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James Essex
UNION, Ky. (March 19) - Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, WV capitalized on a penalty levied on race leader, Don O'Neal of Martinsville, IN on a lap-29 restart as he went on to score his first ever win at Florence (KY) Speedway on Saturday Night earning $5,000 for capturing the 35th Annual Spring 50. The 40-year-old second generation racer led the remaining 21 laps of the event to take the win over Scott James of Lawrenceburg, IN, O'Neal, Rod Conley of Wheelersburg, OH and Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon, IA.
"It feels great to finally get a win here at Florence, we will definitely be back, the track was real good considering all the rain they have had," said Carrier, who emerged from his Rocket Ford Fusion to the delight of the large crowd of spectators who were on hand to witness the event. Carrier who was born and raised in Kentucky spent the first 31 years of his life in the Bluegrass State until moving to West Virginia in 2002 to drive for Carl Grover Motorsports based out of Ona, WV.
Scott James and Kent Robinson paced the field at the start of the race with James grabbing the lead in the Riggs Motorsports entry. The first caution of the race appeared on lap five for 2010 UMP Late Model Champion, Rusty Schlenk, who slowed on the frontstretch. The restart would see James continue to lead with Carrier, who started fourth running in second. Eric Wells, who started seventh quickly made his way to the front grabbing the second slot from Carrier on lap six.
Wells then started to challenge James for the lead was the top four cars of James, Wells, Carrier, and O'Neal were tightly bunched in the race for the top spot. The second caution appeared on lap eight for defending Florence track champion, Jason Jameson, who came to a halt in turn row.
On the restart Carrier would make a nifty move splitting both James and Wells to take the lead off of turn number two. O'Neal then started to get wound up as the veteran pilot came from fourth to second on the restart to challenge Carrier for the lead. A caution on lap 14 would once again slow the field.
On the restart James, who was running third clipped the inside burm in turn two causing him to spin. James would restart on the tail, but he would become a factor again late in the race.
Carrier and O'Neal then would put on a fantastic battle for the lead running side-by-side on several occasions until O'Neal was able to forge ahead on lap 19. O'Neal then started to pull away from Carrier and Wells, who were battling for second. O'Neal's good sized advantage would disappear by lap 27 when the caution came out for Frank Heckenast Jr, who slowed on the main straightaway with an oil leak and a right rear flat tire.
The restart of the race would be called back when officials said O'Neal fired before the cone in turn four, as the ensuing penalty caused O'Neal to lose one spot in the running order. Carrier would now be the new leader of the race on the restart, with O'Neal and 12th starting Steve Casebolt lined up side-by-side for the Delaware double-file restart. Casebolt's brilliant run through the field would come to an end when he lost his brakes as he pulled out of the race.
Carrier would then take command of the race as O'Neal was now in second followed by James, who had come all the way from the back to third with Simpson, who was making his first ever start at Florence on fourth, followed by Conley, who like James had come from the tail after hitting the cone early in the race and suffering a penalty.
Carrier would start to enter some lapped traffic by lap 38, but two laps later that would all clear out as Christian Rayburn, could not quite make it to the infield pit area on lap 40 which brought out the final caution of the race.
The final restart would see Carrier sprint away from the field as O'Neal and James went door-to-door to settle the second spot. James would clear O'Neal on lap 42, and would have eight laps to try and track down Carrier.
It was not to be for either James and O'Neal as the two Hoosier State drivers had no luck in chasing down Carrier, who sailed on for his first win at Florence Speedway in his Carl Grover Motorsports, Engines, Inc., Cox Wrecker Service, Hess, Stewart and Campbell, Blue Ridge Machinery and Tools and Ohlins sponsored car..
James, in his first start of the season in the Riggs Motorsports entry out of Harrisburg, IL took second in the Clearwave Communications, Jay D1ckens powered, Rocket Malibu. O'Neal was third in the Magnaflow Exhaust Products, Jay D1ckens powered, MasterSbilt Chevrolet. Conley was fourth in the Conley Trucking, Draime Engines, Rocket Impala SS with Simpson finishing fifth in his GATR, Pro Power Racing Engines, MasterSbilt entry.
Completing the top ten were Jesse Lay of Verona, KY, Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, IL, Robby Hensley of Richwood, KY, Corey McKenzie of Paintsville, KY and Jarrod Breeding of Isom, KY.
Eddie Carrier Jr. was the fastest qualifier with a time of 15.555 seconds. Heat races were won by Scott James, Kent Robinson and Chad Simpson.
Spring 50 Feature
Finish: Eddie Carrier Jr., Scott James, Don O'Neal, Rod Conley, Chad Simpson, Jesse Lay, Bobby Pierce, Robby Hensley, Corey McKenzie, Jarrod Breeding, Brian Gray, Christian Rayburn, John Gill, Steve Casebolt, Justin Rattliff, Kent Robinson, Eric Wells, Frank Heckenast Jr., Kenneth Howell, Jason Jameson, Rusty Schlenk
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