Submitted by: Sheena Elliott
Jefferson, GA (June 9, 2012) – After a hot day at Gresham Motorsports Park the on-track action got even hotter with the local division features on Saturday, June 9th. The Mini Stocks, Renegades/Sportsman, Trucks, and Outlaw Late Models took to the track and kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Avery Burgess and Vernon Hicks started the Mini Stock feature side-by-side. Aaron Calvert was black flagged on lap four for leaking fuel but refused to pull into the pits and began to race Hicks for the lead. He overtook Hicks on lap 9 but was no longer being scored. Scotty Beck then went around Hicks to take over the true race lead despite being behind Calvert’s No. 01 machine.
The caution flag flew on lap 12 as Hicks went off the pace and stopped in turn four. After the yellow came out, Hicks re-fired, made a gesture to the flagman, and did a small burnout on the front stretch. Calvert pulled into the pits under the yellow and was allowed back on the track at the tail end of the field.
Beck continued to lead as the green came out again but immediately Hicks spun in turn two bringing out another caution. Calvert hit the wall trying to avoid the spinning Hicks.
When the green flag flew once more Calvert was on the move. He picked off car after car and took over second on with a handful of laps left. With a couple of laps to go, Beck slowed and pulled into the pits giving the win to Calvert.
After the excitement in the Mini Stocks, the Sportsman/ Renegades hit the pavement with Jeff Chadwick leading the Sportsman and Matthew Widener in the top spot for the Renegades. Widener managed to get a sizeable lead early on in Renegades while Brian Sosebee went to the lead in Sportsman.
Widener had a problem and pulled into the pits giving the Renegades lead to eventual winner Mike Childers while Jackie Daniels began to work hard on Sosebee in Sportsman. The duo battled in the closing laps of the 25-lap feature before Daniels took the lead on the outside of Sosebee and took the checkered flag.
In the 35-lap Truck event, division dominator Cody Haskins drew a six following the drivers meeting which inverted the entire truck field putting him shotgun on the field for the green flag. Aaron Calvert strapped into a truck after winning the Mini Stocks feature and was on the pole for the race. Calvert lead early on while Haskins meticulously worked his way through the field but could not hold off the powerful No. 38 machine and Haskins went to the lead on lap 11. Conrad Compton took over second after Calvert got a bad restart and attempted to challenge Haskins for the top spot to no avail. Haskins again went to Victory Lane going three-for-three this year at Gresham.
Mike Davidson was on the pole for the Outlaw Late Models feature. Davidson lead Jason Bates and Matthew Wragg to the green flag. Bates’ stout No. 22 ride took the top spot on lap three and the driver never looked back. While Wragg and Davidson battles for second and David Murphy and Russell Fleeman exchanged the fourth position multiple times, Bates extended his lead to nearly two seconds and went to Victory Lane.
The excitement at Gresham Motorsports Park will heat up again on Independence Day as the local divisions return with the Super Late Models who will compete in the World Crown 300 on July 4th. For more information please visit www.RaceGMP.com.
Unofficial Mini Stock Feature Results
1. 01 Aaron Calvert
2. 4b Avery Burgess
3. 22 Matt Meyer
4. 3 Allen Cantrell
5. 4 Vernon Hicks
6. 25 Scotty Beck
7. 26 Shawn Mize
8. 17 Brandon Amos
DNS – 19 BJ Thrasher
Unofficial Sportsman / Renegade Feature Results
1. 07 Jackie Daniels
2. 50 Brian Sosebee
3. 20 Jeff Chadwick
4. 8c Mike Childers
5. 00 Nathaniel Carlisle
6. 99 Matthew Widener
Unofficial Truck Feature Results
1. 38 Cody Haskins
2. 28 Conrad Compton
3. 2 Matt Vassar
4. 44 Kevin Vassar
5. 45 Aaron Calvert
6. 21 Emilee Riley
DNS – 12 Kristen Wallace
Unofficial Outlaw Late Model Feature Results
1. 22 Jason Bates
2. 29 Matthew Wragg
3. 27 Mike Davidson
4. 11 David Murphy
5. 98 Russell Fleeman
6. 93 Terry Martin
