Round three of the Kennith Wessner Ford Mercury Big 10 Cup series for Steel Head Late Models was center stage with Shelbyville’s Larry Landers setting quick time with a lap of 15.81. Number two qualifier was Shannon Davis(16.09) Filling in for David Brannon who was running late getting to the speedway. This would be significant as the feature lined up for the main event. With Brannon in the car, David had to go to the rear due to a driver change while number four qualifier Byron Michael moved up to fill the front row.
At the drop of the flag it was Landers who jumped out front and seemingly in control. Larry led the first 18 laps but lapped traffic allowed 2002 Big 6 champion Byron Michael to catch and get by the #29 of Landers. Lapped traffic continued to be Landers undoing as 2003 Big 10 Champion Jerry Owens closed and while racing side by side with the Shelbyville hot shoe and both trying desperately to work lapped traffic a turn one crash resulted with our pole sitter being relegated to the rear. A close controversial call put Larry in the rear while Jerry Owens would close up on the rear deck lid of his Alabama neighbor, Byron Michael.
On the restart the two former champions took off but it was Flyin’ Byron that would lead the final laps to capture the checkered flag ahead of Owens and 2004 track Champion Randy Gifford. If you were looking for great efforts how about Jay Brinkley coming from 13th to finish fourth or maybe David Brannon coming from twenty third(Billy Harris did not start the main event thus only 23 racers took the green flag) to nab a Top 5 run!
With points leader Daniel Miller suffering an ill fated crash(not of his making), Byron Michael took over the series points lead by a mere two points.
Late Models
1)Byron Michael
2)Jerry Owens
3)Randy Gifford
4)Jay Brinkley
5)David Brannon
6)Tyler Landers
7)David Jackson
8)Corey Posey
9)Tommy Davis
10)James Gamble
11)Moe Harrison
12)Larry Landers
13)Mark Fields
14)Tommy Lawwell
15)Junior Brown
16)Daniel Miller
17)Michael Luna
18)Jerry Ashley
19)Jason Williams
20)Brandon King
21)Jeremy Taylor
22)Shawn Mitchell
23)Scott Cook
Billy Harris(Did Not Start)
Top 20 in points after Round #3
1)Byron Michael-229
2)Daniel Miller-227
3)Corey Posey-224
4)David Jackson-223
5)Jerry Owens-220
6)Mark Fields-213
6)David Brannon-213
8)Tommy Lawell-212
9)Larry Landers-210
10)Michael Luna-207
11)Moe Harrison-207
12)Scott Cook-201
13)Tyler Landers-199
14)Jerry Ashley-197
15)Brandon King-195
16)Randy Gifford-189
17)Tommy Davis -185
18)Shawn Mitchell-182
19)Billy Harris-176
20)Jon Miller-126
**42 Different racers have compete in the first three events with $5,040 in the points fund.
Sixteen year old Ryan Gifford, in only his sixth ever start in a dirt Late Model, led all 26 Tennessee Valley Concrete 2-BBL Late Models with a very quick lap of 16.47 and took the early lead from Duck River 2-BBL hot shoe Dwayne "Coondog" Waid. Waid would work the youngster low and high until he finally got by on the high side. Once in front Dwayne would not be caught and sailed to his first win of the year at Winchester. Gifford stayed after the veteran but settled for a very impressive runner-up finish ahead of Scott Grant and Shane Echols. Track record holder Billy Barnett edged Bruce Williams and Robin Morris for a Top 5 finish.
2-BBL Late Model
1)Dwayne Waid
2)Ryan Gifford
3)Scott Grant
4)Shane Echols
5)Billy Barnett
6)Bruce Williams
7)Robin Morris
8)Eddie Graves
9)Chad Bone
10)Josh Lawwell
Heat winners Mark Haddon and Henry Hanger played a cat and mouse game at the start of the Badcock and More Home Furnishings Open Wheel feature much to the detriment of Haddon. The pole sitter was judged to have jumped the start and would be sent in arrears two rows for the next attempt. This moved up Shannon Davis to the pole and Davis drove away to his fifth victory of the year. Defending Champion Hanger was second while Alan Holmes edged Pulaski’s Ken McAfee and Haddon for third.
Open Wheel
1)Shannon Davis
2)Henry Hanger
3)Alan Holmes
4)Ken McAffee
5)Mark Haddon
6)Colt Russell
7)Steve Vann
8)Tony Mooney
9)Toby Crumbley
10)Keith Sneed
Bobby Bradford and John Whaley put on a race long duel for the Trophy Shop Super Stock win with Bradford getting a mid race break when a caution flag negated Whaley’s pass for the lead. Bradford was never passed again and took the measure of five time Pure Stock victor Whaley. Johnny Payne was third with Jeff Woods taking the measure of Barry Whitsett for fourth.
Super Stock
1)Bobby Bradford
2)John Whaley
3)Johnny Payne
4)Jeff Woods
5)Barry Whitsett
John Whaley seems almost unstoppable in Pure Stocks as John came from row three to get around Gary Whaley for his fifth win of the season. Jeff Echols was third with Mike Hines and Champion Jeff Anderson rounding out the Top 5 finishers in then Cumberland Bail Bonding Pure Stock Feature.
Kevin Harmon and Dwayne Hicks were the heat race winners.
Pure Stock
1)John Whaley
2)Gary Whaley
3)Jeff Echols
4)Mike Hines
5)Jeff Anderson
Roland McKelvie won the Outlaw Pony heat race while Clyde Petty and Stanley James won their Mini Stock Heats. The Outlaw Pony and Mini Stock features were not completed due to city curfew and an inordinate amount of caution flags. These two feature events will be made up on May 14 along with a complete show for all classes.
Racing continues with all classes in action on May 14 while the 2-Barrell Late Models will be featured in the 25 Lap 2-BBL Tussle paying a $1,000 to win. Outlaw Ponys and Mini Stocks will start Saturdays program with make-up features from May 7. www.winchesterspeedwaytn.com (931)967-0066
Dennis Bowling
At the drop of the flag it was Landers who jumped out front and seemingly in control. Larry led the first 18 laps but lapped traffic allowed 2002 Big 6 champion Byron Michael to catch and get by the #29 of Landers. Lapped traffic continued to be Landers undoing as 2003 Big 10 Champion Jerry Owens closed and while racing side by side with the Shelbyville hot shoe and both trying desperately to work lapped traffic a turn one crash resulted with our pole sitter being relegated to the rear. A close controversial call put Larry in the rear while Jerry Owens would close up on the rear deck lid of his Alabama neighbor, Byron Michael.
On the restart the two former champions took off but it was Flyin’ Byron that would lead the final laps to capture the checkered flag ahead of Owens and 2004 track Champion Randy Gifford. If you were looking for great efforts how about Jay Brinkley coming from 13th to finish fourth or maybe David Brannon coming from twenty third(Billy Harris did not start the main event thus only 23 racers took the green flag) to nab a Top 5 run!
With points leader Daniel Miller suffering an ill fated crash(not of his making), Byron Michael took over the series points lead by a mere two points.
Late Models
1)Byron Michael
2)Jerry Owens
3)Randy Gifford
4)Jay Brinkley
5)David Brannon
6)Tyler Landers
7)David Jackson
8)Corey Posey
9)Tommy Davis
10)James Gamble
11)Moe Harrison
12)Larry Landers
13)Mark Fields
14)Tommy Lawwell
15)Junior Brown
16)Daniel Miller
17)Michael Luna
18)Jerry Ashley
19)Jason Williams
20)Brandon King
21)Jeremy Taylor
22)Shawn Mitchell
23)Scott Cook
Billy Harris(Did Not Start)
Top 20 in points after Round #3
1)Byron Michael-229
2)Daniel Miller-227
3)Corey Posey-224
4)David Jackson-223
5)Jerry Owens-220
6)Mark Fields-213
6)David Brannon-213
8)Tommy Lawell-212
9)Larry Landers-210
10)Michael Luna-207
11)Moe Harrison-207
12)Scott Cook-201
13)Tyler Landers-199
14)Jerry Ashley-197
15)Brandon King-195
16)Randy Gifford-189
17)Tommy Davis -185
18)Shawn Mitchell-182
19)Billy Harris-176
20)Jon Miller-126
**42 Different racers have compete in the first three events with $5,040 in the points fund.
Sixteen year old Ryan Gifford, in only his sixth ever start in a dirt Late Model, led all 26 Tennessee Valley Concrete 2-BBL Late Models with a very quick lap of 16.47 and took the early lead from Duck River 2-BBL hot shoe Dwayne "Coondog" Waid. Waid would work the youngster low and high until he finally got by on the high side. Once in front Dwayne would not be caught and sailed to his first win of the year at Winchester. Gifford stayed after the veteran but settled for a very impressive runner-up finish ahead of Scott Grant and Shane Echols. Track record holder Billy Barnett edged Bruce Williams and Robin Morris for a Top 5 finish.
2-BBL Late Model
1)Dwayne Waid
2)Ryan Gifford
3)Scott Grant
4)Shane Echols
5)Billy Barnett
6)Bruce Williams
7)Robin Morris
8)Eddie Graves
9)Chad Bone
10)Josh Lawwell
Heat winners Mark Haddon and Henry Hanger played a cat and mouse game at the start of the Badcock and More Home Furnishings Open Wheel feature much to the detriment of Haddon. The pole sitter was judged to have jumped the start and would be sent in arrears two rows for the next attempt. This moved up Shannon Davis to the pole and Davis drove away to his fifth victory of the year. Defending Champion Hanger was second while Alan Holmes edged Pulaski’s Ken McAfee and Haddon for third.
Open Wheel
1)Shannon Davis
2)Henry Hanger
3)Alan Holmes
4)Ken McAffee
5)Mark Haddon
6)Colt Russell
7)Steve Vann
8)Tony Mooney
9)Toby Crumbley
10)Keith Sneed
Bobby Bradford and John Whaley put on a race long duel for the Trophy Shop Super Stock win with Bradford getting a mid race break when a caution flag negated Whaley’s pass for the lead. Bradford was never passed again and took the measure of five time Pure Stock victor Whaley. Johnny Payne was third with Jeff Woods taking the measure of Barry Whitsett for fourth.
Super Stock
1)Bobby Bradford
2)John Whaley
3)Johnny Payne
4)Jeff Woods
5)Barry Whitsett
John Whaley seems almost unstoppable in Pure Stocks as John came from row three to get around Gary Whaley for his fifth win of the season. Jeff Echols was third with Mike Hines and Champion Jeff Anderson rounding out the Top 5 finishers in then Cumberland Bail Bonding Pure Stock Feature.
Kevin Harmon and Dwayne Hicks were the heat race winners.
Pure Stock
1)John Whaley
2)Gary Whaley
3)Jeff Echols
4)Mike Hines
5)Jeff Anderson
Roland McKelvie won the Outlaw Pony heat race while Clyde Petty and Stanley James won their Mini Stock Heats. The Outlaw Pony and Mini Stock features were not completed due to city curfew and an inordinate amount of caution flags. These two feature events will be made up on May 14 along with a complete show for all classes.
Racing continues with all classes in action on May 14 while the 2-Barrell Late Models will be featured in the 25 Lap 2-BBL Tussle paying a $1,000 to win. Outlaw Ponys and Mini Stocks will start Saturdays program with make-up features from May 7. www.winchesterspeedwaytn.com (931)967-0066
Dennis Bowling
