Write up By Elizabeth Meade
Photo’s David Kranak Impact Zone Photos
June 18, 2018 Montgomery, Alabama:The “Show me the Money” series brings out the best racers in the country and this past Saturday night it was Alabama drivers that dominated the podium after the races. Anticipation was intense as race fans rolled into Montgomery Motor Speedway for Saturday’s “Bring Dad to the Races” event. There were three classes scheduled to clash on the half-mile battleground: the Blacksheep Woodlands Late Model Sportsman, the “Show me the MONEY” Pro Late Models, and the Coca-Cola Street Stocks.
The fans got the opportunity to meet 1960 NASCAR Champion and Hall of Famer Rex White.
Rex White is a retired auto racer and NASCAR champion. White was one of the drivers who competed for the original Ford racing team. He began racing in 1956, grabbing fourteen top-ten finishes. After a part-time run in 1957, White won twice in 1958. His most notable year came in 1960, when he won six races, and the NASCAR Grand National championship. When he retired in 1964, he had acquired 73 career victories. Throughout most of White’s NASCAR career, he drove General Motors brand cars, typically painted gold and white, sporting the number “4” on the side. After he retired, White was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame in 1974, and was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.
After pre-race ceremonies, the evening’s events were kicked off with a 50-lap run from the BlackSheep Woodlands Late Model Sportsman. On the first lap, the 1 of Mikell Rawls unfortunately had his night end early, sliding up into the wall of turn 2. This called for a red flag to be put out in order for race track safety crews to clear the track of debris. Race officials called for a complete restart. The green flag dropped again and by lap 2, the 2 of Jeff Dawkins rolled into the first-place position. Meanwhile, the 51 of Perry Patino sailed from the rear of the field to the fourth-place position. On lap 4, there was another caution, with the 21 of Matt Belter spinning in turn 1. Another restart and Belter was around again in turn 3 – after making a trip down pit road, his night of racing was, unfortunately, ended early.
Budweiser Fast time qualifier 20 Bill Bethea III assumed the point position at lap 5 as he muscled it away from Dawkins. The green flag for a restart dropped again and at lap 10, the top five cars, respectfully, were: 20 (Bill Bethea), 51 (Perry Patino), 2 (Jeff Dawkins), 8x (Aidan Eldridge), and 75 (Chase Spradlin). On lap 14, it was noted that the 7 of Justin Caton had taken a bit of damage to the front of his car. As the race progressed on, Patino (51) and Dawkins (2) were in a constant back and forth battle for quite a few laps for the number one position, but this opened the door for the 20 machine (Bethea) to snag the number one position.
On lap 25, the running order was: 20 (Bethea), 51 (Patino), 2 (Dawkins), 8x (Eldridge), 75 (Spradlin), 21f (Jason Furrow), 7 (Caton), and 21 (Belter). On lap 27, Dawkins closed in on Patino to steal the second position, with Dawkins in quick pursuit of the lead. By lap 31, the 2 car had sailed to the lead. On lap 42, the 21f of Furrow went off the track and his night was also cut short. A caution was thrown out on lap 43, with the 7 of Caton making a trip down pit road in hopes of repairing some of the front-end damage he had received earlier in the race. After the restart, Caton’s hood popped up again and wound up going to pit road on lap 47, unable to return. The top three finishers were: 2 (Dawkins), 51 (Patino), 20 (Bethea)
UNOFFICIAL RACE RESULTS FOR BLACKSHEEP WOODLANDS LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN:
- 2 – Jeff Dawkins
- 51 – Perry Patino
- 20 – Bill Bethea
- 75 – Chase Spradlin
- 8x – Aidan Eldridge
- 7 – Justin Caton
- 21f – Jason Furrow
- 21 – Matt Belter
The next class up to bat were the fast and loud “Show me the MONEY” Pro Late Models with 100 laps around Historic Montgomery Motor Speedway. With 20 cars rolling through the gates, and several newcomers, fans were guaranteed a great race with these machines battling for the win and the money. With the green flag in the air from starter John Midkiff, the Pro Late Models roared to the start. By lap 15, the 2 of hard charger was John Bolen as he made his way from the back of the pack to the tenth position. On lap 25, the top 5 cars were: 18 (Casey Roderick), 51 (Perry Patino), 30 (Bobby Knox, jr.), 43 (Justin South), and 112 (Augie Grill). On lap 28, the 5 car of Kyle Plott went off the track with Mechanical issues and sadly ended his night early. On lap 42 the 48 of Franklin, Tennessee’s Mike Murray made a trip down Pit Road and would not return to the track. Halfway through the hundred-lap event, the running order was: 18 (Roderick), 51 (Patino), 112 (Grill), 43 (South), and 30 (Knox, jr.). By lap 56 the entire field of cars were spread out all around the track. On lap 67, the 4 of Kyle McCallum went off the track and would not return, unfortunately, ending his night early. On lap 71, the leader and 2 time Show me the MONEY Champion Casey Roderick in the 18 drew out the caution, having some issues with his Pro Late Model machine that had been dominating the majority of the night’s race. The 11w car of JoJo Wilkinson would receive the Lucky Dog. With a new leader, the top 5 cars for the restart, respectfully, were: 112 (Grill), 51 (Patino), 43 (South), 30 (Knox, jr.), and 9 (Chris Landers).
The green flag dropped, only to quickly be followed by a yellow, with the 11m of Jordan McCallum and 33 of Smith getting sideways in turn one and two. Another green flag restart and another yellow flag dropped as the 11m (McCallum) went into the wall. The 30 of Knox, jr. also made a trip down pit road as well. Once again, another restart, and the crowd saw a new driver to MMS Jackson Boone 7 from Franklin, Tennessee grab the lead spot and two laps were logged before another caution slowed the field. The line-up restart for lap 73 was as follows: new comer Jackson Boone (7) on the pole position, 2 (Bolen) 51 (Patino), 43 (South), and 21 (Ryan Herbert). The Lucky Dog pass was given to the 12 of Rocky Rogers.
The green flag flashed and by lap 75, Augie Grill was dancing his way to the top of the field in hot pursuit of the number one spot. On Lap 89, a the yellow flag flew for the 11w of Wilkinson. A fierce battle was raging up front as Justin South 43 was doing everything he could to get around the Bolen car. By lap 95, the 112 machine of Grill had made his way to the second position and was knocking on the back door of Bolen’s 2 car. The white flag waved and the 112 and 2 weaved in and out of each other on the last lap for the race to get to the checkered flag. Grill dove to the bottom of the track out of turn 4 and squeaked by Bolen to take the victory. The top three finishers were 112 (grill), 2 (Bolen), and 43 (South).
UNNOFFICIAL RESULTS OF PRO LATE MODEL RACE
- 112 – Augie Grill
- 2 – John Bolen
- 43 – Justin South
- 7 – Jackson Boone
- 21 – Ryan Herbert
- 33 – Dustin Smith
- 23 – Hudson Halder
- 11w – Jojo Wilkinson
- 51P – Perry Patino
- 12 – Rocky Rogers
- 98 – Justin Ashburn
- 9 – Chris Landers
- 30 – Bobby Knox, jr.
- 18 – Casey Roderick
- 11m – John McCallum
- 4 – Kyle McCallum
- 48 – Mike Murray
- 5 -Kyle Plott
- 66 -Kory Ruble DNS
- 10- Chris Whorton DNS
The final event of the night was a 30-lap feature from the infamous Coca-Cola Street Stocks. On lap 1, the 2 of Greg Foley was already having some troubles and made his way to pit road. Foley would return to the track with his Marco’s Pizza sponsored car on lap 6. On lap 9, the 1 of Daniel Jacks unfortunately ended his night early, making his way off the track. Halfway through the race, the top 5 were: 33b (Joe Bethea, jr.), 51 (Trey Grimes), 5 (James Cleckler), 38 (Bubba Hutchinson), and 6 (Charles Davis). Also, on lap 15, the 80g of Davey Lynn made his way off the track. 33 Bethea Jr. had the car to beat this night but some great position battles raged on throughout the race. Hutchinson 38, Davis 6 and Cleckler 5 showed their talent as the swapped position during the event.The rest of the race carried on with no cautions and the top three were: 33b (Bethea, jr.), 51 (Grimes), and 38 (Hutchinson).
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS FOR COCA-COLA STREET STOCKS RACE
- 33b – Joe Bethea, jr.
- 51 – Trey Grimes
- 38 – Bubba Hutchinson
- 6 – Charles Davis
- 5 – James Clecker
- 33 – Terry Grimes
- 17 – Keith Joiner
- 2 – Greg Foley
- 80g – Davey Lynn
- 1 – Daniel Jacks
Montgomery Motor Speedway returns to action Saturday June 30th for the Southern Super Series and the “Rumble by the River 125”. The card also features a Street Stock race, the Late Model Sportsman and a Big wheel race for the Kids. Tickets are $15 for adults $10 seniors and Military $5 kids 6-12…. 5 and under are free. Ding Ding Ding….”Rumble by the River”
Monster Trucks are coming to Montgomery Motor Speedway Saturday July 28th. Bounty Hunter ….. Scarlet Bandit ….. Monster Patrol…. Rde along truck … drift cars and MADD MAXX Enduro
Call 334-262-6101 for more Info