Montgomery Motor Speedway

Opening Night is HOT,HOT,HOT

***Please note revised finish in 2nd “Show me the Money” Pro Late Model Feature.***

March 29, 2015: Montgomery, Al: The 2015 season kicked off Saturday night as 4 Star Freightliner brought the fans the “Show me the Money” Pro Late model series in twin 50 lap features. Thrill Chills and a few spills entertained the opening night crowd.

Budweiser qualifying was first on the schedule as all divisions took their turn at the track. Joel Collier #71 Multiple time track champion (2012, 2013, 2014) in the modified Mini division set fast time at 22.925 edging out Chris Landers #9 23.110 and Adam Gunter 23.586.

Street Stocks saw Joe Bethea Jr wheel his Machine around the historic oval at 22.648 Followed by Dwayne Wesenberg at 22.805 and the #6 car of Charles Davis 23.028.

Joe was the name of the day as Joe Hudson knocked of a quick time of 21.122 followed closely by Jason Furrow #21.218 and Larry Speakman #91 at 21.545.

Pro late models were next on the track as a large field of quality cars attempted to top the charts. One car not able to make qualifying was #27 Austin “Flying Felipe” Wood as his Commercial equipment ride took a hard hit in practice leaving him to watch from the sidelines. Augie Grill #112 set fast time but rolled a 6 on the inversion putting #43 Justin South on the pole.

The “Show me the Money” Pro late models were the first feature of the night and it didn’t take long to shake things up. Before the green flag was dropped South pulled into the pits with mechanical issues and had to drop to the rear. 19 cars took the green and roared into turn 1 only to have the field slowed as the #3 of Jordan McCallum had a mechanical failure in the drive train and spun on the back stretch. The next start saw the #18 of Kory Ruble in the red Ronnie Sanders machine move to the point. The Yellow flew again on lap 7 for contact between #112 Grill and Riley Thornton piloting the Racing Radios #21 from Peachtree City, Ga. John Midkiff MMS Flagman stayed busy as contact between #18 Ruble and Montgomery’s Bill Bethea III in the #13 car flew on the following lap. On the next restart the #18 of Korey Ruble slowed with mechanical issues to bring out the 4th caution of the event. Dennis “Tink” Reno took the lead on the following restart and looked strong as he moved his X2 RPM / Xtreme Suspension machine to the point position. The Final Caution came out as the #21 Thornton made hard contact with Athens, Al Chuck Tuck #17 causing major damage to both racecars. The battle for the front spot was intense as Hayden, Alabama’s Augie Grill#112 stalked the X2 of Reno for the lead. Crossville’s Chase Oliver was keeping an eye on the pair Running in 3rd and looking for his opportunity to make his move. #112 Grill in his Grand American Race Cars sponsored machine took the lead and didn’t look back taking the first pro late model “Show me the Money Victory in 2015.

  1. Augie Grill #112
  2. Chase Oliver #5
  3. Bret Holmes #2
  4. Perry Patino #51
  5. Luke Christain 2C
  6. Hunter Spivey #10
  7. Bill Bethea III #13
  8. Christopher Tullis #24
  9. Branden Curren #00
  10. Bobby Reuse #89
  11. Chuck Tuck #17
  12. Rusty Sanford #30
  13. Riley Thornton #21
  14. Korey Ruble #18
  15. Justin South #43
  16. Bobby Knox Jr. #30
  17. Jordan McCallum #3
  18. DNSAustin Wood #27
  19. DQ Dennis Reno Jr. #X2

The Fan favorite street stock division were the next to roll out on Alabama’s House of Speed. The field had some of the best looking racecar of the night as Charles Davis #6 jumped out to a quick lead. Some fans will remember Davis as he is no stranger to Montgomery Motor Speedway. #6 held that position till Budweiser fast time qualifier Joe Bethea Jr. #33 made his move on lap 4. 2014 Champion Dwayne Wesenberg rolled his sharp looking #31 machine into the 2nd spot on lap 5. Racing was going on all over the track but lap 10 saw the #38 of Brian “Bubba” Hutchinson retire his ride. The Prattville driver has competed in a cadet car years ago and now is back in the street stock division. Caution flew on lap 13 when the #4 car of Andrew Wiggins spun and collected the leader #33 Bethea Jr. giving the top spot to Wesenberg #31. It looked like it was the 2014 champions’ trophy till lap 24 when Chance Atkins piloted his #17 Monte Carlo to the lead and the victory.

  1. Chance Atkins #17
  2. Dwayne Wesenberg #31
  3. Charles Davis #6
  4. Joe Bethea jr. #33
  5. Andrew Wiggins #4
  6. Brian Hutchinson #38

Modified minis were next on the card as an impressive field of cars rolled into Montgomery Motor Speedway. Bad luck was the name of the game for a few drivers as Chase Spradlin #18, Nicholas Doehring #11 and Heath Williams #82 all had problems in practice and were not able to compete in the nights races. Lap 1 started with the #05 of Adam Gunter taking a wild ride down the front stretch and the #64 of Chris Frost spinning and both cars going to the pits. Eddie”Double D” Dodd continues to work out the bugs in his tribute Ford pinto but had to retire on lap 4. Racing resumed with the #9 Chris Landers in his Ford Pinto, Capital Recycling ride in the lead. Pole sitter Joel Collier #71 was in hot pursuit and did his all to gain the front spot even getting really loose on lap 10 allowing the #7 car of Rusty Alverson to move into the runner up spot. The #21 Commander Board Sign sponsored Toyota of Steve Looney avoided all the mayhem for a strong 4th place finish. Landers had the field covered as he went on to his first victory of the 2015 season.

  1. Chris Landers #9
  2. Joel Collier #71
  3. Rusty Alverson #7
  4. Steve Looney #21
  5. Eddie Dodd #81
  6. Chris Frost #64
  7. Adam Gunter #05
  8. DNS Heath Williams #82
  9. DNS Nicholas Doehring 11
  10. DNS Chase Spradlin #18

Interstate Batteries late model sportsman hit the track as the next feature with last year’s rookie of the year driver Jason Furrow #21 on the point. The action was good as the field circled the fast half mile oval. The #18 of Brad Edwards suffered damage during qualifying earlier and had to limp his car around the speedway to gain much needed championship points. The #51 of Joey Holt experienced problems early and found his way to the pits on lap 9. Lap 11 saw the crowd jump to their feet as a fire broke out under the #91 Larry Speakman car.

Racing resumed with the #21 Furrow out front although the lead was not his to keep as Joe Hudson powered past on lap 17 to bring home the victory for the #3 car. Followed by Furrow #21 and the only female driver of the evening Shelby Reuse #59 finishing a strong 3rd.

  1. Joe Hudson #3
  2. Jason Furrow #21
  3. Shelby Reuse #59
  4. Brad Edwards #18
  5. Larry Speakman #91
  6. Joey Holt #51
  7. Perry Patino #4

‘Show me the Money” Pro late model race #2 rolled out on the track with the top 8 drivers redrawing for starting position. The action was intense from the drop of the green of the green flag. Perry Patino in the F & E Sportsware sponsored #51 went for a spin early on and repeated a few laps later completing only 6 laps . Oil was reported to the tower and the MMS cleanup crew hit the track to fix the issue. The #112 was checked at the start finish line and sent to the pits for fluid leaking on lap 9. Bill Bethea III was on the point for the early running of the race as his Blacksheep Woodlands, Mullican Flooring, Chevy SS set the pace for the rest of the field. The big movers of the race were Bobby Knox Jr. who started 16th and finished 4th in the Shelby Concrete #30 ,Justin South #43 piloting the Alabama Brick, Dawson Automotive Ford Taurus from a 15th starting position to a 3rd place podium position and Dennis Reno in the  #X2 RPM/ Xtreme Suspension ride who started last and ended up at 6th Dacula, Georgia’s Luke Christian #2C ran strong for his first time at MMS in 5th. The finish had the fans shouting and cheering as the second part of the race showed Korey Ruble #18 pacing the field. Bret Holmes #H2 was stalking Ruble and on the last lap things got wild as a spin against the wall in turn 3 brought the 2 cars together for a side by side battle to the finish. Holmes from Munford, Alabama edged out Ruble for the win. A disappointed Korey ruble had to settle for a 2nd place finish.

Show me the Money #2 Revised Finish

  1. Bret Holmes #H2
  2. Korey Ruble #18
  3. Justin South #43
  4. Bobby Knox Jr #30
  5. Luke Christian 2c
  6. Dennis Reno #X2
  7. Bill Bethea III #13
  8. Hunter Spivey #10
  9. Rusty Sanford #30s
  10. Bobby Reuse #89
  11. Christopher Tullis #24
  12. Chuck Tuck #17
  13. Branden Curren #00
  14. Chase Oliver #5
  15. Augie Grill #112
  16. Perry Patino #51
  17. DNS Riley Thornton #21
  18. DNS Jordan McCallum #3
  19. DNS Austin Wood #27

Fans braved the colder temperatures and saw some great racing. Anticipation was high as the Mini Van race was set to go. As the green flag fell the field roared to the first set of tires for the “Flag Pole” race. Randell Cromwell overshot the turn and headed straight for the inside wall. Chris ”Iceman” Frost seemed just as anxious to get to the first turn and with the help of Phillip Cook in the Moo van all three accordioned into the wall. Blake Edwards #82 also known as a motorcycle daredevil avoided the melee and was the only van able to proceed. Blake Wilson was declared the winner and the other Mini van drivers said they would all be back for the next race.

Action continues at Montgomery Motor Speedway April 11th as the Modified of Mayhem Tour makes its debut featuring the high horse power ground pounding machines in a 50 lap feature. Interstate Batteries late model Sportsman will compete in twin 20 lap races along with Modified Minis and Street Stocks. Fans will be treated to an on track autograph session and have the opportunity to meet their favorite driver. Tickets will be ONLY $5.00 per person for grandstand admission. For More Info call the track at 334-262-6101

Montgomery Motor Speedway you’re on the right track for FUN!!!

Stan Narrison