August 31, 2021: Montgomery, Al: A night that all local drivers circle on their schedule each year, a chance to take home the prized and famous BEAR trophy. A trophy like no other, but only 4 drivers hoist the hardware at the end of the night. Drivers from all across the southeast drove to Montgomery Motor Speedway Saturday night to race and get a chance to take home the bear. After Bama Budweiser Qualifying, things got under way with the pro 4 division.
Pro 4 Division
During the Pro 4 group qualifying session, only a few of the cars made an appearance. Eddie Dodd #81 put up the quickest lap with a 23.215, followed by Cliff Willcutt IV #21 and Todd Rorie #16. After a dice roll for the starting lineup, Todd Rorie #16 started on the pole, with Cliff Willcutt #21 on the outside of the front row.
Eddie Dodd #81 quickly went to the inside of Todd Rorie #16 on lap 1 and took the lead. The 5 car field went 2 wide all away around on lap 1 as Eddie Dodd #81 led the first lap. The lead didn’t last long, Joe Davis #85 decided to steal the lead away from Dodd on lap 3. Joe Davis #85 led the next five laps holding off Eddie Dodd #81 and Calvin Lewis #26. On lap 9, a spin on the backstretch caused a caution. Joe Davis #85 decides to surrender the lead and pit under caution. As the green flag waived, it was Eddie Dodd #81 out front leading the field. It didn’t take long for Joe Davis #85 to fight his way back to the front. The fight for the lead between Eddie Dodd #81, Joe Davis #85, and Calvin Lewis #26 continued. But, at the end of the night, it was Eddie Dodd lifting up the Hunt for the Bear trophy. Joe Davis #85 came in second, followed by Todd Rorie #16 rounding out the top 3.
Pro 4 “Hunt for the Bear” Results
| Eddie Dodd #81 | |
| Joe Davis #85 | |
| Todd Rorie #16 | |
| DQ | Calvin Lewis #26 |
| DQ | Cliff Willcutt #21 |
At the conclusion of the Pro-4 race the weather rolled in and a activities came to a halt. Once the weather broke the MMS crew and some volunteers dried the track. Race control called drivers to their cars and the evening was rolling along.
“Hunt for the Bear” – Roadrunners
The group qualifying session for the stacked field of Roadrunners consisted of Jason Kendrick #3 at the top of the board with a 24.466. Behind Kendrick, last years series winner Max Nelson #9 came in with a 24.720. John Singletary #27 rounded out the top three with a 25.067. Douglas Elliot #21 qualified fourth with a time of 25.088. Bubba Deaton #55 rounded out the top five with a 25.108. Charles Ellis #28 qualified sixth, Brandon Whitehead #98 seventh, Tyler Hess #17 eighth, and Tony Akridge #23 DNQ.
Although Kendrick #3 qualified on the pole, it was Charles Ellis #28 leading the field to green, with Bubba Deaton #55 on the outside of the front row. Bubba Deaton #55 jumped out the lead, leading the first lap. Although he lead the first lap, the field was still 2 wide battling around the track. Charles Ellis #28 passed Deaton #55 for the lead on lap 2. As Ellis #28 and Deaton #55 battled for the lead, battles went on throughout the field as Max Nelson #9, Jason Kendrick #3, Douglas Elliot #21, and Jason Singletary #27 all battled for third. Charles Ellis #28 continued to lead, but Jason Kendrick #3 and Max Nelson #9 worked their way through the field and were hot on his trail. On lap 10 Jason Kendrick #3 made the move to Ellis #28 inside and took over the lead. Max Nelson #9 followed the #3 around Charles Ellis #28. John Singletary #27 and Douglas Elliot #21 battled for the third position as Kendrick #3 and Nelson #9 battled for the lead. As the checkered flag waived, it was Jason Kendrick #3 from Geneva, Alabama claiming the victory and the “Hunt for the Bear” trophy. Max Nelson #9 finished second, with John Singletary #27 rounding out the top 3. Douglas Elliot #21 and Charles Ellis #28 rounded out the top five.
Roadrunner “Hunt for the Bear” Results
| Jason Kendrick #3 | |
| Max Nelson #9 | |
| John Singletary #27 | |
| Douglas Elliot #21 | |
| Charles Ellis #28 | |
| Tyler Hess #17 | |
| Bubba Deaton #55 | |
| Brandon Whitehead #98 | |
| Tony Akridge #23 |
“Hunt for the Bear” – Street Stocks
The qualifying session for the Street Stock division showed Joe Bethea #6 at the top of the leaderboards with a 22.322 fast time. Zack Smith #24 qualified on the outside of the front row with a 22.441. Jonathan Langham #1 rounded out the top 3 with a 22.642. Trey Grimes #51 and Austin Evans #19 rounded out the top five.
As the night got rolling, it was Joe Bethea #6 leading the field to green with Zack Smith #24 on the outside of the front row. Joe Bethea #6 and Zack Smith #24 seemed to be the fastest cars all day, and it continued as the green flag waived. Bethea #6 led the field into turn 1, but it was Smith #24 right there to his outside giving him no room to pull ahead. On lap 7, Drew Murchinson #68 and Kevin Seamon #37 made contact and went spinning, bringing out the first caution of the race. The green flag waived again, and it was Bethea #6 and Smith #24 still battling it out for the lead off of the restart. On the bumper of the #6 was Trey Grimes #51 who has dominated this seasons street stock division and Kameron Wesenburg #32 who has found himself at the front all year long. On lap 17, the field saw the yellow flag wave again. The battle heated up again as Bethea #6 and Smith #24 battled, beating and banging for the lead. Trey Grimes #51 was right behind, waiting for somebody to make a mistake and drive to the lead. Another caution came out on lap 29 as Austin Evans #19 and Jonathan Langham #1 took a spin. Things became really interesting as Zack Smith #24 continued to fight for the lead off of the green flag start and attempt to beat Bethea #6 on the outside. As the checkered flag waived, it was Joe Bethea #6 holding off the fast car of Zack Smith #24. Trey Grimes #51 followed right behind rounding out the top three. Kameron Wesenburg #32 and Daniel Jacks #1 rounded out the top five. Keith Grace #81, Greg Foley #2, Kevin Seamon #37, Dwayne Wesenburg, and Jonathan Langham #1 rounded out the top ten.
Street Stocks Hunt for the Bear Results
| Joe Bethea #6 | |
| Zack Smith #24 | |
| Trey Grimes #51 | |
| Kameron Wesenburg #32 | |
| Daniel Jacks #1 | |
| Keith Grace #81 | |
| Greg Foley #2 | |
| Kevin Seamon #37 | |
| Dwayne Wesenburg #31 | |
| Jonathan Langham #1 | |
| Austin Evans #19 | |
| Drew Murchinson #68 | |
| Will Smith #7 | |
| Matt Belter #15 |
“Hunt for the Bear” – Late Model Sportsman
Jason Furrow #21 showed the fastest time in qualifying with a 20.393, followed by Bill Bethea #20 at 20.405, and Cody McCawley #62 with a 20.634 rounded out the top three. Jake Daniels #17 and Gary Sanford #18 rounded out the top five.
Jason Furrow #21 rolled a 2 on the dice, so that would mean he starts on the outside of Cody McCawley #62. On lap 1, as the field took the green, it was McCawley #62 and Furrow #21 leading the field to green. In turn 3, Larry Hughes #88 took a spin and brought out caution number 1. As the field tried it again, this time it was Jason Furrow #21 taking the lead over McCawley #62. Marty Catrett brings out the caution on lap 5 with a spin in turn 1. As the field bunches back together, it is Jason Furrow #21 leading the field to green this time. As the field gets rolling again, Bill Bethea #20 powers his way through the field to contest with the #21 of Furrow. Bethea #20 has been consistently good throughout the season, putting him in a points battle with Cody McCawley #62. On lap 16, something appears to break on the Bethea #20 car as he pulls it down pit road, surrendering his position. Although he is forced to pit, Furrow #21 never pulls away into a comfortable lead, with Cody McCawley #62 tightly following. Caution flag flies again, this time coming on lap 25 as Ryan Reuse #85 goes for a spin. The front row battle between Furrow #21 and McCawley #62 heats up once again as the restart gets under way. Behind the leaders battles go on throughout the field with Jake Daniels #17, Marty Catrett #99, and Bobby Reuse #89 all battling for positions. As the laps wind down, it is Jason Furrow #21 out front holding off Cody McCawley #62 and claiming the Late Model Sportsman Hunt for the Bear. Marty Catrett #99 wheels it to the podium finish rounding out the top 3. Jake Daniels #17 and Ryan Reuse #85 round out the hard fought top five finishes.
Late Model Sportsman Hunt for the Bear Results
| Jason Furrow #21 | |
| Cody McCawley #62 | |
| Marty Catrett #99 | |
| Jake Daniels #17 | |
| Ryan Reuse #85 | |
| Bobby Reuse #89 | |
| Larry Hughes #88 | |
| Bill Bethea #20 | |
| Craig Giattina #15 | |
| Gary Sanford Jr. #18 |
Join us on September 25th for the FALL BRAWL! Action from the Pro Late Model “Show me the MONEY” series, the Outlaw Late Models return, Street Stocks, and Pro 4’s! It is guaranteed to be an action packed and exciting night of short track racing at the historic Montgomery Motor Speedway. Alabama’s House of SPEED will also be playing host to Must See Sprint car racing on October 8th and 9th, be sure to mark it on your calendar and join us for 2 great nights of racing! More info will be posted between now and then. Check us out at https://www.montgomerymotorspeedway.org/ and stay up to date on what we have going on by following us on social media!
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Story by: Landon Adams