May 26, 2015: Montgomery, Al: Nothing could keep the loyal fans from the speedway Saturday night as they witnessed the third race in the “Show me the Money “ series. The R.S.Trucking Spring Explosion brought excitement and provided a great show for all in attendance.
Budweiser qualifying started off the evening as the Interstate Batteries Late Model Sportsman took to the track for their 1 lap of qualifying. 2014 Champion Justin Caton laid down a lap of 21.436 just edging out #3 Joe Hudson from Alabaster, Alabama at 21.465. The Sportsman division saw the next 3 competitors separated by only 3/10th of a second with #18 Brad Edwards timed at 21.655, Perry Patino at 21.786 and #21 Jason Furrow at 21.949.
Pro Late models rolled on to pit road for 2 laps of qualifying with the #18 of Korey Ruble claiming the top spot with a time of 19.078 around the historic oval. Second Spot went to Decatur, Alabama’s Hunter Spivey clocking a time of 19.145, Followed closely by R.S.Senters time of 19.151. The competition is tough in this division as the top 15 drivers were within a half a second of the pole.
Street Stocks were next on the clock as #24 David Wood and Dwayne Wesenberg were the only 2 cars to break the 23 second barrier with Wood capturing the Budweiser Fast Time pole award at 22.952 and Wesenberg right on his heals at 22.958.
The first feature of the night saw the Interstate batteries Late Model Sportsman battling for 35 tough laps.The action started at a feverish pace and never let up. The inversion place the #18 of Marbury’s Brad Edwards on the pole but that position was short lived as the Interstate sponsored car spun coming out of 2 causing the #91 Larry Speakman to tag the wall trying to avoid Edwards. On the restart the #51 of F&E Sportsware sponsored Perry Patino took the point and held it till lap 3 when the #3 Joe Hudson made his move for the top spot. Budweiser Fast time qualifier Justin Caton was steadly moving up from his mandated 6th starting spot and was looking strong as he worked his way to third by lap 12 but mechanical issues struck the #7 team and a spin on the back stretch brought out the second caution of the night. The restart saw the pack coming off of turn 2 and the #51 of Patino getting loose and clipping the #21 of Jason Furrow causing a hard crash on the back stretch. Caution flew again on lap 18 as the #5 of Travis Cleckler gets loose. The Last laps saw the #18 of Edwards looking for the opportunity to make the pass on Joe Hudson but wasn’t able to get it done. After an early spin the #18 had a strong 2nd place finish followed by Shelby Reuse #59 with her first podium finish of the year.
Interstate batteries Late Model Sportsman
- Joe Hudson #3
- Brad Edwards #18
- Shelby Reuse #59
- Larry Speakman #91
- Travis Cleckler #5
- Perry Patino #51
- Jason Furrow #21
- Justin Caton #7
Fans were treated to a short concert by the Jessie Lynn Band during the Pro Late Model autograph session
The “Show me the Money” Series at Montgomery Motor Speedway has brought out some of the best young talent in the southeast. Saturday night saw some young guys battling with some seasoned veterans for the 125 lap event. Korey Ruble #18 from Headland, Alabama set fast time in Budweiser qualifying and rolled a 6 during opening ceremonies putting Clanton’s Bobby Knox Jr. #30 on the pole with the x2 Dennis Reno Jr. on the outside of the front row. Reno jumped out to the lead on the initial start with the rest of the field in hot pursuit. Reno was in control of the field and the competitors settled in for the long race ahead of them. Lap 8 saw young gun R.S. Senter from Flowery Branch, Georgia take the lead and held on tight. Plenty of racing was going on through the field and battle waged from front to back. Lap 31 caution came out for the #00 of Branden Curren as he spun and made contact with the front stretch wall. Senter’s, Overnite Wraps sponsored Chevy got a good restart with the Renos RPM/Extreme suspension ride in his tracks. Line up lap #31 10,x2,18,43,2b,13,30,5,23,10h,5w,51,2,h2,89,00.
Lap 52 saw a bad break for the #18 of Ruble as a flat tire brought him to a stop on the back stretch. The pits got busy as the #89 of Bobby Reuse, #30 Bobby Knox Jr., #13 Bill Bethea III, #51 Perry Patino and the #18 of Ruble all headed in for attention from their pit crews. #00 Curren was awarded the lucky dog and it was back to late model racing.
Contact from the #10h Hunter Spivey on lap 58 sent the #5 of Oliver Chase hard into the turn 1 wall bringing out the red flag. Oliver was checked by Haynes ambulance EMTs and released as his badly damaged racecar was removed by 82 wrecker service. Spivey #10 was able to continue after some attention from his crew but had to retire on lap 67. The yellow flew again as some hard racing and contact between the #2 of Jaspers John Bolen and x2 of Dennis Reno sent the Tarrant, Alabama’s car hard into the back stretch wall and came to rest by the Slidell Oil flagstand. Reno was not happy with the exchange and offered Bolan some water from his drink bottle. Reno was escorted back to his pit area and was done for the evening. #18 of Korey ruble had been moving up since his earlier misfortune and had his eyes on the front of the field. He challenged #2 Bolen for the second spot but just didn’t have enough left to take the position.
Justin South #43 also had a very strong run going and looked like he might be the one to challenge #10 Senters lead but on lap 100 he slowed for a flat tire ending his chance for a podium finish. Dalton Grindle #23 from Flowery Branch, Georgia looked very strong for his first time at Montgomery Motor Speedway coming from 14th and battled his way towards the front finishing 5th. Points leader coming into the event Brett Holmes h2 had mechanical issues in qualifying but still finished 4th after starting 13th.
Show Me the Money 125 Spring Explosion
- R.S.Senter #10
- John Bolen #2
- Korey Ruble #18
- Brett Holmes #h2
- Dalton Grindle #23
- Luke Christian #2c
- Bill Bethea III #13
- Perry Patino #51
- Bobby Knox Jr #30
- Justin Wakefield #5w
- Justin South #43
- Bobby Reuse #89
- Branden Curren #00
- Dennis Reno #x2
- Hunter Spivey #10h
- Chase Oliver #5
After the pro late Model race all the fans stayed put as the Street Stocks rolled out on the track. After the last lap incident on April 11th fans were not going to miss the action in this division. After setting fast time David Wood rolled a 5 on the inversion. The front row had #6 of Charles Davis and Josh Wilson #12. The Smurfman team has struggled this year trying to get the #12 car to the track and their fans were delighted to see Wilson starting up front. The drop of the green flag saw the #6 of Davis take the lead. Lap 2 showed Chance Atkins move in to the top spot as the racing went on behind him. #18 of Daniel Parker from Enterprise, Alabama show up in his sharp Chevy Camero and hung tough till the handling went away on his ride. Lap 9 saw one of the scariest incidents of the night as the #12 if Wilson spun in turn 3 and was hit in the drivers side door by #88 of Bubba Nesbitt. All drivers were ok but both cars had extensive damage. The #17 of Atkins held the top spot the entire race but had to fight off numerous challenges by 2014 Street Stock Champion Dwayne Wesenberg. Joe Bethea Jr. rounded out the top 5 after missing qualifying and having to replace his transmission and starting at the rear of the field.
- Chance Atkins #17
- Dwayne Wesenberg #31
- Joe Bethea Jr. #33
- David Wood #24
- Charles Davis #6
- Bubba Hutchinson #38
- Andrew Wiggins #4
- Daniel Parker #18
- Josh Wilson #12
- Bubba Nesbitt #88
Montgomery Motor Speedway will be back in action May 9th for Mama’s night at the races. All moms will be admitted for just $5. The Night will feature the (MOM Tour) Modifieds of Mayhem tour in a 50 lap race. Plus the Interstate Batteries Late Model Sportsman in a 50 lap contest and the Modified Minis in twin features.
Mark your calendars for the Night of destruction May 23rd as Stuntman Rocky Hardcore returns along with a demolition Derby (Rules on the web site) Minivan race and a 100 Lap “Show me the Money” Pro Late Model contest.