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Roby Helm
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (July 19) - William Thomas of Phenix City, AL bagged the Alabama Bonus Bucks on Saturday night with his second win in as many nights in the 40-lap NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series main event at East Alabama Motor Speedway driving the J.W. Miller Land and Timber Scorpion.
The $2,500 Saturday night win for Thomas followed up a $2,500 victory on Friday night at Penton Raceway in Penton, AL. By winning both races, Thomas took the $2,000 bonus, plus an extra $100 for fast time honors Saturday night from Extreme Power Sports to bring his weekend earnings to $7,100. Thomas out qualified the 32-car field on Saturday night with a lap in 15.540 seconds.
Thomas was unchallenged on both Friday and Saturday nights. He led both races wire-to-wire to lead a total 80 laps. The only driver that came close to Thomas all weekend was Richie Stephens of Phenix City, AL, who finished second on Saturday night at East Alabama Motor Speedway driving the K&R Racing Scorpion.
Derrick Rainey of Powder Spring, GA took the third spot in the Hays Family Racing/Barto Enterprises Warrior. Rainey, who also had a second-place finish on Friday night at Penton Raceway, vaulted from tenth to fifth in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National point standings over the weekend.
Eric Cooley of Fulton, MS took the fourth spot in the Tiffin Motorhomes Mastersbilt and earned the Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Race Award. Jeff Fields of Aragon, GA finished fifth in the J&J Transport Mastersbilt, and Jordy Nipper of Gray, GA drove the Universal Concrete Rocket to a sixth-place finish.
Frank Ingram of Woodstock, GA claimed the seventh spot in the Dixon Hauling and Grading Rocket, and Jeff Smith of Rocky Face, GA started 18th in the Hooters GRT and finished eighth to earn the Hard Charger of the Race Award.
Point leader Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, GA was ninth in the CSC Trailer Repair/Brindle Brothers Auto Parts GRT, and Dana Eiland of Salem, AL came back from an early race spin to round out the top 10 in the Andy's Auto Parts Swartz.
Thomas took the lead from the pole position at the start of the race followed by Stacey Roberts of Sylvester, GA in the Sunbelt Ford Rocket, Stephens, Steven Roberts of Sylvester, GA in the John Patterson Rocket, and Royce Bray of Hull, GA in the I-85 Garage and Towing Warrior. Stephens moved up to the second spot on lap two, using an inside move to get by Stacey Roberts.
For the most part, the drivers used the high side of the race track with a cushion close to the edge of the track - a track that has no walls or guard rails in the corners, or down the backstretch. This led to several miscues for several drivers.
Bray got around Steven Roberts for the fourth position on lap three just before the first of six caution flags came out on lap five when Hunter Peacock of Macon, GA in the Nasworthy Mechanical Bullitt slid off the track in turn one. Thomas led Stephens, Stacey Roberts, Bray, Steven Roberts, Cooley, Eiland, Rainey, Fields, and Brindle back to the green flag.
Chris Tays of Corinth, MS in the Bud Coley Trucking/Circle H Concrete Trak-Star was making the biggest moves of the race in the early going, as in the first five laps, he moved up from his 22nd starting spot to 14th. On the restart, Bray was also on the move, passing Stacey Roberts for the third spot.
Gene Nasworthy of Gray, GA spun his Nasworthy Mechanical TNT off turn one on lap six, in the same spot as his teammate Peacock. The restart order was Thomas, Stephens, Bray, Stacey Roberts, Cooley, Steven Roberts, Eiland, Rainey, Fields and Brindle. After the field went green, Ingram jump into the top ten, as he was running ninth on lap ten.
Stephens got a challenge from Bray, who moved by Stephens into the second spot on lap 12. Eiland had moved up to the sixth spot, but spun off the high side of turn three on lap 13 to bring out the third caution flag of the race, sending him to the back of the back for the restart.
Thomas led Bray, Stephens, Stacey Roberts, Cooley, Rainey, Steven Roberts, Ingram, Fields, and Brindle down for the restart that saw Rainey go from sixth to fourth. The caution came out on lap 15 when Matt Woodson of LaGrange, GA spun in turn four collecting Peacock. Both drivers were able to continue.
Stacey Roberts drove by Rainey on the restart to reclaim the fourth spot, but Rainey came right back to get back by Stacey Roberts on lap 17. Bray was trying to follow Thomas' tire tracks on the high side of the race track, but jumped the cushion in turn one, and slid off the track, and out of second-place when the caution flag came out.
Bray had to go to the back of the pack for the restart, and his misfortune earned him the Dominator Race Products Hard Luck Award. Thomas was now followed by Stephens, Rainey, Stacey Roberts, Steven Roberts, Cooley, Ingram, Fields, Brindle, and Nipper for the restart.
Cooley got by Steven Roberts for fifth on lap 25, and Fields had moved up to the sixth spot by lap 26. Tays continued his march through the field, as he moved up to tenth on lap 28. By lap 35, Thomas was starting encounter lapped traffic, and Stephens began to close in to challenge for the lead.
The key move for Thomas came on lap 38 when he found an opening between two lapped cars, and got by them just before the hole closed in front of Stephens. By the time Stephens cleared the lapped cars, Thomas was gone with the checkered flag in sight.
The final lap was a wild one after Thomas, Stephens, Rainey, Stacey Roberts, and Cooley took the checkered flag. Steven Roberts spun in turn four, and collected Tays. In the ensuing scramble, Fields took the sixth spot, followed by Nipper and Ingram. Fields came from 11th to ninth. Everyone behind Stacey Roberts moved up one spot when his car was light at the post-race weigh-in.
In preliminary action, the two 12-lap Qualifying Races were won by Nipper and Ingram.
The next event for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series National Tour will be the $10,000-to-win Cajun Nationals at Pike County Speedway in McComb, MS where the B-Mains and main event will be run on August 2 after being rained out in April.
OFFICIAL RESULTS OF ROUND 12 AT EAST ALABAMA MOTOR SPEEDWAY IN PHENIX CITY, AL ON 7/19/08:
POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS $ WON
1. 1 22 William Thomas Phenix City, AL 40 $4,600
2. 4 00 Richie Stephens Phenix City, AL 40 $1,250
3. 8 87 Derrick Rainey Powder Springs, GA 40 $850
4. 6 33c Eric Cooley (R) Fulton, MS 40 $700
5. 9 16 Jeff Fields Aragon, GA 40 $650
6. 11 1n Jordy Nipper Gray, GA 40 $550
7. 12 F9 Frank Ingram Woodstock, GA 40 $500
8. 18 25 Jeff Fields Rocky Face, GA 40 $550
9. 10 38c Chip Brindle Chatsworth, GA 40 $400
10. 7 K9 Dana Eiland Salem, AL 40 $375
11. 17 1 Jason Hiett (R) Lincoln, AL 40 $350
12. 5 21 Royce Bray Hull, GA 40 $300
13. 22 8 Chris Tays Corinth, MS 40 $280
14. 3 X Steven Roberts Sylvester, GA 39 $260
15. 15 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA 39 $250
16. 13 66k Scott Knowles (R) Lanett, AL 39 $240
17. 14 58 Larry Boutwell Baker, FL 39 $220
18. 23 12 Hunter Peacock (R) Macon, GA 39 $200
19. 19 8s Steve Miller Tampa, FL 39 $200
20. 24 34 Chad Wallace (R) LaGrange, GA 39 $200
21. 20 88 Matt Woodson LaGrange, GA 39 $200
22. 16 71 Gene Nasworthy Gray, GA 38 $200
23. 21 13k Kelly Leonard Opelika, AL 35 $200
24. 2 11 Stacey Roberts Sylvester, GA DQ-LT $200
ENTRIES: 32
FAST QUALIFIER: Thomas, 15.540 Seconds
PROVISIONALS: Peacock and Wallace
LEAD CHANGES: None
LAP LEADER: Thomas, 1-40
HARD CHARGER OF THE RACE: Smith (started 18th and finished 8th)
SUNOCO RACE FUELS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Cooley
DOMINATOR RACE PRODUCTS HARD LUCK AWARD: Bray
RACE CAR ENGINEERING FIFTH-PLACE AWARD: Fields
RACE CAR ENGINEERING EIGHTH-PLACE AWARD: Smith
MAXIMUM SIGNS NINTH-PLACE AWARD: Brindle
OLD 29 GOLF CARTS TENTH-PLACE AWARD: Eiland
CAUTIONS: 6
POS CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN CHASSIS TIME
1 22 William Thomas Phenix City, AL Scorpion 15.540
2 11 Stacey Roberts Sylvester, GA Rocket 15.700
3 X Steven Roberts Sylvester, GA Rocket 15.710
4 00s Richie Stephens - R Phenix City, AL GRT 15.720
5 21 Royce Bray Hull, GA Warrior 15.810
6 33c Eric Cooley - R Fulton, MS Mastersbilt 15.840
7 K9 Dana Eiland Salem, AL Swartz 15.910
8 87 Derrick Rainey Powder Springs, GA Warrior 15.910
9 16 Jeff Fields Aragon, GA Mastersbilt 15.950
10 38c Chip Brindle Chatsworth, GA GRT 15.980
11 10 Matthew Turner Dawsonville, GA DWB 16.000
12 58 Larry Boutwell Baker, FL TnT 16.080
13 66k Scott Knowles - R Lanett, AL GRT 16.090
14 F9 Frank Ingram Woodstock, GA Rocket 16.160
15 1h Jason Hiett - R Lincoln, AL GRT 16.180
16 88 Matt Woodson LaGrange, GA Rocket 16.200
17 1n Jordy Nipper Gray, GA Rocket 16.210
18 34 Chad Wallace - R LaGrange, GA GRT 16.220
19 13k Kelly Leonard Opelika, AL Scorpion 16.230
20 19 Marcus Minga - R Shannon, MS Mastersbilt 16.270
21 12 Hunter Peacock - R Macon, GA Bullet 16.290
22 25 Jeff Smith Rocky Face, GA GRT 16.290
23 18 Chase Edge LaFayette, AL Mastersbilt 16.360
24 27 Gordy Scarbrough Columbus, GA GRT 16.410
25 8s Steve Miller Tampa, FL Rocket 16.460
26 71 Gene Nasworthy Gray, GA TNT 16.490
27 21 Rusty Hoge Ooltewah, TN GRT 16.660
28 14 Pat Wall Columbus, GA Rocket 16.840
29 21g Jarrod Greene Rome, GA GRT 16.840
30 04 Blake Stewart Centre, AL GRT 17.000
31 8 Chris Tays Corinth, MS Trak Star DQ-LT
32 41v Travis Varnadore Dover, FL Rayburn DQ-LT
QUALIFYING RACES (12 Laps - Top 6 Transfer To Main Event):
1ST QUALIFYING RACE: 1. Nipper; 2. Knowles (R); 3. Turner; 4. Hiett (R); 5. Miller; 6. Leonard; 7. Edge; 8. Hoge; 9. Varnadore; 10. Greene; 11. Peacock (R).
2ND QUALIFYING RACE: 1. Ingram; 2. Boutwell; 3. Nasworthy; 4. Smith; 5. Woodson; 6. Tays; 7. Stewart; 8. Scarbrough; 9. Wallace (R); 10. Wall; 11. Minga (R).
NeSMITH CHEVROLET DIRT LATE MODEL SERIES NATIONAL POINT STANDINGS THROUGH 7/19/08:
1. Chip Brindle - 978
2. Larry Boutwell - 894
3. Chris Tays - 878
4. Scott Knowles (R) - 866
5. Jason Hiett (R) - 830
6. Derrick Rainey - 828
7. Eric Cooley (R) - 820
8. Hunter Peacock (R) - 804
9. Jeff Fields - 768
10. Matthew Turner - 744
11. Frank Ingram - 740
12. Ted Lackey - 706
13. Jay Blair - 620
14. Chad Wallace (R) - 494
15. Marcus Minga (R) - 448
16. Jordy Nipper - 444
17. Ronnie Johnson - 382
18. William Thomas - 378
19. Blake Stewart - 368
20. Lucky Keeton - 344
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