The Saturday of SPEED 125 featured over 20 Pro Late Model drivers pre-entering into the event, some of which were making their first start at Montgomery this season. Saturday of SPEED 125 would mark the 4th of 6 races this season in the Show me the MONEY Pro Late Model series. Young gun Jake Garcia #35 came into the weekend with a small margin over Anthony Campi Racing driver Gio Ruggiero #81. A summer break and a click of the reset button has many teams excited to get back to the track and chase the Show me the MONEY Series Championship. The series has two different winners through 3 races with Jake Garcia #35 and Alabama 200 winner Hunter Robbins #18. Robbins has won both races he has attempted at Montgomery this season with a breakout year for the Ronnie Sanders Racing team. Jake Garcia has yet to finish outside of the top 5 this season at MMS. Behind Garcia and Ruggiero, John Bolen #2 sits third in the standings with a best finish of 2nd to start the season off at the Alabama 200. Christopher Tullis #12 sits fourth with 2 top-5 finishes so far on the year. Rackley WAR’s Brittney Zamora #25 is coming off of back-to-back top 5 performances and finds herself inside the top-5 in the point standings at 5th.
The Shelby Concrete Street Stocks are always a fan favorite at Montgomery Motor Speedway, always putting on a show. Daniel Jacks #1 came into the weekend with a point lead over 2021 Champion Kameron Wesenburg #32 and Charles Davis #6. The Shelby Concrete Street Stocks rolled into the Saturday of SPEED with a strong field of street stock drivers on hand for the twin 30 lap events.
Anthony Campi Racing started clicking at Montgomery Motor Speedway around the halfway mark last season with driver Jett Noland picking up two wins in the Show me the MONEY series. Fast forward to 2022 and Anthony Campi has not slowed down yet. Gio Ruggiero #81 came to Montgomery for the first time this past March for the Alabama 200. The young gun finished 7th in his first trip to MMS at the Alabama 200 followed by two top 2’s. The 15 year-old from Massachusetts has 3 Pro Late Models this season at 3 different race tracks, but not at Montgomery Motor Speedway yet. The young gun Gio Ruggiero #81 unloaded at the top of the boards for Saturday’s practice followed by the 17 year-old Jake Garcia #35. Jake, a former Alabama 200 winner and Show me the MONEY series Champion is a threat to win anytime he unloads at Montgomery. Garcia #35 has been running part-time for Bill McNally Racing in the NASCAR Truck Series. His last race at Indianapolis Raceway Park where he finished 28th. Jake will be back in action in his #35 truck this upcoming weekend at Richmond Raceway with BMR.
Willie Allen #26 made the trip down south to make his first start at Montgomery motor Speedway of the season with Rackley WAR. Willie Allen and teammate Brittney Zamora both looked strong in practice Saturday. As qualifying rolled around, it was Willie Allen’s #26 machine at the top of the leaderboards capturing the BAMA Budweiser Pole Award. Willie Allen #26 was followed by Jake Garcia #35, Gio Ruggiero #81, Timothy Watson #77, and Justin Bonnett #12.
After the re-draw, it would be Alabama native Justin Bonnett leading the field to green for the 125 lap feature.
As the Shelby Concrete Street Stocks wrapped up their first 30 lap feature and the Show me the MONEY series Drivers began to load into their cars, mother nature decided it wanted to play a factor into the night. A good rain come through the track and track officials began drying the track as the fans chose not to leave and instead to tough it out and wait on an exciting 125 lap Pro Late Model feature. After the long delay and many laps around the track for officials, it was time for the main event.
The 20 car field with veterans such as Willie Allen, Christopher Tullis, Johnny Brazier, Justin Bonnett, Jeff Dawkins, and Jim Wall and young guns Jake Garcia, Gio Ruggiero, Brittney Zamora, JoJo Wilkinson, Bryson Shaffer, Nick McFarland, and Gage Rodgers. It was time to go racing. Montgomery local and fan favorite at MMS, Perry Patino would start and park for veteran driver John Bolen #2 who could not be in attendance on Saturday night.
The green flag dropped and battles throughout the field become intense, beating and banging from the front all the way to the back. There was definitely no lack of excitement with cars bouncing off of each other and drivers using their bumpers. Justin Bonnett #12 led the first 10 laps before surrendering the lead to Jake Garcia#35. Jake was never able to pull away from the field, being mirrored by Gio Ruggiero #81.
Jake Garcia #35 would come across the start/finish line first and capture his second Show me the MONEY series win of the season at Montgomery Motor Speedway. Gio Ruggiero #81 would pick up his third 2nd place finish at Montgomery in the last 3 races. Brittney Zamora #25 would pick up her third top 5 of the season and her first podium finish at Montgomery. North Carolina’s Clint King #07 would get a 4th place finish in his first visit to MMS this season. Christopher Tullis #12 rounded out the top 5 with his 3rd top 5 on the season.
Here’s what Jake Garcia #35 had to say after the Saturday of SPEED Victory,
“This race was pretty good for us. We had a good car and managed to stay out front the whole time. Big tire management race with this asphalt here at Montgomery. It’s important to keep your tires. Southern Tradition Podcast is my favorite thing to listen to during the week. That’s about all I have to say.” – Jake Garcia
A lot of drivers picked up their first top 10’s of the season this weekend at the Saturday of SPEED 125 and are hoping to use the momentum to finish off the season strong in the last 2 races. Nick McFarland #6 finished 6th picking up his first top 10 of the season in the Show me the MONEY series. Gage Rodgers #1 picked up his first top 10 of the season with a 7th place finish. Jim Wall #91 picked up his third top 10 of the season and jumped into the top 5 in the 2022 Show me the Money Point Standings. JoJo Wilkinson #11 has shown flashes at MMS this season and picked up her first top 10 of the season with a 9th place finish. The top 10 moves JoJo into the top 10 in the Point Standings at MMS. Bryson Shaffer #12 picked up his first top 10 of the season in the Show me the Money Point Standings and moves up to 12th in the points, just 8 points shy of the top 10.
Full Unofficial Saturday of SPEED 125 Results:
- Jake Garcia #35
- Gio Ruggiero #81
- Brittney Zamora #25
- Clint King #07
- Christopher Tullis #12t
- Nick McFarland #6
- Gage Rodgers #1
- Jim Wall #91
- JoJo Wilkinson #11
- Bryson Shaffer #12s
- Johnny Brazier #71
- Justin Bonnett #12b
- Jeff Dawkins #2d
- Willie Allen #26
- Timothy Watson #77
- Braden Ray #121
- Zack Dixon #67
- Austin Finley #37
- Perry Patino #2b
- John Bolen #2b DNS
- Frankie Martin #67 DNS
The Shelby Concrete Street Stocks were originally scheduled for twin 30 lap races but, due to weather the second race was cancelled. The Shelby Concrete Street Stocks were able to get the first race in though before the weather came through.
Joe Bethea #18 won the BAMA Budweiser Pole Award setting the fastest time in qualifying over Charles Davis #6 and Kevin Mitchell #99.
The very strong field of Shelby Concrete Street Stocks were led to the green flag by Joe Bethea #18 and Charles Davis #6. Kevin Mitchell #99 in his first start at MMS this season battled with Montgomery veteran Joe Bethea #18 all the way down to the wire. Hunter Evans #48 finished third. Charles Davis #6 and Austin Evans #19 rounded out the top 5.
Joe Bethea #18 is the first repeat winner this season in the Shelby Concrete Street Stocks.
Full Unofficial Shelby Concrete Street Stock Results:
- Joe Bethea Jr. #18
- Kevin Mitchell #99
- Hunter Evans #48
- Charles Davis #6
- Austin Evans #19
- Daniel Jacks #1
- Kameron Wesenburg #32
- Keith Grace #81
- Buddy Pitts #26
- Trey Huff #14
- Greg Foley #2
- Cody Weaver #81w
A big THANK YOU to all of the fans that stayed around during a weather delay to watch the Saturday of SPEED 125!
Please join us September 3rd for the FALL BRAWL Featuring the “Show me the MONEY” Pro Late Models in a 100 lap contest, The Modifieds of Mayhem open wheel Tour and the Blacksheep Woodlands Late model Sportsman
Gates open at 5
Racing at 7
Tickets are $20 Grandstands
$15 Seniors and Military
$5 Kids 6-12
5 and under are FREE
