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Jay Vaquer
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (March 22) - In the past few years Richie "Rocketman" Stephens has totally dominated the lower divisions, Bomber and Hobby, at East Alabama Motor Speedway. There was speculation as to whether or not his driving skills would extend to the top divisions. This Saturday night he erased all doubt by winning the outside pole for the Late Model feature. Former Late Model champion Mickey Benton won the pole with a blistering time of 15.50. When the green flag dropped on the feature, Benton fired and blew a transmission seal, which allowed Stephens and a few others pass before getting to turn one. Dana Eiland was right on the Rocketman's rear bumper as they sped away from the field. Larry Harrod was in third with Larry Eldridge in his shadow and the excitement was on as they sparred for early positions. On lap 4 Marc Gooden spun into the wall in turn 4 to bring out the first yellow flag caution. When the green flag came back Rocketman blasted out to the lead with Eiland's K-9 nipping at his heels. Eiland got inside on the apron but Stephens was in the preferred groove and slipped away down the backstretch. Uncharacteristically Larry Harrod spun on his own in turn 4 to bring out another caution. After the race Harrod, somewhat embarrassed when asked why he spun, said that the wires from his race receiver got tangled in his seatbelt and left arm. Harrod was sent to the rear of the field and the green flag was back out. Rocketman and Eiland seemed to be in a higher class as they immediately began leaving the rest of the field in their dust. A newcomer to the high banks of the 3/8 mile clay oval, Chris Carlson, lost the handle in turn two and caused a pile up. Eldridge, Chad Wallace, and Rickey Culpepper spun into each other for some heavy sheet metal damage but fortunately no structural damage and they were able to continue. Gooden went to the pits during this caution, as did Larry Harrod with a flat left rear. When the green resumed, Rocketman looked just like he did in his Hobby car, running out front and pulling away from the field with the exception of Dana Eiland who seemed glued to his rear bumper. Chad Wallace began to run a unique line at the very top of the track and found some speed in that cool clay. Culpepper was right on him looking for the pass as they slipped by Benton who was still running a good race even with the bad transmission. Culpepper waited for his opportunity and made a power pass on Wallace to take over the fourth spot. As Culpepper ran down Eldridge Mike Parkerson made a clean pass on Wallace to move into fifth on lap 16. Rocketman and Eiland were in lap traffic as they put Greg Gatlin and Pat Wall down a lap. Debris was responsible for the lap 19 caution. Chad Wallace called it quits and took his damaged #34 to the pits for a DNF. When the green resumed again it was Rocketman, leading with the legendary champ Dana Eiland trying to shake him out of the lead. Stephens held on to the lead and drove a remarkable race to take the checkers and show the fans and drivers alike, that he is for real and that he has raised the bar for all the Late Model contenders. Dana Eiland finished second, Larry Eldridge third, Ricky Culpepper fourth, Mike Parkerson fifth, Larry Harrod sixth, Montana Dudley seventh, Jim Moon eighth, Marc Gooden ninth, and Matt Woodson, who drove an incredible race and did not tear up his race car, rounded out the top ten in tenth.
Late Model
00 - Richie Stephens
K9 - Dana Eiland
18 - Larry Eldridge
110 - Ricky Culpepper
41 - Mike Parkerson
27 - Larry Harrod
55 - Montana Dudley
1 - Jim Moon
52 - Marc Gooden
88 - Matt Woodson
14 - Pat Wall
11 - Greg Gatlin
34 - Chad Wallace
2 - Mickey Benton
C1 - Chris Carlson
Limited Sportsman
5 - Rodgerick Dykes
50jr - Steven Gaines, Jr
31 - Mikey Mount
RC3 - Russ Ogletree
75 - Brand Lewis
5L - Brand Lewis
115 - Dustin Elliott
92 - Joseph Darda
2 - Randy Hester
Hobby
294 - John Michael
24 - Allen McConnell
7 - Chris Arnett
90 - Jerry Luke
44 - Jeremy Nevels
81 - Jamie Land
99 - Randy Renfroe
20 - Jason Anthony
31 - Chris Mount
2 - Jonathon Dozier
Bomber
7 - Trevor Elliott
7 - Jeff Elliott
90 - Robert Luke
38 - Chris Storey
3 - Steven Bryant
52 - Shelby Amos
25 - Mikey Burt
721 Billy Duell, Jr
00 - Richard Stephens
30 - Tim Bosley
Pony Stock
20 - Adam Rodriguez
17 - Bryan Price
99 - Chance Renfroe
15 - Jacob Brittingham
10 - Bobby Duell
Modified
2 - Johnny Greene
25W - Herbie Donath
44 - Scott Prins
M33 - Stacy Mashburn
55 - Duane Treadwell
25B - Rickey White
7 - Ricky Culpepper
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