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Justin Rickett
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (March 12) - Finally the wait was over, the start of the 2011 racing season at East Alabama Motor Speedway was here and race fans couldn't have asked for any better racing action. With the pit area full and the stands packed it was time to kick the racing action into high gear. After some practice laps and heat races it was time for Extreme Power Sports time trials in the Alabama Rock Late Model division. Seventeen cars took to the track with two chances at the top spot. When every car had timed in, it was Chase Edge setting fast time with a lap of 15.50 seconds. When the green waved on the 25 lap feature Chase Edge lead the field into turn one with Terrance Nowell following in second. Nowell not satisfied with second quickly took the top spot from Edge at the exit of turn two. Pat wall was running in the third spot trying to hold off a hard charging Thomas Lewis running in the fourth spot. While the top few cars were content to ride for the moment Montana Dudley was busy making his way through the field from his tenth place starting spot. By lap 15 Russ Ogletree had moved into the fourth spot with Dudley right on his heels. Up front Nowell had put some distance between himself and Edge. A few laps later the caution would wave as Pat Wall went for a spin in turn 2 giving Edge a chance at Nowell on the restart. Dudley, now in fourth, was making that high side work well and got a great restart passing Lewis and charging hard for Edge. Then pushing a little too hard Dudley caught the lip of the track coming off turn two. He was able to keep his car on the track but lost a lot of ground in doing so. Up front Edge was all over Nowell for the top spot and with two laps to go was trying to get a run on the inside. With the checkers in the air the front two went side by side down to the line with Terrance Nowell winning by a nose. Chase Edge finished second with Thomas Lewis third, Russ Ogletree fourth, and Montana Dudley pulling it together to finish fifth.
In the Limited Sportsman 15 lap feature Steven Gaines Jr. had the top starting spot with Roger Arnett starting second. When the green waved Gaines lead the field into turn one with Arnett right on his bumper. Marty Beckwith was in the third spot with Montie Vaughn running fourth. Some laps later, Vaughn trying to take third went for a spin in turn two sending him to the rear of the field. On the restart Gaines again pulled away from second place running Arnett. As the laps went by Arnett stayed with Gaines just waiting for one slip to take the top spot. Unfortunately for Arnett a slip by Gaines wouldn't happen and he would hold on to take the first feature win of the season in the Limited Sportsman division. Roger Arnett finished second with Marty Beckwith third, Brand Lewis fourth and Chris Arnett round out the top five in fifth.
In the 15 lap Hobby feature it was Kevin Bennett picking up the first win of the season. Bennett started the race on the pole with Chris Storey outside in second. When the green waved, Bennett held the lead with Storey and Allen McConnell following close behind. John Michael was running in the fourth spot and making ground on the front three when he went for a spin in turn three bring out the first caution of the night. When the race went back green Bennett started putting some distance between himself and Storey, but as the laps started winding down Storey started to close. With one lap to go Storey was all over Bennett for the lead but coming to the checkered flag he couldn't quite pull off the pass. Kevin Bennett held on to win the first Hobby Feature of 2011. Chris Storey finished second with Allen McConnell, Allen Franks, and Jared Eiland completing the top five.
The Bomber division was back in action Saturday night with a familiar face in victory lane. In the 12 lap feature it was Dylan Knowles starting on the pole with David Osbahr second. When the green flag waved Osbahr quickly powered past Knowles coming out of turn two to take the lead. Knowles ran second with Larry Hodnett running third. As the laps started to tick off, the front pair of Osbahr and Knowles put some distance between them and the rest of the field. Robbie Luke worked his way past Hodnett to take over the third spot but the front two cars were not in sight. With two laps left Knowles was trying everything to pass Osbahr. With the checkered flag in the air Knowles made one last try at Osbahr in three and four pulling along side coming to the line. When the dust settled David Osbahr held on to take the win with Dylan Knowles finishing second. Robbie Luke finished third with David Bartholf and Harold Ransom rounding out the top five.
We welcomed back the Modified class for the 2011 season opener and it was a Late Model veteran debuting his new modified ride in winning style. In the 12 lap modified feature Richie Stephens lead flag to flag to pick up the first win of the season. Finishing second was Gordy Scarbrough with Scott Prins crossing the line in third.
Saturday night was the debut of the brand new Road Warrior class. This entry level racing class allows drivers to get a custom to dirt track racing. Participating in the debut was Dylan Holmes and Cody Smith. After laps of side-by-side battling Holmes finally took the lead and the checkered flag with Smith taking home second.
Be sure to come out this Saturday night for more great racing action at East Alabama Motor Speedway.
Late Model
55 - Terrance Nowell
18 - Chase Edge
5 - Thomas Lewis
88 - Russ Ogletree
55 - Montana Dudley
22 - Chad Carden
08 - Bobby Eiland
66 - Scott Knowles
90 - Joey Thomas
P19 - Paul Walters
14 - Pat Wall
34 - Lee Mason
12 - JR Cobb
9 - Adam Brown
29 - Randy Allen
69 - Tony Lawson
67 - Eddie Peacock
Limited Sportsman
50jr - Steven Gaines, Jr
7 - Roger Arnett
13 - Marty Beckwith
75 Brand Lewis
7 - Chris Arnett
29 - Joey Eiland
50v - Montie Vaughn
DNS - 79 Marc Gooden
Hobby
17 - Kevin Bennett
9 - Chris Storey
24 - Allen McConnell
39 - Alan Franks
294 - Jared Eiland
216 - Lydia Marsolf
294 - John Michael
Bomber
00 - David Osbahr
66k - Dylan Knowles
89 - Robbie Luke
B4 - Dave Bartholf
96 Harold Ransom
01 - Larry Hodnett
6 - Chance Adkins
47 - Lucas Flaitz
37 Cameron Metts
Modified
00 - Richie Stephens
27 - Gordy Scarbrough
44 - Scott Prins
Road Warrior
11 - Dylan Holmes
23 - Cody Smith
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