Whynot, Mississippi (10/12/12) – The opening night of the 18th Annual Coors Light Fall Classic was held on Friday night at Whynot Motorsports Park (Meridian, Mississippi) as 160 competitors packed the pit area in four divisions at the 1/3 mile oval.
In the Coors Light Super Late Model division fifty-five competitors from twelve states registered for battle, and Steve Francis led the way in Cliburn Performance Qualifications with a lap of 12.996 seconds in his #15 Barry Wright Super Late Model to earn a $200 bonus. Don O’Neal was the quickest qualifier in Group B with a lap of 13.267 seconds.
Heat race action for the Super Late Model division found Billy Moyer from Batesville, Arkansas outdueling Steve Francis to win the first heat. with Dennis Erb Jr. also racing his way into a transfer spot.
In the second heat teammates Don O’Neal from Martinsville, Indiana and Chris Wall from Springfield, Louisiana brought the field to the green before O’Neal bolted to the lead and the win as Wall and Bub McCool rounded out the transfer cars.
In heat race three Clint Smith from Senoia, Georgia grabbed the early lead before Mike Marlar blasted past him on the highside. Marlar led the next several laps, but with two to go Smith raced back past him for the lead and went on to claim the win with Marlar in second and Eric Cooley third.
Heat race #4 saw Jason McBride from Carbondale, Illinois make the most of his first-ever trip to Whynot Motorsports Park by claiming a convincing win over Neil Baggett and seventh starting, Mike Boland.
In the fifth heat race Klint Byars cruised to a comfortable win with Dane Dacus in second, while Brian Birkhofer had to fend off a hard-charging, Stephen Brantley to claim the third and final transfer spot.
The sixth heat race of the night was won by Shane Clanton with Wendell Wallace in second and Ronny Lee Hollingsworth. The heat was marred by a scary incident on lap 5 when Leon Henderson was turned into the turn three wall at full speed as his driver side slammed into the wall. He was briefly knocked unconscious and would be transported to the hospital with a badly broken elbow, concussion, and knee injury.
Thirty-eight entries took part in the M-D Metals Crate Late Model division, and Wayne Murphy led the way with quick time in qualifications. Heat race action was topped by Steve Bryan, Chance Inman, Justin McRee, and Jimbo McDuffie.
Forty-one competitors were on hand for preliminary action in the Country Pleasin’ Street Stock class. Michael Williams and Jeremy Idom earned the front row via heat race action for Saturday night’s finale.
The Etheridge Race Parts UMP Open Wheel Modified division also saw a talented field of twenty-seven entries in the pits, and Randy King and Timothy Culp led the way in heat race action to earn front row starting spots for Saturday night’s $2,000-to-win finale.
On Saturday night b-mains and heat race action will be held for the Coors Light Super Late Models, M-D Metals Crate Late Models, Etheridge Race Parts UMP Open Wheel Modifieds, and Country Pleasin’ Street Stocks. The Robinson Electric Street Stock division will compete in a complete $250-to-win show.
Gates open at 2pm with a driver’s autograph session at 4pm. The driver’s meeting is slated for 5pm with hot laps at 6pm and racing action to follow.
Saturday, October 13th Schedule:
2:00pm: Pit gates open
3:00pm: Grandstands open
4:00pm: Autograph session on souvenir row
5:00pm Driver’s meeting
6:00pm: Hot Laps
7:00pm: Racing
Coors Light Fall Classic 100 Main Event Night
Pure Street Main Complete Program
B-Mains For All Divisions plus Fall Classic Main Events
Stands: Adults $25. Children 6-10 $10. Children 5 & under free.
Pit admission: Adults $35. Children 6-10 $15. Children 5 & under free.
For event information please call 601-917-2335 (Charles Thrash) or 601-527-0084 (Rodney Wing) or 901-335-3037 (Ben Shelton). You can also visit www.WhynotMotorsportsPark.com or call the track event hotline at 601-644-3010.
Coors Light Super Late Model Top 18 Starters
Row 1: Billy Moyer – Don O’Neal
Row 2: Clint Smith – Jason McBride
Row 3: Klint Byars – Shane Clanton
Row 4: Steve Francis – Chris Wall
Row 5:Mike Marlar – Neil Baggett
Row 6: Dane Dacus – Wendell Wallace
Row 7: Dennis Erb Jr. – Bub McCool
Row 8: Eric Cooley – Mike Boland
Row 9: Brian Birkhofer – Ronny Lee Hollingsworth
Coors Light Super Late Model B-Main #1 (Top Two Transfer)
Row 1: Kyle Beard – Kevin Sitton
Row 2: Jack Sullivan – Tony Lawson
Row 3: Hunter Rasdon – Clint Logan
Row 4: Jason Feger – Brian Reese
Row 5: Allen Murray – Jason Cliburn
Row 6: Chris Smith – Jimbo McDuffie
Row 7: Chris McElhenney
Coors Light Super Late Model B-Main #2 (Top Two Transfer)
Row 1: Morgan Bagley – Stephen Brantley
Row 2: Jeremy Broadus – Timothy Culp
Row 3: Henry Cooper – Robert Baker
Row 4: Chad Thrash – Scott Creel
Row 5: Jamie Tollison – David Breazeale
Row 6: Justin McRee – Edmond Jenkins
Coors Light Super Late Model B-Main #3 (Top Two Transfer)
Row 1: Billy Moyer Jr. – Scott Dedwylder
Row 2: Brian Rickman – Robbie Stuart
Row 3: Jimmy Cliburn – Rob Litton
Row 4: Rick Rickman – Leon Henderson
Row 5: Larry Boutwell – Mark Dodson
Row 6: Jered Smith – Tanner Kellick
M-D Metals Crate Late Models Top 16 Starters
Row 1: Steve Bryan – Chance Inman
Row 2: Justin McRee – Jimbo McDuffie
Row 3: Evan Ellis – Tim Dees
Row 4: Shannon Lee – Kyle Shaw
Row 5: Wayne Murphy – Randy Boyd
Row 6: Doug Sanchagrin – Chase Washington
Row 7: Wiley Williams – Michael Arnold
Row 8: Daniel Bridgmon – Jamey Boland
M-D Metals Crate Late Model B-Main #1 (Top Four Transfer)
Row 1: Shay Knight – Jeremy Shaw
Row 2: Henry Pullen – Monte Skinner
Row 3: Jeffrey Lawson – Johnny Stokes
Row 4: Charlie Seale – Nick Thrash
Row 5: Bryan Foreman – Chris Rutherford
Row 6: Christopher Reid
M-D Metails Crate Late Model B-Main #2 (Top Four Transfer)
Row 1: Josh Banes – Tody Ratcliff
Row 2: Jimmy Barrett – Jon Biles
Row 3: Michael Blount – Steve Bynum
Row 4: Sid Scarbrough – Eddie Rickman
Row 5: Rick Hassell – Jeremy Walker
Etheridge Race Parts Top 18 Feature Starters
Row 1: Randy King – Timothy Culp
Row 2: Gregg Hollingsworth – Toby Hodge
Row 3: Jason Taylor – Cade Dillard
Row 4: Jason Trammell – Noah Daspit
Row 5: Ricky Idom – Jason Brock
Row 6: Ryan Allday – Cole Griffith
Row 7: Glendale Shoemake – Tracy Brown
Row 8: Rusty Harrison – Riley Brown
Row 9: Rodney Etheridge – Brandon Parker
Etheridge Race Parts B-Main Line-Up
Row 1: Tommy Moore – Dary Resmondo
Row 2: Preston Seratt – Cameron Parker
Row 3: Race Taylor – Jeffrey Lawson
Row 4: Chris Rutherford – Bill Taylor
Country Pleasin’ Street Stock A-Main Locked-In Cars
Row 1: Michael Williams – Jeremy Idom
Row 2: Landon Frith – Donnie Monk
Row 3: Jeffrey Walker – Brandon Leftwich
Row 4: Trey Bright – Sam Maxie
Row 5: Scott Vowell – Brian Holley
Row 6: David Easterling – Tony Crosby
Row 7: Kevin Spears – Artis Bunyward
Row 8: Mike Hudler – James Elfring
Country Pleasin’ Street Stock B-Main #1 (Top 3 Transfer)
Row 1: Josh Stringer – Ryan Colby
Row 2: Stacy Robinson – Bubba Trotter
Row 3: Tony Silvestri – Jay Geddie
Row 4: Michael Moore – Wayne Gunn
Row 5: Craigh Barham – Martin Burke
Row 6: James Ware – Chad Hiers
Row 7: Joey Hiatt
Country Pleasin’ Street Stock B-Main #2 (Top 3 Transfer)
Row 1: Wayne Medders – Rodney Barber
Row 2: Gary Cooper – J.C. Pearson
Row 3: Marty Holtman – Kevin Bruce
Row 4: Austin Etheridge – Andy Taylor
Row 5: Tommy Nichols – David Turner
Row 6: Chip Jones – Joey Brown