WHITENER LOOKS TO ADD SHOWDOWN IN SAVANNAH TO HIS LIST OF 2016 CONQUESTS

Mark Whitener
By :Roby Helm

SAVANNAH, GA – With 15 wins in three different states already in his pocket for the 2016 season, Mark Whitener of Middleburg, FL will be looking to score his second Showdown In Savannah win of his career in the 19^th Annual $10,000-to-win race at Oglethorpe Speedway Park on October 6. 7 and 8.

    Whitener is one of the hottest Crate Late Model drivers in the country, having already won some of the biggest races in Georgia, Florida and Alabama during the 2016 season.  He is fresh off winning the Alabama State Race on September 25 at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, AL.

Also during the 2016 season, Whitener has won the Powell Memorial Race at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, FL, the Scott Thompson Memorial Race and the Donnie Tanner Memorial Race at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL, and three United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series Races.

With a 2016 win total of 15 and counting, Whitener considers this season and average year for him on paper, but on the other side of the page, this is a special season unlike the others that one can’t find in the statistics.

“In the past, I’ve won a lot of races for other car owners, but this year, this is my and my family’s race team,” Whitener said.  “We make our own decisions, we make all of the money, and we pay all of the bills.  That makes winning even more satisfying.”

There are still a lot of big races that pay big money left on Whitener’s racing calendar in 2016, with the $10,000-to-win Showdown In Savannah looming big on the horizon.  Whitener and his crew are well into preparations for the Oglethorpe Speedway Park event.

“I’ve won the Showdown a couple of years ago for another car owner, but I’d like to win it again with my own team,” Whitener said.  “We’re taking the same car we won the Alabama State Race with last weekend.  We’re taking the car completely apart and checking everything for cracks, and anything that might break.  We want to make sure everything is ready to go.”

DIRT LATE MODELS AND BLACKSHEAR, GA ARE SYNONYMOUS IN SOUTH GEORGIA

Rhett Carter
By Roby Helm

SAVANNAH, GA – Whenever there is a big dirt late model race in South Georgia, the starting line-up will feature a good portion of the field filled by drivers from Blackshear, GA.  The 2016 Showdown In Savannah on October 6-8 at Oglethorpe Speedway Park should be no exception in its 75-lap $10,000-to-win $400-to-start Crate Late Model race.

   Cecil Eunice of Blackshear, GA is the defending and two-time champion that will be back to defend his Showdown In Savannah championship and take his third straight title after winning the coastal Festival of Speed last two years.  As in most races that Eunice competes in, several of his neighbors, all with the last name of Carter, will be making the trip to OSP.

“I’ve been racing longer than any of the Carters, and I live right in the middle of all of them,” Eunice said.  “We all live either on or close to Highway 84.  Rhett Carter is a half-mile in one direction of me, and Mike and Mark Carter live a half-mile on the other side of me.”

  Car owner Mike Carter, who for many years was a top South Georgia dirt late model pilot known as The Blackshear Bandit, will field a car for the Showdown in Savannah for Keith Tuten of Waycross, GA.  Mike’s brother Mark has his shop just 600 feet from Mike’s shop, and he will field two cars for his sons Hunter and Ryan Carter. 
   Another Carter, Rhett Carter, who is no relation to the other Carters of Blackshear, has nine wins this season, and is looking for better results at the Showdown In Savannah than he had in his last visit to OSP.

    “I’ve had a good year this season with nine wins, and we hope we can carry that momentum on to the Showdown In Savannah,” Rhett Carter said.  “I’m at least hoping for a better result than my last trip to Oglethorpe Speedway Park.  I got in a wreck on the first lap and broke my hand, but I continued in the race and still finished sixth.”

(Videos) Joseph Brown and Mark Whitener Are Sportsman and Crate State Champs

Joseph Brown picks up $5,000 at EAMS

Sportsman

1  #92   Joseph Brown  Tire sample pending

2  #5     Mark Whitener

3  #C2   Jason Fitzgerald          

4  #21    Kelly Walker

5  00     Wil Herrigton

Crate Late Models

1    5   Mark Whitener

2   19  Jason Hiett

3  101 Forrest Trent

4   42  Cla Knight

5   18  Chase Edge

(Videos) Josh Taylor, Rocketman and Jason Price are 2016 State Champs

Josh Talyor after his Superstreet win at EAMS

SUPER STREET, NESMITH STREET STOCK, AND HOBBY VIDEOS

SORRY SAYS SPORTSMAN , ITS SUPER STREET

SUPERSTREET

 1.   14   JOSH TAYLOR

 2.   77   TERRANCE NOWELL

 3.   44   CLINT SMITH

 4.   18   MICHAEL PAGE

 5.   17   JASON PRICE

NESMITH STREET STOCK HEAT RACES, INTERVIEWS, AND FEATURE

 1.   00   RICHIE STEPHENS

 2.  148  BOOGER BROOKS

 3.  132  BUD CHANCEY

 4.   68   HOWIE REEVES

 5.   36   SEAN GOODWIN

Sunday Morning B-Main Races At The Alabama State Championships

(Video) Showers Rains in Benny Corbin Memorial cash

David Showers Sr $5,000 richer in the Benny Corbin Memorial

Photo from Chuck Privette

Videos property of Florida Racing Connection

By ROB LEE

LAKE CITY, Fla. (Sept. 24) – The gigantic trophy on the hood towered over those gathered in Victory Lane....
Memories flowed. Hugs, high fives and handshakes took over after a grueling 90-lap encounter.
The driver at the center of the celebration smiled, took it all in and knew it was more than winning the race.
David Showers, Sr. became the fourth different winner of the annual Benny Corbin Memorial Thunder Stock race Saturday evening at North Floriday Speedway.
Showers took the lead from his son David, Jr. on Lap 44 and fended off challenges from Shane Williams and Kevin Durden to take home the $5,000 top prize plus a race hauler full of contingencies from the 3/8-mile, clay oval.
“I tell you right now that was fun,” Showers, Sr. said. “Me and Shane was up there battling that thing, got into each other a little bit and that was a racing deal. But that was a lot of fun.”
Kevin Durden, Scotty Kay, Jr., Dustin Turnage and Bubba Durbin rounded out the top five. Dylan Hilliard, Tim Powers, Dale Graham , Allen Peacock and Darrell Roberts followed.
Showers, Jr. jumped from the front row and was untouched for the opening circuits. Williams and Graham trailed early. The first caution was not until Lap 14 when Mike Eubanks stopped with a flat tire.

Don Don Cook and Kyle Livingood's Suspension Cams From The State Race

Left Rear of the 122 Nesmith Street Stock of Kyle Livingood

DON DON COOK RIGHT FRONT

Cody Simons Hard Crash At The State Race (EAMS)

Simons crash

Saturday Feature Videos At The 2016 Alabama State Championships

All the feature videos from Saturday's action at the 2016 Alabama State Championship races will be posted here as they are completed.

Saturday Super Late Model State Championship Feature

Mark Whitener dominates the field in a new Longhorn Chassis to increase his UDLMCS Lead!

(9-17-16) The United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series (UDLMCS) made its second and final stop of the 2016 racing season on Saturday night at Volusia Speedway Park. Mark Whitener came into the event with a 50 point lead over last years champion Kyle Bronson. Whitener had a golden opportunity to open that gap with the absence of Bronson who was attending the Late Model version of the Knoxville Nationals in IA. Whitner would do just that in dominating fashion destroying the 15 car field by nearly a half a track over Keith Nosbisch.

Whitener started off the night posting the second fastest lap overall which would start him on the outside front row of Heat Race #1 along side the Big Frog Motorsports #58 of Devin Dixon, who was also the fastest Qualifier in his XR1 Rocket Chassis. When the green flag dropped in the heat race Dixon would jump out to the early lead and run away with the win as Whitener would come home in the second spot.

When the feature hit the track, Dixon would jump out to the early lead, but it was Whitener who put on a show on the extreme high line blowing by Dixon just before the 15 lap mark and dominating the rest of the way. Dixon settled into second spot, but broke an engine past the half way point ending his night. Keith Nosbisch would cross the line in the runner up spot nearly 12 seconds behind the dominate Whitener. Tyler Crowder, Donnie Chappell, and Rhett Carter would round out the top five.

click read more for full results

OSP TO HOST THE 19TH ANNUAL SHOWDOWN IN SAVANNAH ON OCT. 6, 7, AND 8

 POOLER, GA – Oglethorpe Speedway Park will host the 19th Annual Showdown In Savannah on October 6, 7, and 8. In what has become one of the premier events in dirt track racing, coastal Georgia’s Fall Festival of Speed will feature the top drivers in the Southeastern United States competing in six different racing Divisions.
 The Crate Late Model Division will headline the 19th Annual Showdown In Savannah with a 75-lap $10,000-to-win $400-to-start main event. The Crate Late Models are powered by economical Chevrolet Performance 604 Circle Track Engines that are built and sealed at the factory to prevent any expensive modifications. 

 Kelcar Motorsports will provide the personnel to scrutinize the Crate Engines and collect tire samples in the Tech Area during the post-race inspection. Drivers are expected from Georgia, Florida, the Carolinas, Alabama, and Tennessee.

 Leading the Crate Late Model entries for the 19th Annual Showdown In Savannah will be World of Outlaw hot shoe Brandon Overton of Anderson, SC, who will be driving for former Showdown winning car owner Bobby Kay who had Tuck Trentham driving. The defending Showdown In Savannah winner Cecil Eunice of Blackshear, GA will return to defend his title.

Lloyd, Wooten, and Chancey Grab Super Challenge 5 Wins at GIS!

By Rob Lee  (Photo by South Georgia Racing)

(September 17, 2016) - The silence told the tale, but left Garrett Lloyd wanting more. The last time out was the first time with the Jacksonville, Fla. driver's new Limited Late Model ride. It was dominant until he shut it down due to mechanical problems with a huge feature lead. Saturday evening was a complete 180. The car was dominant again and this time stayed together as Lloyd won the Super 5 Challenge feature at Golden Isles Speedway. Lloyd picked up $2,000 for the victory over a stout field of Limiteds. Earlier in the season he took an EMod SC5 win.

The Tom Kelly Construction/P&G Land Clearing machine also was wheeled to fast time and the only competitor in the 16 second bracket. Previous winner Ryan Carter came next. SC5 series leader Scott Waters, Cecil Eunice and Lonnie Waters rounded out the top five.

Bud Chancey made it two straight EMod SC5 wins and $1,500 checks. The Yulee, Fla. native won the 20-lap finale, holding off Frankie Lloyd, Trey Pearson, Nick Kirkus and Randy Gainey. Chancey took over the SC5 series lead outright as former co-leader Chase Collins settled for a 14th place finish.

Brian Wooten continued the magical season with another NeSmith Performance Street Stock SC5 feature win and the $2,000 that went with it. The Brunswick, Ga. ace had already clinched the regular season track championship. This victory wrapped up the SC5 Series title as well. Donnie Ashford, fast qualifier Shaun Washam, Chris Keller and Robert Hicks followed in the next to last tune up before the NPSS World Championship at GIS October 14-15

Videos from OSP 9/16/16

Videos property of Debbie Nelms

Amateur 4’s
Walter Hadwin #7
Pete Fulton #8
Jason Myers #18
David Burch #11
Jonathan Mears #14
Joey Maffo #

Southern Eagle Budweiser Late Models
Garrett Shurling #G4
Shannon Graham #5
Eddie Joe Morris #44
Matthew Barrow #77
Tommy Gandy #33
Tom Egner #5
Robbie Cowart #24

Champions Honored At Senoia On Final Summer Series Night

Austin Smith

Submitted by Ted Austad
Photo Credits: Francis Hauke

(September 18, 2016 - Senoia, GA)  Senoia Raceway honored the top drivers from their season points series on the final night on their summer racing series schedule.  Senoia’s Clint ‘Cat Daddy’ Smith accepted the championship award and point fund bonus for two divisions, the Super Late Models and Limited Late Models, prior to capturing his sixteenth victory of the year in the Limited Late Models.

The night also saw Cedartown’s Austin Smith winning the Super Late Model feature while Senoia’s Bubba Pollard won in the Crate Late Models.  Bobby Arnold of Newnan moved into the winner’s circle after the B Cadet main and Whitesburg’s James Swanger took home the checkers in the Hobby Stock.  Thirteen-year-old Good Hope driver Grant Roberts won his third of the season in the Mini Stock and Newnan’s Dorough Bright won his fourth in the Bombers.

C CLASS AND LIMITED LATE MODELS ADDED TO NORTH FLORIDA SPEEDWAY'S SCHEDULE FOR SEPTEMBER 24th

A look at a C-class Late Model

Alan Jennejohn

We will have a official flyer Sunday morning but a few changes have been made to the "Benny Corbin Memorial" weekend at North Florida Speedway in Lake City , Florida September 23rd and 24th.
Friday night September 23rd will still have Hobby Stocks [topless optional] Florida Outlaw Micro Sprints and Florida Outlaw E-Mod Series along with a special event for the Thunder Stocks called ...the "Fast Lap Challenge".
All Thunder stocks on hand Friday night to practice for the "Benny Corbin Memorial" on Saturday night will have a time trial session and payout will be based on car count. Fastest time will get the most then payout on down.
Because of so much going on for the weekend the Box Stocks will be postponed for the weekend but all Box Stock drivers are encouraged to support other local tracks which have them on the schedule for that weekend.
Grandstands for Friday night will still be free admission for everyone.
Saturday night September 24th the C Class Late Models and Limited Late Models have been added to the show running as one division.
This event is important as the track management wants to see the interest in this division to consider running them in 2017.
Of course the Thunder Stocks will be running the 98 lap "Benny Corbin Memorial" feature with heats B-Mains and a non qualifiers race as needed.
The Florida Outlaw Micro Sprints will have night two of the exciting weekend as they start to prep for their big event come Thanksgiving weekend with the running of the Atlantic Powder Coating / Walt Arnold Power Line Service "Twin 40's" November 25th and 26th.
More details of "Turkey Trot weekend will be announced soon.
Granstands for Saturday night is 17 dollars however if you purchase your tickets Friday night you can pick them up for 15 dollars.
We will have all the details Sunday on all of next weekends big "Benny Corbin Memorial"

Mike Marlar Magnificent; Wins Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals

Photo from Lucas Oil Media

KNOXVILLE, IOWA (September 17, 2016) – Mike Marlar led the final 60 laps of the 100 lap Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals - capturing the biggest win of his career. Marlar earned $40,000 for the victory in Saturday Night’s 13th Annual Event in the Ronnie Delk Racing/Delk Equipment Sales/Cornett Racing Engines/Capital Race Car.
The current Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader, Scott Bloomquist finished in second. Bobby Pierce came home in third; Shane Clanton and Billy Moyer completed the top five.
Jimmy Owens led the first ten laps of the race until Josh Richards took over the top spot. Richards then lead until lap 39 when Marlar powered to the point from his fourth starting position. Marlar held off Bloomquist and Richards the rest of the way for the win. Richards slowed with five laps to go and headed pitside, giving up a podium finish.
“It’s a good life, it’s awesome to win here,” said the 38-year-old Marlar in Lucas Oil Victory Lane. Knoxville [Raceway] is one of my favorite tracks, if not my favorite to race at. It can scare you to death, but it’s awesome! I knew Bloomquist was on me. When he pulled alongside me a few times and got by I just let the car go up top and it stuck.”

North Florida Native Tyler Crowder Can Put National Champion On His Resume

 Tyler Crowder from Tallahassee, FL put his name in the record books last week at Rome Speedway. Tyler became a National Champion in the 525 Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series. Crowder for years ran the National Late Model Sportsman Series and made his name on the dirt tracks of Florida and Georgia. Now he can put a National Champion on his resume traveling the southeast all year and winning the grind of a series. Putting his name in company like Earl Pearson Jr and Ivedent Lloyd Jr also Florida natives.

  Business started picking up in July when the series made a visit to Cochran Motor Speedway. Crowder was no stranger to Cochran and showed by taking the win and putting himself in the running for the championship. The next win wasn't the case. Crowder traveled to 411 Motor Speedway dominated at one of the premiere tracks in the country. At this point it was Crowder's to lose and he never backed down. The North Florida native beat out the likes of Hall of Famer Ronnie Johnson, second generation driver Jake Knowles, and the Alabama legend Tim Busha.

  With the number of 525 sales growing look for the series to be stronger than ever next year making that title harder to come by for Crowder. But Tyler Crowder will forever be a National Champion and a fan favorite.

(Videos) Showers Sr. and Carter cash in big at VSP with Chappell and Smith taking home wins on Saturday Night as well!

Article by Track Staff/Dustin Carter

( Videos are Property of Florida Racing Connection)

Florida LM"S

9-13-16) Barberville, FL  The racing season is reaching the home stretch, the temperatures are still hot in Florida, and the racing action is still even hotter at Volusia Speedway Park on Saturday Nights. This past weekend saw the Youngs Enterprises Iron Man Series Race #4 take center stage for the V8 Thunderstocks along with the Gary Yeomans Performance Parts Gladiators running for $300 to win as well. Supporting these two classes on Saturday saw the Advanced Medical Labs Late Models and the Florida Late Model Series making its second appearance to VSP in 2016.
Click read more for results and more videos

Coral Springs Native Michael Whipple Makes His ARCA Debut

Michael Whipple

Article and photo Whipple Racing

September 10th, 2016; Salem Indiana - Michael Whipple made is ARCA debut in the Jent Motorsports Ford at Salem Speedway, Grand Marshall Bobby Allison helped celebrate the 100th running of the ARCA 200 lap event at the famed super fast high banked race track. The Jent Motorsports team has struggled the last few weeks with a new car that failed to pass inspection the week prior at DuQuoin Speedway in Illinois which delayed Whipples scheduled ARCA debut. After last minute probl...ems that caused the team to miss practice at the Salem event the car was cleared to race, then the rain ended practice and qualifying was cancelled. All this meant that the new car and the new drivers very first lap at speed would be the first lap of the Salem 200 with a new spotter and a rookie crew chief. No pressure here.
After driver introductions and autograph signing sessions, the drivers were strapped into their racecars. On the grid were names like Frank Kimmel, Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, Josh Williams, John Wes Townley, Tom Hessert and many other talented drivers. Whipple stepped up to the plate and handled the pressure well, the car came home in one piece after starting 26th and finishing 22nd. The new car was loose entering and exiting the corners but never got out of control, all things considered it was a successful first outing.

click read more for remainder of the article

Church Services Planned For State Championship Races At East Alabama Motor Speedway

Joe Kelly, a chaplain with Racing For Jesus Ministries, will be holding a church service on Sunday morning at East Alabama Motor Speedway's State Championship races. Please watch the video below and Joe will let you know all about it. Please share this with your friends and also, please come join us there.

Season Points Champions Crowned At Senoia Raceway

Clint Smith

Submitted by Ted Austad
Photo credits: Francis Hauke

(September 12, 2016 - Senoia, GA)  Clint Smith became the first driver in Senoia Raceway history to capture two track titles within the same season.  The life-long Senoia resident won his second consecutive title in the Super Late Model division with a third place feature finish on Saturday.  He followed that up with a career high fifteenth feature victory in the Limited Late Model division and his second crown of the season.

The other drivers who won track titles on Saturday night included nineteen-year-old young gun Marty Lunsford of Newnan winning the Crate Late Model championship.  Parrish Duncan, also from Newnan, won his second straight B Cadet championship while Fayetteville’s Randy Cornwell topped the standings in the Hobby Stock.  Another teenager, Jamie Nicholson, Jr., of Locust Grove is the champ for the Mini Stock division and Conyers’ Tim Harmon snagged the laurels for the Bomber division.  The track saw nearly 500 different drivers compete thus far in the 2016 season which will culminate with the inaugural ‘Showdown at Senoia’ this November.

NeSMITH DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES TO OFFICIATE/SANCTION SOUTHERN 100 AT SOUTHERN RACEWAY

Cartersville, GA – NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series and Southern Raceway officials announced today that the NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series will be sanctioning/officiating the 2016 “Southern 100” scheduled for October 27-29^th at the dirt oval located in Milton, Florida. Technical inspection, race direction, and all race procedures will be handled by the NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series Touring staff

The race will pay $10,000 to win, and competitors will run 100 laps. Although the race is scheduled to be a non-points event for the Touring Series, many drivers that compete regularly with the Series will be in town to try and claim the $10,000 top prize. Along with many of the top NeSmith Dirt Late Model drivers there will be a host of other local and regional talents that will make this a do not miss event!

Along with the NeSmith Dirt Late Model Series, Southern Raceway will also have special races for their Weekly Racing Classes and a special “doubleheader” for the NeSmith Performance Parts Street Stock Division that will pay $1,000 to win on Friday Night October 28^th and then another Full Feature event on Saturday Night October 29^th paying $1,200 to win. If a NeSmith Street Stock driver can win both nights they will pick up a $1,500 bonus!

Jordan Feider on a roll at OSP (Videos)

Jordan Feider in victory circle at OSP

Videos property of Debbie Nelms

Southern Eagle Budweiser Late Models Jordan Feider #2

Banjo Duke #11
Garrett Shurling #G4
Ahnna Parkhurst #23
Tom Egner #5
Daniel Williams #15
Eddie Morris #44
Donnie Bazemore, Jr. #28
Dennis Morris #2M
Sean Silverman #18

Click read more for other videos

Chancey, Carlino super in SC5 triumphs at GIS

Chappell, Grantham also First to the Checkers; Wooten Clinches NPSS Title

Submitted by Rob Lee

WAYNESVILLE, Ga. (Sept. 10) – Billy Ammons just drove his race.
The consistency of the J&J Services Camaro’s driver usually means success. Saturday evening at Golden Isles Speedway was no different.
Ammons finished second to John Carlino in the Enduro Super Challenge 5 Series feature. Carlino won the battle and the $1,000 top prize. Ammons won the five-race war. Unofficially, the runner up finish clinched the inaugural SC5 title for Ammons.
William Fisher, Johnny Barker and Jonathan Croson rounded out the top five in the race.
Barker needed to finish three positions better than Ammons to overtake the top spot as the former trailed by two points heading into the final SC5 event.
Carlino topped a 25-car field for the victory.

Pierce Brings The Globe Trophy Back to the Land of Lincoln

Photo credit to Bobby Pierce facebook

Press release from Eldora Speedway

ROSSBURG, Ohio — After rallying from his 22nd spot Saturday to capture Eldora Speedway’s 46th annual World 100, 19-year-old Bobby Pierce struggled to come to grips with what he’d just accomplished.

“I’ve won some big races, and this is by far the biggest win,” Pierce said in victory lane after his $49,000 victory in Dirt Late Model racing’s biggest event. “It’s going to take, I think, forever to sink in.”

Luckily for Pierce, who became the youngest winner in the history of the event, he likely has decades of career left to absorb his feat as the first Illinois driver to hoist Eldora’s famed globe trophies.

“It means the world,” said Pierce, who celebrated in victory lane with his father and chassis builder Bob, mother Angie, sister Ciara and girlfriend Maddy. “I kind of dreamed of this day, and when I cross the finish line, am I going to have tears coming out of my eyes or what. But I didn’t … I didn’t, because I think it’s going to take a while to sink in. Like I don’t even think I won it yet. To win it for (his family) is awesome.”

Driver Dies From Injuries Sustained in Crash at Eldora Speedway

Photo from Kyle Gayheart

ROSSBURG, Ohio (September 10, 2016) – Dirt Late Model racer Shane Unger died Saturday night at Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater, Ohio, where he was transported following a multi-car crash at Eldora Speedway.

Unger, of Rossburg, Ohio, was 35 years old.

During a late restart in the second heat race at the World 100, Unger was involved in a multi-car crash in Turn 3 of the half-mile oval. Emergency crews quickly attended to Unger and placed him in an ambulance to transport him to the hospital.

The Unger family has conveyed their appreciation of the prayers and support expressed by the racing community and requests their privacy be respected at this time.

Additional information will be made available when appropriate at www.EldoraSpeedway.com

–

• 
  

Creech tunes up for the “Bennie” with NFS win Gainey, Walker, Windham also take checkers

Shawn Creech

By: Rob Lee

LAKE CITY, Fla. (Sept. 10) – Remnants of Hurricane Hermine remained at and around North Florida Speedway and its fans Saturday evening. A night of racing was a great way to put that aside for a few hours.

Nevin Gainey, Shawn Creech, Heath Walker and John Windham put on a show to pick up feature wins to open up the second half of the NFS season.

Creech snuck by Darrell Roberts about halfway through the 15-lap Thunder Stock feature and went on to take the checkered flag.

The Wellborn, Fla. pilot pulled away during green flag runs and became the ninth different feature winner in the final tune up before the Sept. 24 Bennie Corbin Memorial.

“Car was real good,” Creech said in Victory Lane. “I just found a hole and got past (Roberts).”

There were only four cautions during the event, but one turned into an extended red flag on Lap 3.

Gainesville driver David Haslam, making his first 2016 NFS start, spun entering turn three and collected a hard hit from Nelda King.

The driver side of Haslam’s Campus Scooters/Transmissions by Carl Camaro collapsed from the impact. Haslam was extricated by rescue crews and taken to the hospital. He was awake and alert.

At the checkers Roberts hung on for second followed by Andy Olson, Dylan Hilliard and Gerard Haley.

Hilliard started at the back of the 19-car field and maneuvered through.

Gainey wasted no time on a tacky track getting to the front of the Late Model finale and set a torrid pace to the finish line in the Snow Brothers Chassis house car.

“We’ve been working hard on this car,” Gainey said. “It’s a lot different to drive than an EMod. I wanted to run high and we weren’t able to all around the track, but we were able to try a few things.”

Previous winner Adam Bedenbaugh gave chase early, but went pitside with mechanical issues early in the race.

Brandon Catto, Louis Ledlow, Tom Smith and Mike Rogers rounded out the top five. It was Rogers’ first race ever in a Late Model.

Heath Walker praised God and his crew after his Hobby Stock 15-lap win.

The elder Walker inherited the top spot when Tyler Sistrunk retired while holding a nearly straightaway advantage.

“I don’t think we would’ve caught Tyler, but this car was on a rail tonight,” Walker said. “I can’t thank everyone that works on this enough.”

Miller and O’Neal Steal Wins from Mother Nature on Night One of the 46th Annual World 100

Don O'Neal picks up a win on night one of the World 100

Property of Eldora Speedway

ROSSBURG, Ohio — Matt Miller of Whitehouse, Ohio, and Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., grabbed flag-to-flag 25-laps victories on the opening night of the 46th annual World 100 weekend, outlasting a three-hour rain delay for $10,000 victories at Eldora Speedway.
Miller had the tougher time of it — repelling a pair of Illinois drivers — while O’Neal stayed ahead of a charging Jonathan Davenport in a caution-free affair after a 108-car field was split into odd and even groups for complete racing programs.


Miller Hangs On
 Miller must’ve felt like all of Illinois was chasing him in the closing laps of Friday’s first preliminary feature. It was just two Prairie State drivers — Shannon Babb and Dennis Erb Jr. — in hot pursuit, but they threw everything they had and then some at Miller, who escaped the last-lap jamup.
 The Whitehouse, Ohio, driver’s victory was in doubt heading into turn three on the final lap as the lower-running Erb was held up by the slower car of Brian Ruhlman, while Babb tried to thread his way between Miller and Erb for his first victory of 2016.
Miller held on to win by the slimmest of margins, 0.151 seconds over Babb and 0.170 seconds over Erb, as his flag-to-flag victory builds momentum toward Saturday’s $49,000-to-win crown jewel.
“We were a little off in that feature,” Miller said on the winner’s stage of the Tony Stewart-owned oval. “We were tight from the get-go and kind of got comfortable all by ourselves there. But it started to slick off and the tires, they kind of gave up a little bit, so it was a struggle there.

Second Half Races Off At NFS Saturday

By Rob Lee

LAKE CITY, Fla. (Sept. 7) – Racers and fans have listened to that clock tick and watched the calendar.

That calendar will have counted down 42 days when the green flag flies again at North Florida Speedway this Saturday Sept. 10.

The opener to the second half of the NFS season Saturday has a lot to watch for.

First and foremost it is the final Thunder Stock preparation for the Benny Corbin Memorial in two weeks. Since the BCM was set to hit the NFS 3/8-mile clay oval car counts have shot off the charts, including two nights pushing the 30 mark.

How competitive has that Thunder Stock class been? Eight different drivers have visited Victory Lane in ten races. But consistency is what leads the class.

Kris Salyards does not have one of those wins, but is on top of the class with an eight point advantage over Andy Olson. Trey Spradley, Willard Driggers and Nelda King round out the top five. Only Olson and Driggers have taken that checkered flag first in 2016 of that group.

Late Models, Hobby Stocks and Box Stocks also hit the clay.

Adam Bedenbaugh now sports the Incredible Hulk on the hood of his Snow Brothers Chassis. It is not like the hometown driver needs super power after his convincing Late Model win to close out the first half.

Devin Walker’s three wins late in the first half propelled him to the top of the Hobby Stock standings, but just by two markers over Jerry Fortner.

Seth Caudill, Jr. may debut his new car to attempt to continue his Box Stock mastery even though the class has three different winners in the last three races. The most recent winner, Shannon Lang, is the current runner up in points.