RACE-RACE WIN

July 18^th, 2015 Montgomery, Al: 2015 has been a very good year for the “Show me the Money” Pro late Model division at Montgomery Motor Speedway. With 4 races in the books a strong field of cars rolled into the speedway for race #5 and #6. 17 cars showed in the brutal heat for a shot to win one or both of the twin 50 lap events.

Budweiser Qualifying showed how strong the field would be as less than a second separated first to last spot. Leeds, Alabama driver Justin South #43 qualified fastest with a time of 19.064 and the next 12 drivers separated by less than a half a second. Augie Grill #112 from Hayden, Alabama clocked a time of 19.129. Hunter Robbins #18 was a close 3^rd at 19.140, current “Show me the Money” points leader Bret Holmes #2h was 4th fastest with a time of 19.251 and Montgomery, Alabama’s Bill Bethea III rounded out the top 5 19.303

As the Pro late Models took to the track a special remembrance was paid to the 5 service men lost in the tragic shooting last Thursday in Chattanooga Tn. All cars displayed the American flag and the field performed the missing man formation.

Budweiser fast time qualifier Justin South rolled a 5 during opening ceremonies putting the #13 of Bethea III on the pole for the start of the first feature. Bethea III took the lead at the start but was quickly challenged by #18 Hunter Robbins. Caution for the #x2 of Dennis Reno bunched the field up and Augie Grill #112  used the outside lane to take over the point position. The fans were then treated to some of the closest side by side racing that you might ever see. As #112 Grill and #18 Robbins put on a short track clinic. Pole sitter Justin South #43 had worked his way to 3^rd and waited for the leaders to make a mistake so he could pounce on the lead. The #112 and #18 ran strong and made some minor contact but both drivers kept their cars under them. Hard charger driver was Bobby Knox Jr gaining 6 positions during the race finishing 6^th. At the checkered flag it was Augie Grill #112 with his second win this year in the “Show Me the Money” Pro late Model Series at MMS.

Show Me The Money Race #1

1. Augie Grill #112
2. Hunter Robbins #18
3. Justin South #43
4. Bret Holmes #2h
5. Bobby Knox Jr. #30
6. Bill Bethea III #13
7. Luke Christian #2c
8. Fredrick Moore #300
9. Brandon Odom #81
10. Dalton Grindle #23
11. Josh Adkins #1a
12. Joe Bethea Jr #113
13. Brandon Curren #00
14. Austin Wood #27
15. Hunter Spivey #10
16. Dennis Reno #x2
17. Chris Landers #9 DNS

For the second feature the top 8 drivers did a redraw for their starting position. The redraw starting lineup for feature #2

1. Luke Christian #2c
2. Bret Holmes #2h
3. Justin South #43
4. Bobby Knox Jr #30
5. Augie Grill #112
6. Bill Bethea III #13
7. Hunter Robbins #18
8. Fredrick Moore #300
9. Brandon Odom #81
10. Dalton Grindle #23
11. Josh Adkins #1a
12. Joe Bethea Jr #113
13. Brandon Curren #00
14. Austin Wood #27
15. Hunter Spivey #10
16. Dennis Reno #x2

The drop of the green flag saw the #2h Bret Holmes grab the point and take control of the race. The pace was feverish as the drivers had no reason to save anything for later. Holmes was first challenged by South #43 but used the high line around the racetrack to fight off the challenge. As the race progressed the whole track was filled with top notch racing and many different battles. The #18 and #112 worked their way to the front and the race was on. Hunter Robbins and Bret Holmes did everything but wreck each other battling for the lead. #18 Hunter seemed to be very strong in Turns 3 and 4 while Holmes was mastering the outside groove and making his car work in turns 1 and 2. Augie Grill #112 moved towards the 2 front cars but didn’t have enough to overtake the 2 top spots. Hard Charger was Hunter Robbins #18 Moving up 5 spots.

Show Me the Money Race #2

1. Bret Holmes #2h
2. Hunter Robbins #18
3. Augie Grill #112
4. Justin South #43
5. Bobby Knox Jr. #30
6. Luke Christain #2c
7. Bill Bethea III #13
8. Fredrick Moore #300
9. Dalton Grindle #23
10. Joe Bethea Jr. #113
11. Brandon Curren #00
12. Austin Wood #27
13. Hunter Spivey #10
14. Brandon Odom #81
15. Dennis Reno #x2
16. Josh Adkins #1a
17. Chris Landers #9 DNS

Modified Minis brought a field of 7 cars for our twin features. Nick Doehring #11 set fast time at 23.649 and rolled a 4 for the inversion putting Joel Collier #71 on the pole. Collier has missed the past couple of races with mechanical issues but looked to be in top form but on lap 3 the car slowed and he retired from the event giving the lead to the #21 of Steve Looney. On the restart the #2 of Ashley Bridgemon #2 took off and was the class of the field. Looney was in pursuit but could not catch the Toyota of Bridgemon. The white flag came out and it looked like history would be made on this hot july night as the crowd prepared to see the first woman in victory lane at MMS but the #2 and the lapped car of Joe Wingard #33 tangled in turn 2 giving the lead and the win to Steve Looney #21 his second of the year.

Modified Minis Race #1

1. Steve Looney #21
2. Rusty Alverson #7
3. David Davis #22
4. Ashley Bridgemon #2
5. Joe Wingard #33
6. Joel Collier #71
7. Nick Doehring #11

The second feature looked to be all #21 Steve Looney as he led 9 of the 10 lap feature. But as the say in racing the only lap that counts is the final lap and Rusty Alverson #7 made the move to capture the top spot and the win on lap 10.

Modified Mini Race #2

1. Rusty Alverson #7
2. Steve Looney #21
3. Ashley Bridgemon #2
4. David Davis #22
5. Nick Doehring #11
6. Joel Collier #71 DNS
7. Joe Wingard #33 DNS

Interstate Batteries Late Model Sportsman has seen a significant increase in the car count and competition in the 2015 season. Brad Edwards #18 took the lead till Joe Hudson #40 moved into the top spot on lap 3. Shorter races tend to put a sense of urgency in the racers as the top cars battled for position.on the initial start the #91 of Larry Speakman and the #121 of Joe Bethea Jr. tangled sending the #91 into the inside retaining wall. Lap 5 saw contact between the #18 of Edwards and #40 of Joe Hudson in turn 3 bringing out the second caution of the night and retiring the #18 with front end damage. Lap 7 the caution flew again as Keith Joiner #17 had his power plant seize up on his car and end his night. Perry Patino #51 held the point position till caution flew on lap 15 for a spin in turn 2 by the #19 of John Adams. Patino headed to the pits with mechanical issues and the race resumed with 2014 Sunoco Rookie of the year Jason Furrow #21 at the head of the pack. The #42 of Joe Wilder was making steady progress thoughout the event and made his way to the #2 spot to finish the event. Hudson #40 was able to recover for a 3^rd place finish , Shelby Reuse #59 looked strong in her 4^th place finish and Travis Cleckler from Clanton Alabama scored a top 5 finish in the first feature.

Interstate Batteries Late Model Sportsman Race #1

1. Jason Furrow #21
2. Joe Wilder #42
3. Joe Hudson #40
4. Shelby Reuse #59
5. Travis Cleckler #5
6. Daniel Jacks #1
7. John Adams #19
8. Perry Patino #51
9. Keith Joiner #17
10. Brad Edwards #18
11. Larry Speakman #91
12. Joe Bethea Jr. #121

The redraw shuffled the crowd a little for the second feature as Daniel Jacks and Shelby Reuse #59 were on the front row. Before the field came to the line Jacks dropped to the rear for mechanical issues. Reuse jumped out to the lead and held that position for 4 laps till Jason Furrow, looking for his second win of the night took the top spot. Lap 5 saw the caution fly as the #42 of Wilder stopped on the back stretch. Due to time restraints the feature was cut to 15 laps and that put Brad Edwards on a mission to get to the front. Edwards crew had worked between races to fix his car and the #18 was looking for a way to reward them. Edwards grabbed the top spot on lap 11 and fought off a hard charge from #21 Furrow to capture his 2^nd win of the 2015 season.

1. Brad Edwards #18
2. Jason Furrow #21
3. Joe Hudson #40
4. Travis Cleckler #5
5. Shelby reuse #59
6. Daniels Jacks #1
7. Joe Wilder #42
8. John Adams #19
9. Perry Patino #51
10. Keith Joiner #17
11. Larry Speakman #91 DNS
12. Joe Bethea Jr. #121 DNS

Montgomery Motor Speedway will be back in action August 1^st for the Sportsman Spectacular 75 lap race paying $1000 to win sponsored by Black Sheep Woodlands. Street Stock will also return to the speedway along with Modified Minis.

Tickets will be $10 for adults $8 Seniors and Military $5 children 6-12 kids 5 and under are always free. Mark your calendar for the Alabama 200 September 12^th and 13^th as the Southern Super Series will return along with the Modifieds of Mayhem tour. The weekend will also feature all local divisions competing on Saturday night and the Supers and Modifieds racing on Sunday.