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Jay Vaquer
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (September 13) - In preparation of the Alabama State Championship to be held the weekend of the 27th at East Alabama Motor Speedway many drivers came to test their set-ups and look for speed in this year's competition. In the Crate Late Model division Shane Stodghill and Bobby Eiland set fast time in qualifying with Eiland's 15.62 earning the pole and Stodghill taking the outside pole with a 15.67. When the green dropped on the feature Eiland led the way into turn one but Stodghill came out of turn two with the lead. Fastrak National Champion William Thomas was in third place with this year's EAMS Late Model track champion Richie " Rocketman" Stephens trying to pass from fourth up in the cushion. The leaders were so fast that within a few laps they were running a full straightaway ahead of Chase Edge in fifth. On lap 5 Stodghill lost all power as his coil wire came off on the back stretch and he coasted to a stop to bring out a yellow flag caution. On the restart Bobby Eiland led the pack into turn one and William Thomas was trying to take him from the inside. When they got to turn three Thomas drove deep into the turn and came out of turn 4 with more momentum than Eiland. The extra speed sent him into the rear of Eiland's car and slowed down Thomas's J.W. Miller Land and Timber BTR Scorpion. Rocketman made an attempt to capitalize on Thomas's misfortune however, Thomas's superb driving skills enabled him to maintain control and fend off the Rocketman to stay in second place. Thomas was quick to catch up to Eiland and began attacking from the apron, looking to pass under Eiland. Lap 13 proved unlucky for Eiland as Thomas shot past him in turn one to take the lead, hammer down, and pull away from the pack as the fat lady sang "turn out the lights, the party's over". As Thomas ran wide open Eiland didn't have a chance to pass and stayed a good 10 car lengths ahead of Rocketman who was about the same distance ahead of Edge. The white flag was out and just like last year Thomas claimed the victory in a very domineering fashion. Bobby Eiland finished second, Richie Stephens third, Chase Edge fourth, Montana Dudley, fifth, Marc Gooden sixth, Chad Scrimpshire seventh, Shane Stodghill eighth, Rodgerick Dykes ninth, and Bert Tompkins rounded out the top ten in tenth.
Crate Late Model
22 - William Thomas
08 - Bobby Eiland
00 - Richie Stephens
18 - Chase Edge
7 - Montana Dudley
Late Model Sportsman
7 - Terrance Nowell
91 - Tod Darda
18 - Larry Eldridge
27 - Larry Harrod
34 - Chad Wallace
Super Street
19 - Paul Walters
00 - Richie Stephens
2 - Randy Hester
7 - Roger Arnett
GT47 - Thomas Phillips
Hobby
83 - Karl Willard
00 - Richie Stephens
7 - Chris Arnett
92 - Danny Earl Warren
21 - Don Alan Knight
Bomber
17 - Jason Price
14 - Dustin Miller
75 - John Dozier
68 - Tim Jenson
16 - Drew Roberts
4-Cylinder
27 - Talmadge Simpson
07 - Frank Long
01 - Billy Baxley
20 - Ryan Heppner
17 - Bryan Price
Modified
10 - Jeff Culpepper
T5 - Terry Braswell
49 - Mike Daut
1J - Jack Cobb
5 - Andy Smith
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