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Jay Vaquer
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (August 2) - Ray Miller's National Late Model Series rolled into East Alabama Motor Speedway and as always put on a tremendous display of high energy dirt track excitement. Over 30 Late Model teams competed for the 40 lap $3,000 to win feature event. Mark Whitener set fast time in qualifying with a 16.33 and after the shuffle draw started third behind Todd Mitchell, who in his first appearance in two years won the pole. Many fans were disappointed in not seeing the local legend Dana Eiland in the line up after a fast qualifying lap. Seems that right after that fast lap as he entered the pits his motor expired. When the green dropped on the feature, Mitchell led the first lap then Russell Brown JR drove under him in turn one to take the lead. Jordy Nipper moved into fourth passing Johnny Collins as Mark Whitener passed Mitchell for second. Lil' Nip took advantage of the opportunity and was quick to shoot by Mitchell to take the third position on lap 5. Brown was fast and pulling away from the pack except for Whitener and Nipper who attacked from high and low. On lap 10 Mitchell broke and rolled into the pits for an early DNF. Turn two was slick and Brown decided to change his line and run on the inside groove which turned out to be a bad decision as Whitener gained momentum on the cushion and swept by to take the lead. Again Lil' Nip wasted no time in following Whitener past Brown and moved into second on lap 14. Mitch Fulford moved into fourth as Tod Darda put it on Steve Jones and moved into seventh place. David Whitener broke and brought out the lap 16 yellow flag caution. On the restart it was Whitener, Nipper, Brown, Fulford, Clay Bedenbaugh, Jeremy Faircloth, Darda, Steve Jones, Ben Faircloth, and Jason Fitzgerald rounding out the top ten. The track was picking up speed as it was almost totally blacked over which changed the complexion of various set ups. Gordy Scarborough, who was running a crate engine, was tagging along at the rear as the #27 entered the pits. Jeremy Faircloth passed Fulford to move into fourth on lap 26. JR Moseley had his hands full holding back his good buddy DeWayne "Flat out" Johnson who was sporting a new black TNT with a duct tape X on the side. These two put on an awesome display of high speed cat and mouse as Moseley was looking to break into the top ten. Lil' Nip again made a heads up move to pass Whitener and take the lead on lap 32. Steve Jones suffered a flat right rear and brought out the yellow. On the restart Moseley used his experience as former EAMS Late Model Track Champion to break into the top ten. At the front Lil' Nip could taste victory as he put the pedal to the metal and ran ten car lengths ahead of Whitener to take the white flag. Jordy Nipper was obviously more than pleased to take the checkers as he celebrated in Victory Lane. Mark Whitener finished second, Russell Brown JR third, Jeremy Faircloth fourth, Mitch Fulford fifth, Tod Darda had a great run and finished sixth, Jason Fitzgerald seventh, Clay Bedenbaugh eighth, Ben Faircloth ninth, and JR Moseley rounded out the top ten in tenth.
There were many surprises and excitement in the very exciting and challenging Limited Sportsman event. It looked like Freddie Slaughter, who when he hooks up is super fast, was going to run away with the event. Then the consistent Rodgerick Dykes seemed to be the one to win but suddenly, Paul Walters, who had been battling his way through the war of attrition, emerged as the victor. Walters took the checkers for the first time this year with Rodgerick Dykes finishing second. Josh Marchman finished third, Mikey Mount fourth, Chad Scrimpshire fifth, Dustin Elliot sixth, Randy Hester seventh, Jason Price eighth, Danny Stroud ninth, and Allen McConnell SR rounded out the top ten in tenth.
National Late Model Series
1n - Jordy Nipper
5w - Mark Whitener
00 - Russell Brown, Jr
4 - Jeremy Faircloth
15 - Mitch Fulford
91 - Tod Darda
7 - Jason Fitzgerald
6 - Clay Bedenbaugh
27 - Ben Faircloth
99 - JR Moseley
X - Dewayne Johnson
107 - Chaz Haskins
66 - Chuck Chitty
C2 - Cale Simons
17ss - Shan Smith
110 - Ricky Culpepper
35 - Charles Sealy
1J - Jay Johnson
22b - Brandon Cameron
27 - Gordy Scarbrough
25 - Chad Marchman
117 - Steve Jones
81 - David Whitener
20 - Todd Mitchell
5 - Johnny Collins
Limited Sportsman
19 - Paul Walters
5 - Rodgerick Dykes
21 - Josh Marchman
31 - Mikey Mount
72 - Chad Scrimpshire
115 - Dustin Elliott
2 - Randy Hester
24J - Jason Price
22 - Danny Stroud
12 - Allen McConnell, Sr
26 - Freddie Slaughter
294 - John Michael
20 - Allen McConnell
Bomber
7 - Trevor Elliott
75 - John Dozier
21 - Justin Masters
38 - Chris Storey
52 - Shelby Amos
91 - Cody Weathers
83 - Cody Scrimpshire
15 - Eddie Albritton
16 - Christy Noles
16 - Drew Roberts
7 - Jeff Elliott
Pony Stock
17 - Bryan Price
20 - Adam Rodriguez
11 - Brandie Gatlin
RX1 - Jessie Rivera
7 - Bobby Duell
99 - Chance Renfroe
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