Independence Day Celebration
A family centered night that is one circled on the calendar every year. Montgomery Motor Speedway was the place to be in the Montgomery area on Saturday night as a fun filled night of festivities got under way. Many different races such as the Roadrunners, Sled Race, Madd Maxx Enduro, big wheel, and a demolition derby capped off with a firework show.
As the night got under way, it was the always entertaining sled race. The sled race features cars with no back tires, instead they are on a sled and it makes them very difficult to drive. 3 of the drivers who were racing later on in the night tried their chances sledding around the frontstretch. Leading the entire race was Branden Baker #25 before he went for a wild spin on the last lap, and that allowed Dave Sherman #66 take advantage. It was “Superdave” Dave Sherman #66 from Logansville, Georgia starting the night off in victory lane. Branden Baker #25 took home second, followed by Steve Sidner #1776 in third place in the Independence Day celebration car.
The Roadrunners are known across the state of Alabama for fantastic, grassroots racing. It was no different Saturday night at Montgomery Motor Speedway. Wetumpka, Alabama native Bubba Deaton started the night off on the front row of a talented field of drivers, and led the first two laps of the race. Charles Ellis #28 from Defuniak Springs, Florida made the trip up to Montgomery in his always fast Roadrunner, and took the lead over Bubba Deaton #55 on lap 3. Following behind Ellis #28 was Jason Kendrick in his white and blue #3 car on the inside lane. Charles Ellis #28 continued to lead and hold off Jason Kendrick as Brandon Whitehead #98 from Ozark, Alabama battled Bubba Deaton #55 for the third position. On lap 11, Jason Kendrick #3 from Geneva, Alabama gets to the door of Ellis #28 and makes the pass. Jason Kendrick #3 held off Charles Ellis #28 for the remainder of the race and found himself in victory lane at Montgomery Motor Speedway once again. Charles Ellis #28 took home the second place trophy, followed by Brandon Whitehead #98 in third.
As the exciting Roadrunner race finished up, the Montgomery Motor Speedway crew went to work getting the Madd Maxx Enduro course set up through the infield and around the track. As the efforts began, kids lined up at the gate for big wheel races. Kids loved the big wheel races, we had multiple races with multiple winners in front of the packed out MMS grandstands.
The big wheel races finished up, and it was now time for the FUN BUS! Kids lined up from the front gate to the concession stand waiting for a chance to hop on the fun bus and take a lap around Montgomery Motor Speedway.
As track preparations finished up, it was time for the 45-minute Madd Maxx Enduro race. Thirteen cars started the race, featuring many drivers who have trophies across different divisions here at MMS in the past, and even track General Manager Stan Narrison.
Drivers took the green flag, and it wasn’t long before beating and banging took place throughout the field battling for the win. Wesley Vann #13 from Opelika, Alabama led the field to green and led most of the first lap before mechanical failures and he was forced to go to the garage. Brandon Vickers #77 from Millbrook, Alabama showed a lot of speed, battling with sled race winner Dave Sherman #66. The battle went on for many laps, until Brandon Vickers #77 pitted, and then returning a lap later, but found himself a lap down. Dave Sherman #66 looked as if he had the win sealed, until car issues coming out of turn 4, and he gave up the lead to Lee Mason #34 from Eclectic, Alabama in the Zap Pest Control car. Dave Sherman #66 was able to get things rolling again, and tried to chase down Lee Mason #34 but wasn’t able to do so. Battles went on throughout the field, Steve Sidner #1776 from Cantonment, Florida showed his speed the whole night, consistently in the top five and finishing the night in fourth. Krystal Jacks #1 battled her husband Daniel Jacks #2 for many laps, before she claimed the top five finish. Molly Watson #26 from Prattville, Alabama finished in the sixth position. Daniel Jacks, Street Stock regular finished in the seventh position. Montgomery Motor Speedway’s own Stan Narrison #21 left early and ended up eighth. Blake Wilson #D9 also saw an early exit while running in the top five but ended up ninth. Jay Mason #34 Driving the Sister #34 Zap Pest Control car rounded out the top 10.
We would like to thank all the Roadrunners, Madd Maxx, Enduro cars and Demolition Derby cars that made it out to Montgomery Motor Speedway and put on a show for a packed-out track on Independence Day weekend. Thank you to the fans that came out and stuck around until the Firework show after the race. We will be back in action on July 31st for the “Saturday of SPEED”. Some of the best Pro Late Model drivers in the country are back, as well as the always exciting Modifieds of Mayhem tour, and the Pro Trucks! We hope you can make it out!
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Story by: Landon Adams