April 12, 2015 Montgomery, Al: Fan appreciation night was a big hit as the stands were full and the action was top notch. The evening marked the first visit of 2015 for the Modifieds of Mayhem tour. This new open wheel modified tours brings cars from across the southeast to compete at 4 different tracks for a total of 11 events The first race of the year was held at Mobile International Speedway and saw Donald Crocker #5 from Citronelle Al win the inaugural event.
A strong field of cars rolled out for Budweiser fast time qualifying and the speeds were impressive. Joe Armendia #79 from Seguin, Texas was first out with a time of 19.955 but felt something give in his motor and had to go to a back up car sending him to the rear for the start of the feature. #5 Donald Crocker was next out for his 2 lap qualifying effort recording a time of 20.071 but slowed after the attempt with front suspension issues and was brought to the pits by the professional crew of 82 wrecker. Budweiser Pole was won by the next competitor as Madison, Alabama driver Jeff Letson #131 turned a lap of 19.609 securing the top spot. Donnie Hamrac #8 positioned himself in second spot at 19.691 followed by Ryan Paul in his Jimmy’s Automotive sponsored machine at 19.844 and rounding out the top 5 Trussville’s “Wild Bill” Melvin #45 clocking a time of 19.920.
Interstate Batteries Late Model Sportsman also got a shot at the clock as the division turned the famous half mile for 1 lap of Budweiser Qualifying. 2014 Late Model sportsman Champion Justin Caton bested the field with a time of 21.282 followed by last race winner Joe Hudson #3 at 21.295. Third was Bill Bethea III in the #121 car at 21.313, fourth was Bobby Reuse #89 21.346 and fifth was 2014 MMS Sunoco rookie of the year Jason Furrow.
Fans of all ages were treated to an on track autograph session and had the opportunity to meet the drivers and see the cars up close. Singer / songwriter Jessie Lynn wowed the crowd with her rendition of the National Anthem and then it was feature race time.
Interstate Batteries Late Model Sportsman roared to the green flag with #91 Larry Speakman on the point due to the 5 car inversion. Joe Hudson #3 was starting sixth due to the track rule requiring last race winners to start no better than that position. The #21 of Furrow quickly moved into the lead spot with the Bobby Reuse #89 challenging him almost every Lap. Caution Flies on lap 7 as Speakman’s Mimi’s Storage, S & F Custom Signs Sponsored machine came to rest on the back stretch. Montgomery’s Perry Patino took the opportunity to duck into the pits for some adjustments during the caution period. The race resumed with Furrow in his Black Sheep Woodlands sponsored machine on the point with a very hungry #7 Justin Caton gaining as the laps rolled down in the first of twin 20 lap features. Lucky lap 13 saw Caton make his move to the front and never gave it up as the Jemison driver scored his first victory of 2015.
Interstate Batteries Late Model Sportsman
- Justin Caton #7
- Jason Furrow #21
- Bill Bethea III #121
- Joe Hudson #3
- Bobby Reuse #89
- Joey Holt #51h
- Brad Edwards #18
- Perry Patino #51
- Travis Clecker #5
- Larry Speakman #91
Modified Minis hit the track and the green flag flew. Multi year track champion #71 Joel Collier and Dora, Alabama’s Kyle Moore #25 started on the front row leading the field to the line. Moore just getting his feet wet at Montgomery motor Speedway held the second spot till lap 4 when the car slid out from under him and made contact with the turn 1 wall ending his night. On the restart the battle ensued between the #71 of Collier and the #9 Capital Recycling sponsored ride of Chris Landers. #7 car of Rusty Alverson held the third spot as the “Wild Child” Lance Campbell #29 experienced handling problems with his black and white Ford truck in his return to Montgomery Motor Speedway for the first time in 2015. Collier #71 held of the other competitors for his first win of the season.
Modified Minis
- Joel Collier #71
- Chris Landers #9
- Rusty Alverson #7
- Lance Campbell #29
- Kyle Moore #25
The Modifieds of Mayhem Tour cars rolled out next with 18 cars taking the green. #45 Billy Melvin started on the pole due to a 5 car inversion. The action was hot and heavy as these High horse power ground pounding machines roared around the historic oval. The yellow flag flew as the #45 brushed the wall in turn 1 and slowed the pack of cars. Mobiles Adam Crawford son of driver Rick Crawford found his way to pit road for some drive train issues as he also had problems in qualifying and the crew went to work to fix the issue, returning to the competition on lap #22. Contact between #74 of Troy Gray from Harvest Alabama and #79 of Armendia brought out caution #2. Alabasters Ron Beach #97 receives the free pass lucky dog. Mayhem ensues on the restart as a group of cars get together on the start including #14 Maddog Maddox, #131p Parker Pugh, #,97 Ron Beach, #33 Jason Morman, # 17 Wade Redd, #45 Billy Melvin and the #47 John Thomas. Maddox, Melvin, Morman and Redd suffered the most damage in the incident. The #66 of Ryan Redman controlled the top spot for all of the first 43 laps and it looked like the Moultrie, Georgia driver had the win in the bag but caution flew for #47 John Thomas and a 7 lap shootout was in store. On the restart the #66 Redmon spun his tires and #8 Donnie Hamrac winner of the 2 open wheel modified races held last year at Montgomery Motor Speedway shot to the lead with Redmon #66, Letson #131, Ryan Paul #07 ,and #5 Donald Crocker Rounding out the top 5. Cameron Berry #101 from Arab, Alabama won the Interstate Batteries Hard Charger Award moving from 15th to 9th position.
Modifieds of Mayhem Tour Race #2
- Donnie Hamrac #8
- Ryan Redmon #66
- Jeff Letson #131
- Ryan Paul #07
- Donald Crocker #5
- Rocky Rogers #41
- Joe Armendia #79
- Parker Pugh #131p
- Cameron Berry #101
- Heath Mills #66m
- Troy Gray #74
- Jason Morman #33
- Ron Beach #97
- John Thomas #47
- Mike Maddox #14
- Billy Melvin #45
- Wade Redd #17
- Adam Crawford #64
- Ty Roberts #50 DNS
The Street Stock division was up next and the fans were on their feet cheering on their favorite Driver. As has been the case for the 2014 season and so far in 2015 the competition has been fierce. 2014 Street Stock Champion Dwayne “Collard Green” Wesenberg looked strong in his #31 Stockyard grill sponsored chevy as he held the point from the drop of the green flag. #24 David Wood brought out the first caution with an unassisted spin in turn 4 on lap 6. On the following restart the #17 Chance Atkins and the #6 of Charles Davis tangle and the race was under yellow again. The race ran green as the #17 of Adkins steadily stalked Wesenberg who owned almost a straight away lead at one point. The 2 veteran drivers battled it out with Atkins trying a variety of moves to get by the #31. It all came down to the final lap as #24 Wood had moved his way to the #3 spot and looked like he would have to settle for that position. Contact between the #31 and #17 in turns 1 and 2 yielded no change in the line up but contact in turn 4 sent both cars spinning and the #24 of Wood slipped by for the emotional victory.
Street Stocks (Revised Finish)
- David Wood #24
- Charles Davis #6
- Brian Hutchinson #38
- Dwayne Wesenberg #31
- Chance Atkins #17
- Andrew Wiggins #4
- Joe Bethea #33
The Final Feature saw the Interstate Batteries Late Model Sportsman line up after a redraw of the top 6 drivers from the first feature. Joey Holt #51 drew a 1 and started on the pole. The thundering herd rolled through turns 1 and 2 but saw the yellow displayed as the #51 of Holt spins and the #18 of Edwards loops his car trying to avoid contact. Lap 10 fans were wondering if the sportsman would be able to get things rolling. #121 Bethea jumped the restart and the field was slowed . On the next restart the 37 of Caton and the #89 of Reuse tangled coming out of 4 the next restart saw the #18 of Edwards in a spin. The race finally got underway with the #121 of Bill Bethea III leading the way. Lap 18 saw the #21 of Jason Furrow pit bound with a broken tie rod and contact between the #18 Edwards and the #5 of Travis Cleckler from Clanton, Alabama set the stage for a green, white, checkered finish. Bethea #121 fought off a hard charging Justin Caton for the win with #51 Perry Patino coming in third after a long day of repairs to his F&E sportsware sponsored machine.
Interstate Batteries Sportsman #2
- Bill Bethea III #121
- Justin Caton #7
- Perry Patino #51
- Joe Hudson #3
- Brad Edwards #18
- Travis Cleckler #5
- Jason Furrow #21
- Bobby Furrow #89
- Joey Holt #51
- Larry Speakman #91
Montgomery Motor Speedway will be back in action as R.S.Trucking present the Spring Explosion 125 “Show Me the Money” Pro Late Model race. Plus Interstate batteries Late Model Sportsman, Street Stocks and the SMARS Motorcycle Series.
2015 “Show me the Money” series featuring 5 dates and 7 races and provides both the fans and the racers the opportunity for exciting action at one of the finest facilities in the Deep South.
Montgomery Motor Speedway first opened its doors in 1953 and is the Deep South’s Oldest Asphalt Speedway. The Half mile track is the home of the Alabama 200 featuring the Southern Super Series bringing some of the most talented super late model drivers to compete at the gem of the south. Sponsorship opportunities are available to fit any budget. Our Private air conditioned VIP suite can accommodate a company outing or private party in our “state of the art” control tower.
Montgomery Motor Speedway bringing you quality racing and family entertainment at an affordable price. For More Information visit us on the web at www.montgomeryspeedway.org and follow the happenings on our facebook page .. https://www.facebook.com/montgomeryspeedway or call 334-262-6101
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