Saturday of Speed Recap

August 15^th 2016 Montgomery, Al: Big car counts have been the order of the day at Montgomery Motor Speedways Saturday of Speed for the past 2 years. In 2015 it was the largest pro late model field of the year. This year 27 pro late models rolled into the speedway for an exciting night of racing. It looked like Mother Nature would steel this great event from the racers and fans as a torrential rain storm hit the track at 2:30 but with car covers flying the racers battened down and waited it out. As is the case in the Deep South the late summer storm passed and track drying started. With a revised schedule and the track ready one of the biggest events of the summer was ready to go.

Budweiser qualifying started with the Trucks taking the track and longtime truck racer Curt Britt #3 clicked off the fastest time at 21.502 with teammate Rodney Benefield securing the second spot at 21.581. It was a reunion day for the truck division as short track standout Kevin Barrett returned to the track after a 7 year layoff and clocked the 3^rd fastest time of 21.661.

Street Stocks were next to qualify and it was Charles Davis #6 capturing the pole with a time of 23.017 followed by Brian Hutchinson #38 at 23.082 and Josh Wilson #12 securing the 3^rd spot at 23.122.

The “Show me the Money” pro late models were up next as they each had a chance at 2 timed laps on the historic oval. Bill Bethea III set the pace as the first competitor out on the track and laid down a lap of 19.542 that time held the top spot till Casey Roderick #18 clicked off the quick time of the session at 19.188.

Roderick was followed by Augie Grill #112, Willie Allen #26 at 19.271, Bobby Knox Jr. in 4^th 19.286 and rounding out the top 5 was Luke Christain #2 19.293.

Budweiser Qualifying Results

1. Casey Roderick #18 19.188
2. Augie Grill #112 19.252
3. Willie Allen #26 19.271
4. Bobby Knox Jr #30 19.286
5. Luke Christain #2 19.293
6. Cole Daffron #7d 19.361
7. Austin Wood #2w 19.392
8. Bill Bethea III #13 19.460
9. Jordan McCallum #22 19.479
10. Fredrick Moore #30 19.491
11. Bret Holmes #h2 19.499
12. Perry Patino #51 19.532
13. Brian Weimer #22W 19.568
14. Justin Ashburn #98 19.588
15. Branden Curren #00 19.616
16. Kyle McCallum #4m 19.640
17. Justin South #21 19.640
18. Stacey Crain #11 19.643
19. Taylor Stricklin #7s 19.737
20. Jason Furrow #21 19.802
21. Ty Roberts #50 19.838
22. Charles Davis #33 19.899
23. Warren Mobley #95 19.954
24. Chris Landers #9 20.239
25. Tyler Hudson #27 20.714
26. Rick Oertel #99 20.984
27. Terry Myers #59 No Time

With the redraw the top 8 lined up

1. #13 Bethea III
2. #2w Wood
3. #7d Daffron
4. #18 Roderick
5. #30k Knox Jr
6. #26 Allen
7. #112 Grill
8. #2cChristain

Modified Minis were the first feature of the evening and a good battle between the #7 of Rusty Alverson and #22 David Davis came down to just a couple of laps left in the race when the #22 got loose and slipped up the track and Alverson cruised to his 4^th win of the 2016 race season

1. Rusty Alverson #7
2. David Davis #22
3. Joe Wingard #33

The “Show me the Money pro Late Models were up next and the fans were on their feet as the large field rolled towards the start finish line. Montgomery driver Bill Bethea III took the lead at the drop of the green and held that position till the first caution flew for the #00 making contact in turn 1. Caution flew on the restart as the #22m spins in turn 1. The race was red flagged as a car was leaking oil all around the track. Race officials determined that the #50 was the source of the oil leak and Roberts was sent to his pits. After an extensive clean up the race was resumed. Lap 16 saw the field slow again for a spin in turn 2. On the restart contact between the #13 of Bethea III and Knox #30 sent the Clanton, Alabama driver hard into the turn 3 wall ending Knox’s night. Lap 39 featured one of the scariest incidents of the night as the #98 of Justin Ashburn burst into flames coming down the front stretch and ended his night. The last caution of the night came out as Nashville Driver Stacey Crain #11 makes contact with the outside wall in turn 1.

The battle up front stayed hot all night long with #18 Roderick wrestling the lead away from Bethea III on lap 4 and holding it till lap 24 when Hayden, Alabama driver Augie Grill #112 grabbed the top spot. Grill looked to have this race in the bag but Roderick and Willie Allen #26 would not give up. #18 Roderick took over the point position on lap 44 and worked lap traffic to his advantage. Willie Allen #26 kept pressure on the top 2 and pounced on the opportunity to grab 2^nd place when a lapped car got caught up with the #112 of Grill giving Allen the opportunity to steal the second place finish from Grills hands.

1. Casey Roderick #18
2. Willie Allen #26
3. Augie Grill #112
4. Brett Holmes #h2
5. Luke Christrian #2c
6. Austin Wood #2w
7. Kyle McCallum #4m
8. Stacey Crain #11
9. Taylor Stricklin #7s
10. Brian Weimer #22W
11. Bill Bethea III #13
12. Branden Curren #00
13. Jason Furrow #21
14. Tyler Hudson #27
15. Justin South #21
16. Justin Ashburn #98
17. Fredrick Moore #30
18. Cole Daffron #7d 19.361
19. Bobby Knox Jr #30
20. Charles Davis #33
21. Perry Patino #51
22. Rick Oertel #99
23. Jordan McCallum #22
24. Ty Roberts #50
25. Warren Mobley #95
26. Chris Landers #9
27. Terry Myers #59

Pro Trucks were next on the card as some veteran drivers returned for the Saturday of Speed. Truck standouts Curt Britt #3, Rodney Benefield #36, Kevin Barrett #40, and Jami Weimer #47 all made the trip from north Georgia to compete along with Daniel Bradford from Huntsville, Al and Howard Langham #1 all competing for the $1000 payday. The race started with the #67 of Bradford on the point. This was the first visit to Montgomery Motor Speedway for the Huntsville driver as he laid down some fast laps with #40 Kevin Barrett right on his heals. Curt Britt #3 worked his way bast Barrett on lap 7 and started the hunt for the top spot. Lp 19 was the majic number for the #3 truck as he made his way to the lead. Langham #1 who finished 2^nd in the Pro Truck race on May 14^th was slowly working his way to the front. A battle was being waged between the #36 of Benefield and #40 of Barrett. These drivers have logged many laps battling in these trucks and the Saturday of Speed was no exception. In the end it was Curt Britt #3 with the win followed by Bradford #67 and #1 Langham.

1. Curt Britt #3
2. Daniel Bradford #67
3. Howard Langham #1
4. Kevin Barrett #40
5. Rodney Benefield #36
6. Jami Weimer #47

Street Stocks were the final event of the evening and they did not disappoint. On the initial start #7 William Smith fired a little too early and was black flagged and had to serve a pass thru penalty. The #12 of Josh Wilson took the point position and held it till lap 3 when Charles Davis #6 moved his way to the top spot. The action was not over as a caution flew on lap 14 for a spin by the #24 car on the back stretch. Lap 15 saw “Smurfman”#12 take the lead back and Wilson set sail for the finish. Lap #24 was the opportunity for Charles Davis #6 to grab the top spot and he did, for his 9 win of the 2016 season.

1. Charles Davis #6
2. Josh Wilson #12
3. Brian Hutchinson #38
4. David Wood #24
5. William Smith #7

Montgomery Motor Speedway will be back in action on Saturday August 27^th for Kids Bike races plus Interstate batteries Late Model Sportsman, Street Stocks and Modified Minis. Tickets will be only #10 for Adults $8 seniors and Military and $5 for children 6-12… 5 and under are always free.

Mark your calendar for 2 major events in September. First it’s the Alabama 200 “The hunt for the BEAR” featuring the stars of the Southern Super Series and the Modifieds of Mayhem Tour. Saturday fans will witness feature races for the Late Model Sportsman, Street stocks, Modified Minis and qualifying for the Modifieds of Mayhem tour and the Southern Super Series. Then Sunday September 11^th it’s 275 laps of great Short track action featuring the Southern Super Series competing for 200 laps and the Modifieds of Mayhem Open Wheel Modifieds battling for 75 laps

The second event in September is Champions weekend September 24^th and 25^th. Saturday September 24^th the local divisions take the stage for their last points race of the year and qualifying for the “Show me the Money” Pro late models.

Sunday September 25^th The “Show me the Money 150” will hit the track with great door to door action and the day will finish with a modified road course race featuring the Buzz cars / Hot Shot front wheel drive 4 cylinder class in a 15 lap feature.

Montgomery motor Speedway has been bringing top notch stock car action since 1953 and is home to the original “Alabama Gang”. The track is one of the oldest asphalt racing facilities in the country. The facility has had constant upgrades over the years including a MUSCO Lighting system. Improved safety features and a state of the art control tower along with an airconditioned VIP Suite. Come see the stars of today and tomorrow at Historic Montgomery Motor Speedway.

Keep up with all the happenings at: https://www.facebook.com/montgomeryspeedway/