COLUMBUS, MS- Three weeks ago at Columbus Speedway Opening Night, young Northport, Alabama Super Late Model driver Ronny Lee Hollingsworth served notice that this year things were going to be different, this year, the #18 of Hollingsworth would be a force to reckon with on Johnny Stokes' high banks. This past Saturday night at the "March Mayhem 30", Hollingsworth, who has also took a feature win at Moulton Speedway following his first Columbus victory, made sure that his statement was not forgotten.
Hollingsworth would start the feature race from the outside pole position, above none other than top racing engine builder Jay Dickens, who took his first ever quick time and pole position with a fine 14.06-second lap during midsouthracing.com Pole Qualifying. After going through turns 1 and 2 and blasting down the backstretch side-by-side, Hollingsworth gained the advantage from the top of turn 4 and became the first clear leader of the race. A lap later, the first caution fell as "The Prowler" Shawn Edwards, "The WeirWolf" Tombo Callahan, Jason Smith, and "Marvelous" Mark Stokes attempted to go four wide in turn 4 with "mixed" results. Stokes would have to take his #2 Rocket to the rear of the field.
Hollingsworth continued to lead after the restart, while Clint Hardin, Edwards, and Callahan went engaged in a 3-way dance for 4th. Callahan would come out with the spot as Jason Smith moved around Edwards and then under Callahan to begin a battle that would soon create much interest. Smith still had not completely shed Edwards though, and the #5 continued to try and regain the 5th position as Hollingsworth began to pull away from Dickens up front. Smith would go under Callahan again in turn 2 after fending off Edwards, and Callahan would run out of room on the high side exiting turn 2 as Smith attempted to close the deal on lap 7. Callahan's car wound up nose-first hard into the concrete wall, heavily damaging his car as Smith continued down the backstretch. A small altercation between the two drivers following the crash was defused and racing would resume. Edwards would also leave the track under caution and return to the rear of the field for the restart.
Hollingsworth continued out front, with Smith quickly moving up and going after Dickens for the second spot. Smith would take the spot following another caution Kyle Scheer, leaving Dickens to fight off Clint Hardin as Hollingsworth moved ahead, now with a full straightaway advantage and moving into lapped traffic on lap 17. Hardin, Anthony Burroughs, and the hard-charging Edwards would go 3-wide in a battle for 6th place, with Stokes then poking his nose in as Edwards worked his way back into the top 5. Hardin would bring out the final caution on lap 24, setting up what promised to be a hot battle between two fast cars for the top spot in a 6-lap shootout to win.
The anticipated battle did not last long. Smith managed to look inside Hollingsworth for the first lap, but the #18 was entirely too strong and soon moved away from the field again as Dickens and Neil Baggett put on a show in the final battle for third place. Hollingsworth cruised to his second Columbus Speedway victory of 2004, with Smith, Dickens, Baggett, and Edwards earning top-five honors.
Tony Gray and Rusty Duncan would go door-to-door at the start of the Open-Wheel Modified feature, with Gray finally moving out to take the lead as Todd Gray moved in on Duncan. Gray would take second behind his brother on lap 5, leaving Duncan to deal with what would become a 3-wide battle for third with Bryan Brock and William Wells. Sibling rivalry would soon be in full force up front, and Todd Gray began to work the low side on Tony Gray lap after lap until the checkered flag finally fell. Tony Gray held off his brother Todd for the win, with Duncan, Wells, and Jeremy Shaw rounding out the top five.
Marvin Beard took the initial lead in Pro Street action, with Mike Langford quickly moving into second place ahead of Chris Harmon. Beard wasted little time gaining an advantage as the entire field spread out, but Langford would soon begin to slowly reel in the leader, catching up by lap 8. Beard drop back, suffering mechanical trouble on lap 12 as Langford worked to gain the lead, and Langford would go on to take the win. Harmon, Billy Cook, Randy Bush, and Beard would make up the top five.
Tony Shelton and Trey Bright kicked off the Street Stock event by moving out on the field and battling for the top spot. A pair of early cautions broke up the action but the battle raged on, with Bright finally taking the lead on the front stretch as "Big Money" David Honeycutt made his way to the front. Honeycutt would soon catch Bright as the two checked out on the rest of the pack and would pursue every possible angle to take the lead away as the laps wound down. Honeycutt could do little with the strong-running Bright and would cross the finish line on the leaders' left flank as Bright took his first ever feature victory. Shelton, Gene Thomas, and Jason Hollis took home top-five honors.
As Aaron Peay took the lead on the start, Michael Pendley would battle hard with Greg Glover in the early laps of Mini Stock action, but it was Scott Gable putting on the show, starting 14th and making his way quickly to the front. Gable gained 3rd place on lap 6, passed Pendley on lap 7, and took the lead on lap 10. Peay's night ended with a crash on lap 13, and Gable would move out to take the win. Steve Miller, Keith McCool, Greg Glover, and Marty Oliver made up the top five.
Wayne & Jamie Sudduth led every lap to win the Two-Person Cruiser feature, which was broken up by a wild crash flip of the #20 car of James Smith and David Reiland. Melvin & Taylor Murphy earned second place followed by Benji Jones & Curt Smith.
The next event at Columbus Speedway will be the 12th Annual James King Memorial this Friday and Saturday night. Friday nights’ action will see Super Late Model Pepsi Pole Qualifying and heats races, Open Wheel Modified heats and main event, and local division Main events. Saturday night will see Super Late Model B-Main events, the 64-lap $12,000 to win Super Late Model James King Memorial, heats and main event for the Open Wheel Modifieds, and main events in all local divisions plus a main event in the Late Model Stocks. The big event is expected to draw many of the best drivers in the nation into the exciting confines of the Columbus Speedway.
Event information for Friday night has grandstand gates opening at 5pm with action at 8:00pm. Adult grandstand admission is only $15 with children ages 10 and under admitted free. Event information for Saturday night has grandstand gates opening at 4pm with action at 7:00pm. Adult grandstand admission is only $20 with children ages 10 and under admitted free. Pit gates open at 2pm each day and pit admission is $25.
Their will also be a special practice session on Thursday night from 7pm until 10pm with free grandstand admission and pit admission $10. Further information can be obtained by calling Terry King at 662-327-4054 or Johnny Stokes at 662-574-2572 during the day or at 662-327-3047 in the evenings. Additional Columbus Speedway information can be found on the Columbus Speedway Internet home hosted at www.midsouthracing.com or by calling the Columbus Speedway event hotline at 662-241-5004.
Columbus Speedway Fast Finish:
Super Late Model - Top 5
1ST 18 RONNY LEE HOLLINGSWORTH
2ND 12 JASON SMITH
3RD 1 JAY DICKENS
4TH 21 NEIL BAGGETT
5TH 5 SHAWN EDWARDS
Open Wheel Modified - Top 5
1ST 35 TONY GRAY
2ND 7G TODD GRAY
3RD 12 RUSTY DUNCAN
4TH 71 WILLIAM WELLS
5TH 1S JEREMY SHAW
Pro Street - Top 5
1ST 22 MIKE LANGFORD
2ND 27 CHRIS HARMON
3RD B2 BILLY COOK
4TH 99+ RANDY BUSH
5TH 20 MARVIN BEARD
Street Stock - Top 5
1ST 82 TREY BRIGHT
2ND 15 DAVID HONEYCUTT
3RD 18 TONY SHELTON
4TH 17 GENE THOMAS
5TH 97 JASON HOLLIS
Mini Stock - Top 5
1ST 7 SCOTT GABLE
2ND 2 STEVE MILLER
3RD 527 KEITH MCCOOL
4TH 8 GREG GLOVER
5TH 07 MARTY OLIVER
Two-Person Cruiser - Top 5
1ST 11 WAYNE SUDDUTH & JAMIE SUDDUTH
2ND M2 MELVIN MURPHY & TAYLOR MURPHY
3RD K6 BENJI JONES & CURT SMITH
4TH 11X JOE & ROSE WEEKS
5TH 37 SEAN LYTLE & MIKE HARRIS
Hollingsworth would start the feature race from the outside pole position, above none other than top racing engine builder Jay Dickens, who took his first ever quick time and pole position with a fine 14.06-second lap during midsouthracing.com Pole Qualifying. After going through turns 1 and 2 and blasting down the backstretch side-by-side, Hollingsworth gained the advantage from the top of turn 4 and became the first clear leader of the race. A lap later, the first caution fell as "The Prowler" Shawn Edwards, "The WeirWolf" Tombo Callahan, Jason Smith, and "Marvelous" Mark Stokes attempted to go four wide in turn 4 with "mixed" results. Stokes would have to take his #2 Rocket to the rear of the field.
Hollingsworth continued to lead after the restart, while Clint Hardin, Edwards, and Callahan went engaged in a 3-way dance for 4th. Callahan would come out with the spot as Jason Smith moved around Edwards and then under Callahan to begin a battle that would soon create much interest. Smith still had not completely shed Edwards though, and the #5 continued to try and regain the 5th position as Hollingsworth began to pull away from Dickens up front. Smith would go under Callahan again in turn 2 after fending off Edwards, and Callahan would run out of room on the high side exiting turn 2 as Smith attempted to close the deal on lap 7. Callahan's car wound up nose-first hard into the concrete wall, heavily damaging his car as Smith continued down the backstretch. A small altercation between the two drivers following the crash was defused and racing would resume. Edwards would also leave the track under caution and return to the rear of the field for the restart.
Hollingsworth continued out front, with Smith quickly moving up and going after Dickens for the second spot. Smith would take the spot following another caution Kyle Scheer, leaving Dickens to fight off Clint Hardin as Hollingsworth moved ahead, now with a full straightaway advantage and moving into lapped traffic on lap 17. Hardin, Anthony Burroughs, and the hard-charging Edwards would go 3-wide in a battle for 6th place, with Stokes then poking his nose in as Edwards worked his way back into the top 5. Hardin would bring out the final caution on lap 24, setting up what promised to be a hot battle between two fast cars for the top spot in a 6-lap shootout to win.
The anticipated battle did not last long. Smith managed to look inside Hollingsworth for the first lap, but the #18 was entirely too strong and soon moved away from the field again as Dickens and Neil Baggett put on a show in the final battle for third place. Hollingsworth cruised to his second Columbus Speedway victory of 2004, with Smith, Dickens, Baggett, and Edwards earning top-five honors.
Tony Gray and Rusty Duncan would go door-to-door at the start of the Open-Wheel Modified feature, with Gray finally moving out to take the lead as Todd Gray moved in on Duncan. Gray would take second behind his brother on lap 5, leaving Duncan to deal with what would become a 3-wide battle for third with Bryan Brock and William Wells. Sibling rivalry would soon be in full force up front, and Todd Gray began to work the low side on Tony Gray lap after lap until the checkered flag finally fell. Tony Gray held off his brother Todd for the win, with Duncan, Wells, and Jeremy Shaw rounding out the top five.
Marvin Beard took the initial lead in Pro Street action, with Mike Langford quickly moving into second place ahead of Chris Harmon. Beard wasted little time gaining an advantage as the entire field spread out, but Langford would soon begin to slowly reel in the leader, catching up by lap 8. Beard drop back, suffering mechanical trouble on lap 12 as Langford worked to gain the lead, and Langford would go on to take the win. Harmon, Billy Cook, Randy Bush, and Beard would make up the top five.
Tony Shelton and Trey Bright kicked off the Street Stock event by moving out on the field and battling for the top spot. A pair of early cautions broke up the action but the battle raged on, with Bright finally taking the lead on the front stretch as "Big Money" David Honeycutt made his way to the front. Honeycutt would soon catch Bright as the two checked out on the rest of the pack and would pursue every possible angle to take the lead away as the laps wound down. Honeycutt could do little with the strong-running Bright and would cross the finish line on the leaders' left flank as Bright took his first ever feature victory. Shelton, Gene Thomas, and Jason Hollis took home top-five honors.
As Aaron Peay took the lead on the start, Michael Pendley would battle hard with Greg Glover in the early laps of Mini Stock action, but it was Scott Gable putting on the show, starting 14th and making his way quickly to the front. Gable gained 3rd place on lap 6, passed Pendley on lap 7, and took the lead on lap 10. Peay's night ended with a crash on lap 13, and Gable would move out to take the win. Steve Miller, Keith McCool, Greg Glover, and Marty Oliver made up the top five.
Wayne & Jamie Sudduth led every lap to win the Two-Person Cruiser feature, which was broken up by a wild crash flip of the #20 car of James Smith and David Reiland. Melvin & Taylor Murphy earned second place followed by Benji Jones & Curt Smith.
The next event at Columbus Speedway will be the 12th Annual James King Memorial this Friday and Saturday night. Friday nights’ action will see Super Late Model Pepsi Pole Qualifying and heats races, Open Wheel Modified heats and main event, and local division Main events. Saturday night will see Super Late Model B-Main events, the 64-lap $12,000 to win Super Late Model James King Memorial, heats and main event for the Open Wheel Modifieds, and main events in all local divisions plus a main event in the Late Model Stocks. The big event is expected to draw many of the best drivers in the nation into the exciting confines of the Columbus Speedway.
Event information for Friday night has grandstand gates opening at 5pm with action at 8:00pm. Adult grandstand admission is only $15 with children ages 10 and under admitted free. Event information for Saturday night has grandstand gates opening at 4pm with action at 7:00pm. Adult grandstand admission is only $20 with children ages 10 and under admitted free. Pit gates open at 2pm each day and pit admission is $25.
Their will also be a special practice session on Thursday night from 7pm until 10pm with free grandstand admission and pit admission $10. Further information can be obtained by calling Terry King at 662-327-4054 or Johnny Stokes at 662-574-2572 during the day or at 662-327-3047 in the evenings. Additional Columbus Speedway information can be found on the Columbus Speedway Internet home hosted at www.midsouthracing.com or by calling the Columbus Speedway event hotline at 662-241-5004.
Columbus Speedway Fast Finish:
Super Late Model - Top 5
1ST 18 RONNY LEE HOLLINGSWORTH
2ND 12 JASON SMITH
3RD 1 JAY DICKENS
4TH 21 NEIL BAGGETT
5TH 5 SHAWN EDWARDS
Open Wheel Modified - Top 5
1ST 35 TONY GRAY
2ND 7G TODD GRAY
3RD 12 RUSTY DUNCAN
4TH 71 WILLIAM WELLS
5TH 1S JEREMY SHAW
Pro Street - Top 5
1ST 22 MIKE LANGFORD
2ND 27 CHRIS HARMON
3RD B2 BILLY COOK
4TH 99+ RANDY BUSH
5TH 20 MARVIN BEARD
Street Stock - Top 5
1ST 82 TREY BRIGHT
2ND 15 DAVID HONEYCUTT
3RD 18 TONY SHELTON
4TH 17 GENE THOMAS
5TH 97 JASON HOLLIS
Mini Stock - Top 5
1ST 7 SCOTT GABLE
2ND 2 STEVE MILLER
3RD 527 KEITH MCCOOL
4TH 8 GREG GLOVER
5TH 07 MARTY OLIVER
Two-Person Cruiser - Top 5
1ST 11 WAYNE SUDDUTH & JAMIE SUDDUTH
2ND M2 MELVIN MURPHY & TAYLOR MURPHY
3RD K6 BENJI JONES & CURT SMITH
4TH 11X JOE & ROSE WEEKS
5TH 37 SEAN LYTLE & MIKE HARRIS
