BEAR Hunting Southern Style “Alabama 200”

The biggest Alabama 200 in the last 20 years kicked off Saturday with over 80 cars across 3 divisions packing the infield. As haulers and trailers rolled in with drivers and teams from all over the Country. Many of the best short track drivers in the Country showed up to race for the hand carved Keith Hodgens BEAR trophy and a $10,000 Payday.

The Mayor of Montgomery, Steven L. Reed came out to show his support of Montgomery Motor Speedway. Mayor Reed was thrilled to be in attendance and see the big crowd of cars and fans that came out to the racetrack. The Mayor was joined by City councilwomen Marche Johnson of district 3 and Audrey Graham of district 4. We are really appreciative of the support shown from the City of Montgomery, Mayor Reed, and Councillors Marche Johnson and Audrey Graham.

The support was also extended to the State level with Governor candidates Chad “Chig” Martin, Dave Thomas, and Lew Burdette coming out to support the 58th Annual Alabama 200. The State Primaries for Alabama will take place on May 24, 2022. We really appreciate these candidates making the trip to Montgomery and joining us for a great event.

The 58th Annual Alabama 200 kicked off Saturday afternoon with the Wisconsin native, John DeAngelis #7 putting up the fastest time in the first practice. The young gun and 2020 Alabama 200 winner Jake Garcia #35 put up the second fastest practice time in both of the first 2 rounds of practice. The Florida native, Michael Hinde #69 has been one of the hottest drivers across the Country this season, winning at SPEEDFEST and Speedweeks put up the fastest time in practice #2. As the day rolled into the later evening, 2004 Alabama 200 winner and Ronnie Sanders Racing, Hunter Robbins #18 took the top spot.

The 58th Annual Alabama 200 featured over 40 Pro Late Models preregistered for the first time ever. After a few back outs from the strong field, 40 cars were on the ground at MMS on Saturday, all looking to hoist the BEAR in Victory Lane. The top 26 drivers would lock themselves in on time for the 58th running of the Alabama 200. 2 provisionals would be rewarded to drivers who finished inside the top 10 in the “Show me the MONEY” PLM series at MMS last season. The remaining drivers would fight for the remaining 4 spots in the Last Chance Qualifying Race to kick off the night. This would put the field at 32 cars for the main event.

It was RackleyWAR’s Cole Williams #26 taking the Bama Budweiser Pole Award in Qualifying. The RackleyWAR team headed up by short track legend Willie Allen also has a Nascar Camping World Truck Series team that fields the 26 of Matt Dibenedetto. They would field 2 cars for the Alabama 200 with Cole Williams #26 and Brittney Zamora #25. Stephen Nasse’s new partner Michael Hinde #69 quailified on the front row along side Williams. Ronnie Sanders Racing’s Hunter Robbins #18 qualified 3rd. 2020 Alabama 200 winner Jake Garcia #35 qualified 4th. Short track phenomenon Stephen Nasse #51 has won everything you can imagine, qualified 5th. The Texas Tornado, Chris Davidson #14 finished runner-up at last year’s Alabama 200 qualified in the 6th position. Wisconsin native John DeAngelis #7 qualified 7th. Jett Motorsports driver Kaden Honeycutt #9 rounded out the top 8. The top 8 would re-draw an ice cold Coca-Cola for starting positions.

58th Annual Alabama 200 Qualifying Results:

The top 26 drivers locked themselves into the main event with Jeff Dawkins #2 and Gage Rodgers #1 being the two track Provisionals, both having finished inside the top 10 in points last season. The remaining drivers would kick the night off with the LCQ race. The 25 lap shootout found JoJo Wilkinson #11 winning the LCQ race with Jim Wall #91, Bryson Shaffer #12s, and Nick McFarland #6 all transferring to the main event.

After the re-draw of the top 8, it would be Pinellas Park, Florida native Stephen Nasse #51 leading the field to green. Hunter Robbins #18 would lineup outside of row 1.

As the green flag waved to start the 58th Annual Alabama 200, people stood in anticipation for a stacked 32 car field. As Stephen Nasse #51 and Hunter Robbins #18 led the field into turn 1 a pile up occurred and ended the night really early for some of the best drivers in the field. Dustin Smith #33, Jack Smith #26, and Stacy Crain #11c would unfortunately end their hopes of hoisting the BEAR trophy. After the early red flag, things got kicked off once again with Stephen Nasse #51 jumping out to the lead. As Nasse #51 jumped to the lead, his teammate Michael Hinde #69 had to bring his hotrod to pit road with car issues and ending his night. Stephen Nasse #51 held off Hunter Robbins #18 before John DeAngelis #7 made a move on Robbins #18 and started contesting for the lead. As battles shifted all throughout the field, John DeAngelis #7 made a move on Nasse #51 just 15 laps in and took the lead. The Wisconsin native guided the field around until lap 52 when a single car spin took place. John DeAngelis #7 led the field back to green before Stephen Nasse #51 found his way around DeAngelis. Classy Nasse #51 held off the fast cars of DeAngelis and Robbins as a caution come out on lap 70. Jeff Campbell #38 took a spin in turn 3 and found the wall with heavy damage. It would bring an end to his night as he was running 17th at the time of the caution. Stephen Nasse #51 continued to lead with another strong restart before a caution on lap 107. The majority of the field decided to come down pit road and put on their new sticker tires for the second half of the race. Jake Garcia #35, Hunter Robbins #18, John Bolen #2b, Brittney Zamora #25, and Christopher Tullis #12t all decided to stay out and save their new tires for later on in the race. The field would be led to green by two former Alabama 200 winners, Jake Garcia #35 and Hunter Robbins #18. Jake Garcia #35 beat Hunter Robbins #18 on the restart and led the next 4 laps before a big wreck going into turn 1 caused a 6 car pile up. Many contenders would be caught up in the wreckage, John DeAngelis #7 who had led 40 laps, Justin Bonnett #12, and Jordan McCallum #3 who had worked his way to the front. After the red flag, Jake Garcia #35 would win the jump on the restart again, before Hunter Robbins #18 gained the lead on lap 120. Robbins and Garcia were both sitting ducks with 120 lap old tires as Robbins would lead for 6 laps before Stephen Nasse #51 would re-gain the lead once again. Nasse would continue to lead until the next caution on lap 162. The drivers who stayed out on old tires would use this opportunity to come in and get their new tires, and for Jake Garcia #35 he would be the lucky dog and get his lap back. Stephen Nasse #51 would once again win the restart, this time over Kannapolis, North Carolina native Matt Craig #54. As the race winded down, Stephen Nasse #51, who had been the dominant car all afternoon continued to pace the field. Hunter Robbins #18, John Bolen #2, and Jake Garcia #35 climbed their way through the field. With just 3 laps to go Hunter Robbins #18 made his move on Nasse #51 and took the lead. John Bolen #2 came with Robbins as well and continued to give Robbins a run for his money. As the checkered flag waived, it was Hunter Robbins #18 in the Ronnie Sanders Racing owned car getting the Victory. John Bolen #2 would finish second, and Stephen Nasse #51 third. Jake Garcia #35 fought his way back up to fourth, and defending Alabama 200 winner Christopher Tullis #12t would round out the top 5.

Hunter Robbins would help Ronnie Sanders claim another Alabama 200 Victory, his third total. He won 2 as a driver in 1976 and 1979.

Alabama 200 “Hunt for the BEAR” Results:

Stephen Nasse #51 would be awarded the Earnest Performance $500 bonus for leading at the halfway mark on lap 100.

Jim Wall #91 would be awarded the Alabama Vinyl and Blanks Hard Charger award and $100 bonus after starting in 30th and finishing 12th. He gained 18 positions.

Modifieds of Mayhem 58

The Modifieds of Mayhem are always a fan favorite division with some of the baddest cars to hit the track. Mr. Montgomery and 5-time Alabama 200 winner Augie Grill would not be racing for the Alabama 200 BEAR this weekend, but he would be racing for the Modifieds of Mayhem BEAR. Augie is the defending winner of the Alabama 57 last year in the MOM Tour. Augie would be racing in Riley Heil’s #112 modified for the weekend. Mr. Montgomery unloaded with speed as he led the MOM Tour Final Practice session. Jeff Letson #131 is a BEAR winner in the Modifieds division and put himself at the top of the charts for practice 1. Jaxon Bishop #2 was second fastest in both practice sessions.

Augie Grill continued to show off his speed by winning the BAMA Budweiser Pole Award. Jeff Letson #131 would be right behind and Johnny Walker #72 would qualify third.

Modifieds of Mayhem 58 Qualifying Results:

After the re-draw, it would be Billy Melvin #145 leading the field to green along side Johnny Walker #72. Augie Grill #112 would start 7th after the top 8 re-draw.

Billy Melvin #145 would lead the field to green and jump out to a lead over Johnny Walker #72 and Gary Sanford Jr. #5. Billy Melvin #145 led the first 13 laps of the race before Mr. Montgomery Augie Grill #112 found his way by him and took the lead. A caution come out on lap 21 with oil on the track and things would get stacked back up. A race that would only see 1 caution, track position and starting position played a huge role in the race. Augie Grill #112 jumped out to the lead on the restart with Jeff Letson #131 not far behind. Grill and Letson seemed to be the fastest cars on the track all weekend. The Texas native, young gun Kaden Honeycutt #21 pulled double duty running in both the Modifieds and Pro Late Models. He was one of the only cars on the track that could keep pace with the #112 of Grill and #131 of Letson.

Both Honeycutt #21 and Letson #131 tried all they could to get to the bumper of Grill but nobody was able to make a move on Mr. Montgomery. Augie Grill #112 captured yet another win at the historic Montgomery Motor Speedway and capturing another BEAR. Former BEAR winner Jeff Letson #131 finished in the runner-up spot. Kaden Honeycutt #21 captured the third place trophy. Barry Martin #68 and Jaxon Bishop #2 rounded out the top-five.

Modifieds of Mayhem 58 Results:

For the first time ever, the Impact Zone Outlaw division had the opportunity to Hunt for the BEAR at Montgomery Motor Speedway. Cameron Henderson #92 qualified fastest followed by Jason Furrow #21 and John Heil #96. After the re-draw Chad Chaffin #3 would lead the field to green with Bubba Winslow #92 on the front row.

Chad Chaffin #3c has run more than 200 races across Nascar’s top three series, with multiple wins in the Nascar Truck Series. On Saturday night, he would lead the Impact Zone Outlaws to the green flag along with Outlaw Veteran Bubba Winslow #92. Chad Chaffin #3c would jump out to a quick lead over Winslow #92 before the first caution of the night waived on lap 5. It was Chad Chaffin #3c with another good restart before Bubba Winslow #92 made a move and gained control of the lead. Bubba Winslow #92 would lead the next few laps before Chaffin #3c made his way back into the lead. The Impact Zone Outlaws made moves throughout the field, some having to pit under the green before a caution come out on lap 29 to re-stack the field with 11 laps to go. Chad Chaffin #3c would win another restart before a caution on lap 32 would set it up for an 8 lap shootout for the finish. Chaffin #3c would lead the field to green once again with Bubba Winslow #92, John Heil #96, and Stuart Dutton #32 all giving him a run for the BEAR. As the checkered flag waived, it would be Chad Chaffin #3c claiming the first ever Impact Zone Outlaws BEAR trophy. John Heil #96 would finish runner-up as Bubba Winslow #92 would bring it home third. Stuart Dutton #32 and Charlie Melvin #1h would round out the top-five.

Impact Zone Outlaws Results:

A BIG THANK YOU to all of the Drivers, Fans, Staff Members, Sponsors, and everybody who helped make the 58th Annual Alabama 200 as big of a success as it was. We are looking forward to a great year at MMS. The locals season opener will be April 2, we hope to see you all then.