| Jeff Smith Wins 50 Lap Carolina Clash At Sumter | BY DARGAN WATTS
SUMTER, S. C. - Jeff Smith of Kings Mountain, N. C. made his second appearance at Sumter Speedway a profitable one as he set the fastest time during qualifying and won the 50-lap Carolina Clash Series event Saturday night at the 3/8-mile dirt oval in high fashion.
Jeff Smith of Kings Mountain, NC takes the win.
His win was witnesed by the largest crowd seen at the local track in many years. Smith qualified with a time of 15.635 seconds, while Ed Gibbons of Manning was only .001 second slower at 15.636.
When the green flag finally fell at the start of the event, Smith broke away from the pack and would stretch his lead to as many as 12 car-lengths on long runs. Gibbons would be able to catch up on cautions, but Smith would pull away under green.
"This is only my second time here at Sumter and I found the track in great shape and very drivable. Why, heck, I set fast time and led all 50 laps, so why shouldn't I like the track? In fact, right now I love it." he added.
Twenty-six cars started the event and the caution was displayed several times for spins and minor wrecks. On lap 18 the red flag was displayed as a four-car pile-up took place mid-way between the fourth turn and the flag stand. The car driven by Sumter's Daren Griffin was pretty much demolished and the cars of Steve Harden, Gerald Mintz and Mo Gordy were damaged as well.
Gibbons managed a second place finish after winning three straight weekly events at the local track while Roger Pate was third and Kelly Guy, fourth. Ricky Weeks padded his lead in the season point standings with a fifth place finish and Mike Measamer was sixth. Veteran Doug Sanders was seventh with former Clash season champion, Scott Autry taking eighth, Roger Dale Hammond, ninth and Phil Hall, tenth.
Arthur Winn made his first appearance of the season in a new car a winner in a sense as he won the Thunder & Lightning main event, but cooked his engine in the process. Last week's winner, Robbie Disher, put the pressure on Winn from the second lap until the finish, but it was Winn pushing his smoking car to the limit to take the win.
Troy Hodge was the third place finisher with his brother, Brandon taking fourth. Woodie Cromartie finished fifth with Robert Pack crossing the finish line in sixth position as Randy Hill came back from a collision with the first turn wall in the heat race to finish seventh.
Frankie Frye made it two in a row as he drove the Tommy Willard-owned and prepared Mini Stock car to a win over Harry Pritchard. Ray Yates came home third as Shoes McAllister finished fourth and Tony Rabon collected fifth place money. Kevin Andrews was sixth and Zack Secor was seventh.
The race of the night took place in the Pure Stock division as J. D. Norton and Johnny Welch battled each other from start to finish, with Norton taking the win. Welch could pull alongside Norton, but could never get completely around and had to settle for second.
Greg Anderson was the third driver to finish as Brian Welch was fourth and Kevin Turner collected fifth place money. William Disher took sixth position as James Yost was seventh and Rock Lee was eighth. Mike Thompson was the ninth driver to finish and Gene Sellers was tenth.
John McKenzie was the winner of the Street class main event as Roger Horne was second and Adam Hill was third. Pete McKenzie finished fourth and Thomas Skinner was fifth. McIver McKenzie was sixth as Marty Horne was seventh and Michael Hodge grabbed eighth place. Mark Horne was the ninth place finisher.
The Street drivers will compete in a special event next Saturday night that offers double points and an added purse.
And on May 15, the Carolina Clash Series will return for a second appearance.
Carolina Clash Series rundown at Sumter Speedway Saturday night - Race No. 3 for the season:
1. Jeff Smith
2. Ed Gibbons
3. Roger Pate
4. Kelly Guy
5. Ricky Weeks
6. Mike Measamer
7. Doug Sanders
8. Scott Autry
9. Roger Dale Hammond
10. Phil Hall
11. Bodine Masssengill
12. Tim Christie
13. Brandon Ifft
14. Michael Massengill
15. Gregg Stutts
16. Frank Williams
17. Terry Caples
18. Shawn Beasley
19. Steve Hardren
20. Mo Gordy
21. Daren Griffin
22. Darryl Freeman
23. Gerald Mintz
24. Roger Lucas
25. Jack Pennington
26. Andy Floyd
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