April 8, 2019 Montgomery, Alabama: The stage was set as we rolled into the event last Saturday night. Schedules were written, Teams had a game plan and it was rolling along great until Mother Nature tried to rear her head and take control of the race day. An early shower pushed practice back but the track safety crew never gave up and despite numerous sprinkles they won out and the races were on.
Bama Budweiser qualifying was first on the slate as the street stocks hit the track for their 2 timed laps. Charles Davis #6 was the Fast time qualifier with a time of 23.005. Billy Joe Austin #51 was second with a time of 23.185 rounding out the top 3 was the veteran driver J.C. Cleckler #5 with a clocked time of 23.219
Pro Late Models had the track next and with threatening skies some of the best pro late model drivers took their turn on the historic ½ mile. When the dust settled it was North Carolina’s #81 Colby Howard in the Anthony Campi prepared machine at 19.233. In second position was Montgomery’s own Perry ”P-2” Patino #51 with a time of 19.363. Third Fastest was Lizilla Georgia’s Kyle McCallum #4m 19.377. After struggling with his car all day he failed to get any practice Casey Roderick #18 busted off a lap of 19.412 and rounding out the top 5 and coming off his first Asphalt Pro Late Model win at Crisp Motorsports Park it was Blaise Rutherford #5 at 19.421
The redraw put the #18 and #81 on the front row with a bunch of hungry drivers behind them. Roderick jumped out to a quick lead and set the pace for the field for the first 5 green laps. A new leader took over on lap 6 as #81 Colby Howard showed some muscle as he grabbed the lead from the #18.
Some teams found themselves back in the field due to their qualifying effort, the Grill team #112 had to start 10th and Justin South #43 also had to drive to the front.
Plenty of good racing action was on display as #81 Howard held the point till caution flew for a mechanical issue with the #21H Ryan Herbert.
On the restart Roderick gained a little and led lap 14 only to have it taken away the next lap by the #81. It looked like it was clear sailing for the #81 but Justin South #43 had a different idea on lap 25 he drove by the leader and it looked like everyone else was running for 2nd.
South stretched his lead but a caution he did not want was displayed on lap 57 for a spin on the back stretch. On the restart the #81 Howard took the lead and never looked back. The #18 of Roderick worked his way back to the podium with a second place finish. Augie Grill #112 was on the hunt for the front but ran out of time finishing 3rd. Big shout out to Jake Garcia #35 on his 4th place finish also.
Spring Explosion 100 “Show me the MONEY” Series Results (Unofficial)
- Colby Howard #81
- Casey Roderick #18
- Augie Grill #112
- Jake Garcia #35
- Justin South #43
- Blaise Rutherford #5
- Jason Furrow #21
- Kyle McCallum #4m
- Jeff Dawkins #2
- Blake Ferguson #07
- Jordan McCallum #11m
- Brandon Curren #00
- Perry Patino #51
- Jojo Wilkinson #11
- Ryan Herbert #21h
- Bobby Reuse #89 DNS
- Bill Bethea III #20 DNS
The Coca Cola Street Stocks hit the track and due to the curfew the event was set at 25 laps. From the start the action was exciting as the #5 of J.C. Cleckler took the lead at the drop of the green flag. It didn’t take long for the action to start as the #6 Davis and #51 Austin both spun in turn 2 bringing out the yellow flag. Another caution on lap 7 gave the opportunity for the 2018 Street Stock Champion #51g Trey Grimes to take the point. The #6 of Charles Davis was moving up through the field trying to get the lead. Lap 15 saw Davis achieve that goal. Caution flew on lap 20 for the #17 spin. The #80g of Davey Lynn and the #17 of Chance Atkins had a battle all night and tempers flared as the #17 made contact under caution with the #80g ending both drivers’ night.
Davis #6 took it to the checkered flag with #51Trey Grimes in second and the #1s of David Wood rounding out the top 3
Coca Cola Street Stocks Results (Unofficial)
- Charles Davis #6
- Trey Grimes #51g
- David Wood #1s
- JC Cleckler #5
- Kameron Wesenberg #32
- Drew Murchison #68
- Keith Grace #81
- Billy Joe Austin #51
- Davey Lynn #80g
- Dwayne Wesenberg #31
- Daniel Jacks #1j
- Kevin Seamon #58 DNS
- Chance Atkins #17 DQ
Some people thought the street stock race was the demolition Derby but that was incorrect. The area in the pits was sectioned off and the Demolition Derby was on like “Donkey Kong” with metal crunching and smoke flying the competitors went at it. When the smoke cleared it was a familiar face in victory lane as “Big E” Eric Beard took home the trophy and the BIG CHECK $1000 with Roger Wood in second and Kevin Boothe in third …
Please join us this Saturday April 13th for the king of the Wing Sprint cars 150 MPH asphalt beasts plus Late Model Sportsman Modified Minis and Road Runners …
Tickets are $20 for adults $15 seniors and Military $5 for children 6-12 and kids 5 and under are free. For More info call 334-262-6101
