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Jay Vaquer
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (May 31) - 2008 Late Model competition at East Alabama Motor Speedway has raised the bar for excitement and those seeking Victory Lane. The new track surface on the 3/8 mile high banked clay oval and the Crate Late Model rules are two contributing factors but perhaps equally important is the infusion of new talent in the Late Model division. Rookie Richie "Rocketman" Stephens is having a phenomenal year and has brought a new level of performance to the division. Stephens has combined his unique driving skills with the perfectly set up Ben Thomas Racing Scorpion to introduce the next generation of speed. Rocketman posted a 15.67 in qualifying to earn the pole and the Extreme Power Sports $100 award. When the green flag dropped on the feature Rocketman blasted out to the lead. Local legend Dana Eiland made his presence felt as he very quickly passed Marvin Cook and our track champion Larry Harrod to move into third place on lap two. Larry Eldridge was riding the tail of the comet from second place and presenting a serious challenge for the lead. Eldridge could get inside the Rocketman in the turns but Rocketman had the bite off the corners to stay out front down the straight-aways. Bert Tomkins was having a mechanical failure and entered the pits just as Chad Cardin took a wild ride off turn one flipping head over heels and then barrel rolling out of sight. Cardin emerged unscathed however his car was pronounced DOA in the pits. During this red flag Marc Gooden and Josh Noles entered the pits as well as Brandon Pijnenberg who was a lap down chasing his set-up. When the green came back it was like a jail break with everyone after the Rocketman. Dana Eiland moved inside Eldridge and they battled door to door at the same time Bobby Eiland moved inside Harrod and it was difficult to keep up with all the excitement. Noles spun in turn four for a yellow flag at lap 9. On this restart Larry Harrod pulled out all the stops, hammered down and blew by Dana Eiland and Eldridge to move into second place. Bobby Eiland and Dana Eiland were locked in mortal combat when Bobby passed Dana for third. Dana sank his K-9's teeth into Bobby's rear end and locked down. Meanwhile the Rocketman had hit hyper-drive and was orbiting way ahead of everyone in his own space. Ricky Culpepper began to overheat and dove into the water hole on lap 20. On lap 23 the K-9 got a burst of speed and passed Bobby Eiland. The white flag was out and as the Rocketman ran down the checkers at warp speed, Dana Eiland pulled inside Harrod and in a door to door drag race to the checkers Eiland took second place by a nose. Once again Richie Stephens proved he is for real and really is that fast. Dana Eiland had a great run to finish second. Larry Harrod came in third, Bobby Eiland fourth, Larry Eldridge fifth, Montana Dudley sixth, Jimmy Evilsizer seventh, Skeeter Redmon eighth, Marvin Cook ninth, and Marc Gooden rounded out the top ten in tenth. Matt Woodson was missing from this week's line up as his wife was in the hospital expecting the birth of their next generation dirt track speedster.
In the Limited Sportsman division Russ Ogletree took the lead with Mikey Mount second and three time winner Rodgerick Dykes in third. The track was blacked over and extremely fast after the Late Model feature which contributed to the high number of cautions. Ogletree lost the handle in turn four and spun on his own to pass the lead to Mount. Dykes passed Mount for the lead but Mount read the track perfectly and found speed in the cool sticky clay in the cushion and passed Dykes, who was running the apron, to regain the lead. Danny Stroud came up and passed Dykes in turn four then got spun for the caution. The field was reset to the previous lap and Stroud dropped out. Mikey Mount took the checkers in a very impressive and intelligent fashion. Rodgerick Dykes came in second, Paul Walters third, Chad Marchman fourth, and Russ Ogletree finished fifth.
In the Hobby division Scott Sherrer took the lead until lap 9 when Allen McConnell powered his way into the lead. On lap 11 John Michael passed Sherrer for second. McConnell took the checkers with John Michael second, Scott Sherrer third, Jeremy Nevels fourth, and Phillip Arrington came in fifth.
The Bomber class saw Trevor Elliot take the early lead. On lap 6 Shelby Amos and Jeff Elliot collide and spun. Robbie Luke came out of turn two wide open and slammed Amos, whose Cottenmouth # 52 burst into flames coming to a stop on the back inside wall. Amos got out without incident. On the restart Billy Duell JR and Christy Noles put on an exciting show. Duell passed for second and then took the lead on lap 13. Billy Duell JR put his #721 Diversified Mechanical Money Taker Chevy in Victory Lane. Trevor Elliot finished second, Jeff Elliot third, Chris Story fourth, and Christy Noles finished fifth.
The Pony division had Bill Taylor cross the finish line first but get disqualified at the scales for being light. Adam Rodriguez was happy to take the win with Bryan Price second, Bobby Duell third, Bill Taylor at the end of the lead lap fourth, and Bryan Prins fifth.
Jeff Culpepper put his #10 Modified in the lead and went wire to wire for the checkers ending Ricky White's streak. White finished second, Ricky Culpepper came in third, Randy Register fourth, and Herbie Donath finished fifth.
Late Model
00 - Richie Stephens
K9 - Dana Eiland
27 - Larry Harrod
08 - Bobby Eiland
18 - Larry Eldridge
55 - Montana Dudley
15 - Jimmy Evilsizer
99 - Skeeter Redmon
40 - Marvin Cook
52 - Marc Gooden
14 - Pat Wall
13K - Kelly Leonard
16 - Josh Noles
7 - Roger Arnett
83 - Brandon Pijnenburg
27G - Gordy Scarbrough
110 - Ricky Culpepper
22 - Chad Carden
30T - Bert Tomkins
Limited Sportsman
31 - Mikey Mount
5 - Rodgerick Dykes
19 - Paul Walters
21 - Chad Marchman
RC3 - Russ Ogletree
115 - Dustin Elliott
2 - Randy Hester
62 - JW Noles
7 - Chris Arnett
76 - Efrem Holbrook
57 - David Brooks
22 - Danny Stroud
72 - Chad Scrimpshire
50jr - Steven Gaines, Jr
Hobby
24 - Allen McConnell
294 - John Michael
41 - Scott Sherrer
44 - Jeremy Nevels
A1 - Phillip Arrington
99 - Randy Renfroe
8 - Jeremy Nelson
23 - David Dark
5 - Paul Goins
22 - Scotty Prins
41 - Jason Anthony
18 - Ricky Headley
Bomber
721 Billy Duell, Jr
7 - Trevor Elliott
7 - Jeff Elliott
38 - Chris Storey
16 - Christy Noles
75 - John Dozier
3 - Steven Bryan
52 - Shelby Amos
90 - Robbie Luke
Pony Stock
20 - Adam Rodriguez
17 - Bryan Price
7 - Bobby Duell
T55 - Bill Taylor
5 - Bryan Prins
99 - Chance Renfroe
Modified
10 - Jeff Culpepper
25 - Ricky White
7 - Ricky Culpepper
M29 - Randy Register
25 - Herbie Donath
2 - Johnny Greene
5 - Andy Smith
29 - Tommy Perkins
44 - Scott Prins
M33 - Stacy Mashburn
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