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Jay Vaquer
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (May 10) - Richie "Rocketman" Stephens, already leading the East Alabama Motor Speedway 2008 Extreme Power Sports Championship point standings, added yet another victory to a spectacular rookie year in the Late Model division. Local Late Model legend Dana Eiland won the Extreme Power Sports fast time award of $100 for a blistering lap of 15.78 to earn the pole for the feature.
When the green flag dropped Terrance "The Phenix City Assassin" Nowell suddenly lost power in turn one which started a pile up in turn two. Montana Dudley and Track Champion Larry Harrod took some serious hits. Jeff Mills had to enter the pits before the restart. The green was back out and Dana Eiland took the lead until speedster Larry Eldridge took the lead on lap 2. On lap 5 the running order was Eldridge, Dana Eiland, Bobby Eiland, Richie Stephens, and Matt Woodson in fifth. Dana Eiland had his K-9 on the inside groove looking for a way back into the lead as the front 4 stretched out to a straightaway lead from Woodson in fifth who was leading the rest of the field. Josh Noles was having a great run and was involved in a heavy battle with Marvin Cook over sixth place. Noles demonstrated he still had the moves as he passed Cook, who is no slouch, in turn 4 on lap 11. Unlucky lap 13 caught up with Noles as he broke and spun in turn 4 for the lap 13 caution. When the green came back Bobby Eiland shot by the Rocketman then debris caused the lap 15 caution. When this green came back Rocketman hit his afterburners and blasted by Bobby Eiland for third at the same time Dana Eiland moved his K-9 back into the lead. When they came out of turn for Eldridge and Bobby Eiland were side by side when the Rocketman hit the hyper-space button and shot between the two down the front straight to secure second and begin running down the K-9. Bobby Eiland suddenly took third from Eldridge. Noles was there to spar with Eldridge when Chad Carden went off the back for the lap 20 caution. Eldridge had to give up his position as he entered the pits and returned at the back of the field. When the green came back Dana Eiland chose the inside line while the Rocketman orbited in the high groove. The excitement was really on between these two when the white flag came out and they were side by side. Suddenly the K-9 took a page from the Kentucky Derby and went lame with a broken suspension. The Rocketman cruised into the lead and took the checkers for the third time this year. Dana Eiland did not give up and managed to limp to the checkers losing seven positions. Rocketman was followed to the checkers by Bobby Eiland, Josh Noles, Matt Woodson, Jeff Mills, Marvin Cook, Ricky Culpepper, Dana Eiland, Chad Carden and Larry Eldridge rounded out the top ten.
In the Limited Sportsman division Rodgerick Dykes took the lead and ran with it wire to wire for the win. JW Noles advanced passing Steven Gaines JR and Danny Stroud to take 4th on lap 9. Mikey Mount came up to pass Thomas Lewis on lap 11 for second spot. Dykes was driving the car that looked totaled out after he flipped it several times last week but he said after he put it back together it ran better than before and he was way to fast for anyone else as he took the checkers unabated. Mikey Mount finished second, Thomas Lewis third, Danny Stroud fourth, JW Noles fifth, Steven Gains JR sixth, Russ Ogletree seventh, Paul Still eighth, Efrem Holbrook ninth, and Dustin Elliot rounded out the top ten in tenth.
In the Bomber division Richard Stephens SR started on the pole but misfired at the green and gave Shelby Amos the lead. Amos drove away from the field and turned in a perfect race for the win. Richard Stephens finished second, Jeff Elliot third, Christy Noles fourth, and Chris Story finished fifth.
In the Pony division Flyin' Bryan Price picked up the win with Chance Renfroe second, Bobby Duell third, Adam Rodriguez fourth, and Kenneth Catrett fifth.
In the Hobby race Allen McConnell held Jeremy Nevels back nearly the entire race to take the checkers from the pole. Nevels finished second, John Michael third, Jeremy Nelson fourth, and Jason Anthony fifth.
In the Modified feature Randy Register picked up the checkers with Johnny Green second, Ricky White third, Andy Smith fourth and Stacy Mashburn fifth.
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