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Jay Vaquer
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (June 7) - The new Ben Thomas Racing Scorpion chassis seems to be establishing a tradition for winning at East Alabama Motor Speedway. In recent weeks Richie "Rocketman" Stephens has had successful outings with dominating wins in the BTR Scorpion. This week Fastrak National Champion William Thomas showed up with the BTR Scorpion house car and really put it on all the contenders. Thomas began by setting fast time with a blistering 15.52 to take the Extreme Power Sports $100 award and the pole for the feature. When the green dropped on the main event Thomas immediately began distancing himself from the pack. Coming out of turn four Jeff Mills got spun into the wall for a yellow flag caution. On the restart again Thomas pulled away from second place Marvin Cook. who was only 6/100ths of a second behind Thomas in qualifying. When they got to turn four, they were three wide and began spinning again for the next caution. On this restart when they got to turn two Richie Stephens got a flat tire and as Larry Eldridge checked up he got slammed and put out of the competition. The Rocketman fixed his tire and fell in to the rear of the field for the restart. This time as Thomas entered turn two he skated up off his line which was just the opening Cook needed to move into the lead. Thomas was not about to give up the lead and he drove hard into turn three and dove under Cook to retake the lead in turn four. Track Champion Larry Harrod, who started fifth was on a run and seized the opportunity to pass Cook from the apron in turn two and swiftly powered his way into second place. On lap 6 Thomas was already putting the tail of the field a lap down. The Phenix City Assassin Terrance Nowell was also on a run as he came up and passed Cook to take over third. Montana Dudley broke in turn two to bring out the lap 8 caution. The restart order was Thomas, Harrod, Nowell, Cook, Bobby Eiland, Josh Noles, Dana Eiland, Mills, and Jimmy Evilsizer. As Thomas again slipped away from the pack Harrod chose to run the apron and the Assassin went high. This battle heated up as they ran door to door most of the way around the track. The Champ Harrod was definitely hooked up and was too strong to pass as he set his sights on Thomas who was almost a straight away ahead. Matt Woodson, whose wife delivered a 10 pound baby boy last week, congrats on that, was in a battle with the Rocketman who was on his way back to front from last. The Rocketman hit his afterburners and passed both Woodson and Evilsizer. Ricky Culpepper was having issues with his #110 and entered the pits under green. As Thomas continued pulling away from the field and lapping the cars at the end of the line, the Assassin had Harrod in his sights. The Assassin managed to get past Harrod on lap 20 but our Champ was not going down that easily as he found his way back around Nowell on lap 21. As Harrod came up on Woodson, who did not have his new air shocks dialed in, he slowed to avoid a collision and the Assassin was right there to pass Harrod again. And again the Champ was not to be denied as he blasted by the Assassin to get back to second. Bobby Eiland had managed to weave his way through the lap traffic and suddenly was right there in the mix and ambushed the Assassin to move into third. Meanwhile, Thomas was so fast he was putting Mills, who was running ninth, a lap down. When the white flag came out Thomas was about to lap the Rocketman but like a true champion did not risk the race and he took the checkers in an astounding display of speed and driving savvy. Larry Harrod finished second, Bobby Eiland third, Terrance Nowell fourth, Marvin Cook fifth, Josh Noles sixth, Dana Eiland seventh, Richie Stephens eighth, Jeff Mills ninth, and Marc Gooden rounded out the top ten in tenth.
Trevor Elliott Wins The Bomber Division 25 Lap Championship Race
By Jay Vaquer
The lovely and talented Christy Noles started this feature from the pole in her # 16 Camaro. As she entered turn one a charging stampede of wild horses caught up with her and Trevor Elliott came out of turn 2 with the lead. Grady Holmes challenged Chris Story for the third spot. When they came out of turn four Story got out of shape right in front of Holmes, who decided to assist him in losing control of his race car and spun him a little more for a caution. Holmes got third and Story got sent to the rear for the restart. Holmes passed Noles and was challenging Elliott for the lead. They swapped some paint in turn two but Elliott recovered and maintained the lead. On lap 15 Holmes' rear end gave out and Noles pushed him a ways and took back her second spot. Holmes coasted into the pits for a DNF. On the restart Trevor Elliott was strong and stayed in front while his Dad, Jeff Elliott came up to third to sandwich Christy Noles in second. Christy had her hands full as Jeff attacked from high and low. Robbie Luke came out of turn four with his right rear tire about three feet outside of his fender. Finally the tire, wheel and rear axle came out and bounced down the front straight until it stabbed the clay and stuck in front of the flag stand. The # 52 car circulated at the rear of the field since he showed up to race with an illegal transmission and was not allowed to compete. Christy tried to pass Elliot for the lead but Trevor was concentrating hard to not make any mistakes and he took the checkers like a champion holding back the competition. Christy Noles finished second and not only won a beautiful trophy but also won the respect from the other drivers who finished behind her. Jeff Elliott came in third, Chris Story fourth, James Gates fifth, Steve Bryan sixth, and Shelby Amos finished seventh.
In the Limited Sportsman division Chad Scrimpshire started the feature from the pole. Randy Hester and Rodgerick Dykes both passed him in turn one. Dykes passed Hester on lap 9 and never looked back. Mikey Mount moved into third on the white flag lap but it was too late and Rodgerick Dykes padded his lead in the points with another victory. Randy Hester finished second, Mikey Mount third, Dustin Elliot fourth, and Chad Scrimpshire finished fifth.
The Hobby division started with John Michael in the lead. It appeared that his right front brake was stuck as sparks flew everywhere but he hung on for the win. Jeremy Nevels was second, Johnny Beck third, Don Otto fourth, and Jason Anthony, in spite of being light at the scales was sent to the rear of the lead lap and finished fifth.
The Pony division started with Bobby Duell in the lead and Brandie Gatlin pressuring for the lead. Bryan Price moved up and took the lead. Chance Renfroe had a horrific encounter with the turn one inside wall. He was transported to the emergency room where hopefully he will recover and get back in his car soon. He has everyones best wishes. On the restart after the red flag Adam Rodriguez passed Gatlin then spun out on his own for the next caution. Bryan Price took the checkers with Adam Rodriguez second, Jesse Rivera third, Brandie Gatlin fourth, and Kenneth Catrett finished fifth.
Former Late Model Champion Jeff Culpepper seems to have found his nitch in the Modified Division as he came from the pole to the checkers, wire to wire for the second week. Johnny Greene finished second. Jeff's son, Ricky Culpepper came from last to finish third. Gordy Scarborough finished fourth, and Randy Register finished fifth.
Late Model
22 - William Thomas
27 - Larry Harrod
08 - Bobby Eiland
7 - Terrance Nowell
40 - Marvin Cook
16 - Josh Noles
K9 - Dana Eiland
00 - Richie Stephens
15 - Jeff Mills
52 - Marc Gooden
88 - Matt Woodson
11 - Lavon Sparks
14 - Pat Wall
7 - Roger Arnett
111 - Richard Mills
27G - Gordy Scarbrough
613 - Marty Beckwith
15 - Jimmy Evilsizer
110 - Ricky Culpepper
55 - Montana Dudley
18 - Larry Eldridge
Limited Sportsman
5 - Rodgerick Dykes
2 - Randy Hester
31 - Mikey Mount
115 - Dustin Elliott
72 - Chad Scrimpshire
RC3 - Russ Ogletree
5L - Thomas Lewis
18 - Paul Still
21 - Josh Marchman
62 - JW Noles
26 - Freddie Slaughter
76 - Efrem Holbrook
Hobby
294 - John Michael
44 - Jeremy Nevels
6 - Johnny Beck
1 - Don Otto
41 - Jason Anthony
A1 - Phillip Arrington
29 - Randy Allen
24 - Allen McConnell
99 - Randy Renfroe
Bomber
7 - Trevor Elliott
16 - Christy Noles
7 - Jeff Elliott
38 - Chris Storey
22 - James Gates
3 - Steven Bryan
75 - Shelby Amos
90 - Robbie Luke
B5 - Grady Holmes
56 - Josh Thigpen
00 - Richard Stephens, Sr
721 Billy Duell, Jr
16 - Drew Roberts
52 - Jonathon Dozier
Pony Stock
17 - Bryan Price
20 - Adam Rodriguez
RX1 - Jesse Rivera
11 - Brandie Gatlin
91 - Kenneth Catrett
7 - Bobby Duell
99 - Chance Renfroe
Modified
10 - Jeff Culpepper
2 - Johnny Greene
7 - Ricky Culpepper
25w - Gordy Scarbrough
M29 - Randy Register
M33 - Stacy Mashburn
29 - Tommy Perkins
55 - Duane Treadwell
0 - Ricky White
25 - Herbie Donath
5 - Andy Smith
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