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Ark-La-Tex Media
VIVIAN, La. (February 26) - The 100-lap feature was incredible for the inaugural Pelican 100! The capacity, standing-room only crowd stood in appreciation afterwards and cheered through the victory lane celebration. The race track in a word was simply 'great'! Racing high, low and through the middle grooves as well. Two-wides and three-wides through lapped traffic for the whole 100 laps. Five cautions in all with no major incidents or crashes. Lots of lead changes among three drivers: Bub McCool, Ronny Lee Hollingsworth and after running 3rd and 4th much of the way, hometown hero Ray Moore comes on strong and makes it a 3-way battle with 25 to go. As the laps wound down, David Breazelle re-entered the picture after fading back to fifth earlier and the last 5-laps featured a three-car dogfight with McCool on the rim, Moore on the berm and Breazelle closing fast with a lapped car down low too. The race wasn't decided until the final lap! Ray Moore's door panel was 'conviscated' -- no, 'donated' -- for the Ark-La-Tex Speedway 'Wall of Fame'. There's only one inaugural race winner per event and Ray Moore has the title of Pelican 100 Champion, year one. A race that won't be forgotten around these parts for a long, long time. Can't wait to see YEAR TWO of this one assuming I can catch my breath by then after watching year one. 15 of the 22 starters were running at the end of the race and nine cars were on the lead lap. If you missed this one, you can start kicking yourself now but don't worry, only 364 days till the next Pelican 100 at Ark-La-Tex Speedway!!!
Pelican 100 A-main results, Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Vivian, LA, February 26th, 2011
48 Entries
1. 93 Ray Moore, Haughton, LA, $10,000
2. 57J Bub McCool, Vicksburg, MS $5000 (+$100 fast time from Arizona Motorsports!)
3. 54 David Breazell, Four Corners, MS $2500
4. C28 Kenny Merchant, West Monroe, LA $2000
5. 14M Morgan Bagley, Tyler, TX $1500
6. 88 Wendell Wallace, Batesville, AR $1400
7. 18 Ronny Lee Hollingswoth, Northport, AL $1300
8. 21jr Billy Moyer, Jr., Batesville, AR $1200
9. 1S Jack Sullivan, Greenbriar, AR $1100
10. 86 Kyle Beard, Truman, AR $1000
11. 5M Jon Mitchell, Texarkana, TX $1000
12. C8 Timothy Culp, West Monroe, LA $1000
13. 65 Dewaine Hottinger, Russelville, AR $1000
14. F5 Josh Danzy, Heflin, LA $1000
15. 10 Mike Balcaen, Winninpeg, MB, Canada $1000
16. 11 Jon Kirby, Russelville, AR $1000
17. R5 BJ Robinson, Shreveport, LA $1000
18. 87M Jody Mayne, Grand Saline, TX $1000
19. 77 Greg Fore, Greenville, MS $1000
20. 115 Trey Beene, Bossier City, LA $1000
21. 21 Lee Davis, Greenwood, LA $1000
22. 6X Rob Litton, Alexandria, LA $1000
Charlie Kruithof of Bossier City, LA beat a field of 37 All-Points System Factory Stocks and Billy Melton, Jr. of Longview, Texas topped 24 Limited Modifieds.
By the way, Smiley's Racing Products and Hoosier Tire Southwest put up $1000 for a front row challenge. Pole sitter Bub McCool first, then outside pole Ronny Lee Hollingsworth were offered $1000 no matter what -- that would have made the show at least $2000 to start for either one of them -- IF they moved back to the 4th row. They both declined. As it turned out, I bet they both say yes next year if it's offered again. It's a tough call when you're going for $10,000 but the way McCool ran those first 25 laps, he would have been top 3 by the first caution. Hollingsworth held the lead for quite a while in the middle stages but after a restart with 21 laps to go, McCool went to his outside and Moore to his inside and they were 3-wide down the backstretch. When they got to turns 3 and 4, Ronny Lee spun for the race's final caution and was hit by Jon Kirby. He restarted ninth after a trip to the pits.
Trey Beene won the non-qualifier's drawing for the 21st starting spot which turned out to be worth $1000. BJ Robinson won the wrap from Xtreme Graphics. Raymond Childress of Childress Racing bought the 22nd and final starting spot for Robinson for $2600 at the auction. When the bidding reached $2000, promoter Gene Boyter raised the start money to $1000.
BIG THANKS to race sponsors:
CHILDRESS FISHING & RENTALS, Haughton, LA
P & W SALES, Kilgore, TX
SMITH'S TOWING of MINDEN, Minden, LA
TROY'S AUTO SALVAGE, Minden, LA
ED RINEHART, Porter, TX
XTREME GRAPHICS by J-ROD, Baton Rouge, LA
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