take the checkered with Krystal in second followed by Joey Hunt, John Ray McNeal, and Doug Webster.
The Enduro's which was last event of the evening didn't have but 3 cars to enter the heat and feature but proved to be a very exciting race. Starting on the pole in the heat was the #58 of Katie Roydhouse, outside of her was the #85 of Larry Welters, Sr., second row back was the #86 of Doug Wynn. The green dropped with Larry Welters grabbing the early lead as Katie and Doug battled for second. Doug looking to the inside of Katie as he starts to make his move side by side coming out of turn 3 as Katie gets high allowing Doug to get under her. The #58 quickly trying to come back falls short as the #85 of Larry Welters, Sr., the checkered followed by second in the #86 of Doug Wynn, with Katie to finish third in the #58. As the green dropped in this feature race Katie quickly took the lead followed by Larry Welters, Sr., the #85. As the battled ensued for second by Wynn and Welters, Sr. Katie tries to widen the gap between her and her contenders. But to no avail as Larry looks to the outside as Katie quickly shuts the door on him. Larry making contact with Katie's bumper hoping for her to make a mistake so he can take advantage of it and take the lead. With two laps to go Katie tries desperately to hold on to the lead. With one lap to go Larry in the #85 turns the heat up on Katie as they have a clear lead on the #86 of Wynn. With the checkered flying Katie finally makes it to the finish line first. Making that her first ever feature win in her career. Leaving Larry to settle for second and Doug Wynn to take third.
LATE MODELS:
1. #6- MAC JOHNSON
2. #36- MIKE FAULK
3. #16- TOM MCCANN
4. #01- ROBBIE SMITH
5. #4- DOC BATSON
SPORTSMAN
1. #4- DOC BATSON
2. #98- ROBBY COOPER
3' # 70- ARTHUR CONQUEST
4. #47- DUSTY BOUCHARD
5. #5- LARRY WELTERS, JR
PURE STOCK
1. #78- WES KELLER
2. #4 - KRYSTAL BATSON
3. #6- JOEY HUNT
4. #45- JOHN RAY MCNEAL
5. #72- DOUG WEBSTER
MINI STOCK
1. #05- RICK SIRMANS
2. #14- TATER STALNAKER
3. #77- JEFF STALNAKER, SR
4. # 0- GLEN ERVIN
5. #10- JEFF STALNAKER, JR
ENDURO
1. #58- K. ROYDHOUSE
2. #85- LARRY WELTERS, SR
3. #86- D. WYNN
Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board!
news@karnac.orgor send a letter to the editor!
|
