MONTGOMERY, Ala. –It has been many years since the pits at Montgomery Motor Speedway have seen the volume of race cars Saturday night as the 2015 season came to a close
The all-time fast qualifier in Southern Super Series history proved again on Saturday night why he is one of the best ever in a Super Late Model.
Senoia, Ga. veteran Bubba Pollard scorched the half-mile Montgomery Motor Speedway with a lap of 18.602 seconds (96.764 mph) during time trials for the 51st running of the Alabama 200, garnering his 15th career SSS Quick Time Award and putting himself in prime position for a second win in the historic event.
Pollard won the race in 2010, when it was held at the South Alabama Speedway, but has never won the ‘200’ since its return to Montgomery.
Reigning NASCAR XFINITY Series champion Chase Elliott (18.602/96.670) nearly had enough to bump Pollard from the top spot, but was forced to settle for second and will start from the outside of the front row for Sunday’s 200-lap, 100-mile event.
Kyle Grissom qualified third at a clip of 18.680 seconds (96.360 mph), followed by 15-year-old Garrett Jones (18.730/96.103) in the Tracy Goodson-owned No. 1 Ford. Augie Grill (18.760/95.949), who was fastest in the final practice session for Sunday’s race, rounded out the fast five.
Defending Alabama 200 champion Anderson Bowen clocked in sixth-quick, just ahead of current SSS championship leader Casey Smith. Donnie Wilson, and famous sons Harrison Burton and Ross Kenseth, made up the balance of the top 10 qualifiers.
Jeff Letson garnered the Quick Time Award for the 75-lap Modifieds of Mayhem Tour event that will take place on Sunday with a quick lap of 19.565 seconds (92.001 mph), outpacing Donnie Hamrac, Ryan Paul, Billy Melvin and Donald Crocker for the pole.
In local division action, David Wood wired the first of two 20-lap street stock features to take the win, but by virtue of his performance had to start sixth for the second feature and could only watch as division points leader Joe Bethea Jr. took the final win of the season en route to the track championship.
Jason Furrow and Dave Mader III split the twin 20-lap open sportsman mains, while Oak Grove, Alabama’s Chase Spradlin elected to start at the rear of the 30-lap mini mod event and drove his No. 75 Ford Pinto all the way back to the front to claim both the win and a bonus from Montgomery Motor Speedway officials.
Spradlin exchanged the lead three times in the final six laps with Joel Collier before pulling away to the checkered flag.
Late Model Sportsman Race #2
- #21 Jason Furrow
- #51p Perry Patino
- #18m Dave Mader III
- #40 Joe Hudson
- #7 Justin Caton
- #5 Travis Cleckler
- #14 Wesley King
- #91 Larry Speakman
- #59 Shelby Reuse
- #19 John Adams
- #48 Michael MacKay
- #1 Daniel Jacks
- #34Jody Pierce
- #18 Brad Edwards
- #9 Chris Landers
- #25 Jordan Key
- #51h Joey Holt
- #18 Todd Hill
LMS #2
- #18 Dave Mader III
- #51p Perry Patino
- #7 Justin Caton
- #21 Jason Furrow
- #91 Larry Speakman
- #25 Jordan Key
- #48 Michael MacKay
- #5 Travis Cleckler
- #14 Wesley King
- #40 Joe Hudson
- #59 Shelby Reuse
- #19 John Adams
- #1 Daniel Jacks DNS
- #34 Jody Pierce DNS
- #18 Brad Edwards DNS
- #9 Chris Landers DNS
- #51 Joey Holt DNS
- #18 Todd Hill DNS
Modified Minis 30 Laps
- Chase Spradlin
- #71 Joel Collier
- #7 Rusty Alverson
- #8 Frankie Spradlin
- #2 Ashley Bridgemon
- #93 Drew Uptain
- #21 Steve Looney
- #11 Chris Landers
- #33 Joe Wingard
- #22 David Davis
- #69 Jeremy Williams
Street Stocks #1
- #24 David Wood
- #6 Charles Davis
- #38 Brian Hutchinson
- #12 Josh Wilson
- #88 Bubba Nesbitt
- #22 Michael Garris
- #33 Joe Bethea Jr.
- #112 Blake Wilson
- #31Bill Bethea III
- #81 David Lynn
- #4 Andrew Wiggins
Street Stocks #2
- #33 Joe Bethea Jr.
- #38 Brian Hutchinson
- #6 Charles Davis
- #24 David Wood
- #12 Josh Wilson
- #88 Bubba Nesbit
- #81 David Lynn
- #4 Andrew Wiggins
- #22 Michael Garris
- #31Bill Bethea III
- #112 Blake Wilson
The Fall Brawl weekend concludes at Montgomery Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon, with gates opening at 12 noon and a 75-lap feature for the Modifieds of Mayhem Series preceding the 51st running of the Alabama 200. Feature action kicks off at 2 p.m.
RESULTS: 51st Alabama 200 Weekend; Montgomery Motor Speedway; September 12, 2015
Southern Super Series Time Trials (best of two laps): 1. #26 – Bubba Pollard, 18.602 seconds (96.764 mph); 2. #9 – Chase Elliott, 18.602 (96.670); 3. #31 – Kyle Grissom, 18.680 (96.360); 4. #1 – Garrett Jones, 18.730 (96.103); 5. #112 – Augie Grill, 18.760 (95.949); 6. #29 – Anderson Bowen, 18.762 (95.939); 7. #99 – Casey Smith, 18.785 (95.821 mph); 8. #2W – Donnie Wilson, 18.831 (95.587); 9. #12 – Harrison Burton, 18.838 (95.552); 10. #98 – Ross Kenseth, 18.854 (95.470); 11. #11 – Logan Boyett, 18.974 (94.867); 12. #79 – Kyle Bryant, 19.015 (94.662); 13. #198 – Russell Fleeman, 19.028 (94.597); 14. #47 – Allen Karnes, 19.139 (94.049); 15. #24 – Christopher Tullis, 19.186 (93.818); 16. #71 – Johnny Brazier, 19.192 (93.789); 17. #43 – Dennis Schoenfeld, 19.309 (93.221); 18. #58B – Todd Brown, 19.804 (90.891); 19. #58 – Bobby Deistler, 20.626 (87.268); 20. #58C – John Coffman, 20.805 (86.518).
Modifieds of Mayhem Time Trials (best of two laps): 1. #131 – Jeff Letson, 19.565 seconds; 2. #8 – Donnie Hamrac, 19.768; 3. #07 – Ryan Paul, 19.874; 4. #145 – Billy Melvin, 20.009; 5. #5 – Donald Crocker, 20.081; 6. #66 – Korey Ruble, 20.096; 7. #41 – Rocky Rogers, 20.174; 8. #67 – Frankie Martin, 20.301; 9. #64 – Adam Crawford, 20.532; 10. #02 – Butch Wade, 20.604; 11. #50 – Ty Roberts, 20.617; 12. #14 – Mike Maddox, 21.021; 13. #88 – Larry Hughes, 21.599. #101 Cameron Berry DNQ. – #91 Jim Wall DNQ
Street Stock Winners (20 laps): David Wood, Joe Bethea Jr.
Open Sportsman Winners (20 laps): Jason Furrow, Dave Mader III
Mini Mod Winner (30 laps): Chase Spradlin (started from rear of field)
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Jacob Seelman
Speed77 Motorsports Radio, Founder/Producer
RaceChaserOnline.com, Managing Editor
Performance Motorsports Network, Radio Co-Host
National Speed Sport News, Staff Writer
United Sprint Car Series, Series Announcer