MORE PHOTOS: http://www.stlracingphotos.com/gallery/7700093_YbZMZ
story by: Steve Hixson
pics by: Mike Blevins (www.mikessportsimages.com)
Glencoe, AL (3/20/09) – The valuable seat-time at Green Valley Speedway paid off for the BAMA-KIDD as young (21yo.) William Thomas of Phenix City, Alabama was victorious in the Top Tracks Crate Challenge series race, presented by Carl Black Performance Parts. 2008 TTCC series Champion Todd Morrow came close to doubling up after taking the checkers in the evenings Super Late Model race, but would settle for the runners-up position at the end of the Crate feature. Thomas in the # 22 “JW Miller Land & Timber, Extreme Power Sports, Thomas Racing Enterprises, East Alabama Motor Speedway” sponsored Rocket / 604 GM Performance powered Crate Late Model was the class of the field, and able to pull away easily even with a late caution that bunched the field with 5 to go. Thomas out qualified 49 other entrants, that locked in the Top 10. Four heats staged the field where; Chris Fennell, local Brian Smith, Tony Kemp and Tom Maddox were victorious. 2008 TTCC series points runner-up Bobby Mayse and GA’s Brian Burke took series provisionals to start Friday’s feature.
“We really like GVS, it reminds me of a lil’ East Alabama (Motor Speedway)” stated Thomas, from his race-shop in Phenix City. “The track is a lot racier than before, now that they’ve made the straight-away’s straight.” Regarding his shot at $25,000. next weekend, Thomas remarked how, there’s going to be a lot of laps on that dirt with three-days of action, but his team is ready for the challenge. Thomas had garnered a lot of success and experience at GVS stemming from his 2007 FASTRAK series finale, that helped him towards his $50,000. series title. Behind runner-up Morrow was Georgia’s Jeff Smith, followed by Ronnie Lee Hollingsworth and local area racer Tim Busha. Former NATIONAL 100 Champion Jody Summerville raced to a sixth place finish with Shanon Buckingham, Kasey Hall, James Cline and Kemp rounding out the Top 10. Next weekend March 26th – 28th Thursday – Saturday GVS hosts the $25,000 to-WIN, CRATE NATIONALS. Top racers from around the country will bring their Crate Late Models for over $90,000. in total prize monies. Practice is slated for Thursday with Qualifying & Heats Friday, before Saturday's Feature Races.
Green Valley Speedway
Glencoe/Gadsden, AL
Top Tracks Crate Challenge Series
Friday, March 20, 2009
40 Laps - $1,500 to-WIN
1. William Thomas (# 22) of Phenix City, AL
2. Todd Morrow (# T16) of Cleveland, TN
3. Jeff Smith (# 00) of Villanow, GA
4. Ronnie Lee Hollingsworth (# 18) of Nortport, AL
5. Tim Busha (# 15) of Boaz, AL
6. Jody Summerville (# 16) of Rome, GA
7. Shannon Buckingham (# 50) of Morristown, TN
8. Kasey Hall (# 42) of Geraldine, AL
9. James Cline (# 3) of Oxford, AL
10. Tony Kemp (# 16) of Carrollton, GA
11. Brian Smith (# 115) of Sand Rock, AL
12. Chip Brindle (# 38) of Chattsworth, GA
13. Brad Hall (# 47) of Knoxville, TN
14. Chase Washington (# 38W) of Houlka, MS
15. Chris Noah (# 45) of Boaz, AL
16. Ben McCreary (# 21) of Baldwyn, MS
17. Brian Burke (# B39) of Dalton, GA
18. Bobby Mayse (# 22) of Harrison, TN
19. Logan Yates (# 5) of Talladega, AL
20. Chris Fennell (# C87) of Temple, GA
21. Blake Stewart (# M1) of Centre, AL
22. Aaron Ridley (# 81) of Chatsworth, GA
23. Tom Maddox (# 9) of Piedmont, AL
24. Billy Mayo (# 115) of Cleveland, TN
