BATESVILLE SPEEDWAY
Championship, TCI Automotive Mid-America Modified Champ.
Saturday, March 22
by Larry Olson; Mountain Home, AR
LOCUST GROVE AR. Scott Drake came right back after winning the 25 lap round three qualifying feature, by taking the 8th Annual TCI Automotive Mid-America Modified Chamiponship. Drake fought to overcome, then hold off Brandon Smith in a very impressive run for the Batesville Speedway regular. Drake pocketed $8,000 for the win.
Brandon Smith held the pole for the 50 Lap feature event, with Mike Marler and Drake flanking him in the 3-wide starting configuration. Smith took the point as the green flag fell, with Drake, Marler, Mark Noble, and Robby Arnold falling in behind.
Mark Norris took the fifth spot from Arnold in turn four on lap two, while out front Smith had opened a 5 carlength advantage on Drake. Norris and Noble dueled for fourth on lap four, with Norris gaining the spot in turn two on lap five.
Drake had closed back up on Smith by lap six, while Norris continued to move forward, going side by side with Marler on lap seven. Norris gained the spot, passing Marler in turn two on lap eight.
Out front, Smith and Drake had put the field in their rear view mirrors, as the front-running pair were a half straightaway over the field. Jeff Taylor moved to the fifth spot on lap 10, and Taylor went side by side with Marler on the next go-round.
Drake finally was able to pull even with Smith on lap 12, and drove under Smith, then sliding up in front of him in turn two. Taylor got by Marler for fourth in turn four on lap 13. Eddie Martin worked by Marler for the fifth spot two laps later.
Drake and Smith were still racing nose to tail, and were still a half straightaway ahead of Norris by lap 18. There was pleanty of racing behind them however. Taylor, Martin, and Johnny Bone Jr. went three wide for the fourth spot on lap 19. Bone slid past Martin for fifth on the next lap. That pair was at it again for fifth on lap 24.
Drake was finally able to open some breathing room on Smith, easing out to a 5 carlength lead by lap 25. Drake pulled out to a 10 carlength margin in three more laps.
Martin finally took fifth for good from Bone on lap 30, then Martin challenged Taylor for fourth by lap 31. Martin picked up the fourth spot in turn four on lap 32. Drake continued to pull away from Smith, leading him by 15 carlenghts by lap 35, but that was as much advantage as he would enjoy.
Brandon Smith appeared to be reversing the trend on Drake by lap 40, and had closed back to within 10 carlengths by lap 43. Third place running, Mark Norris, was also closing along with Smith. Smith halfed Drake's lead by lap 47, and the top two were nose to tail at the white, with Norris just behind. Smith came off turn four, getting his nose up to Scott Drake's door, but was unable to make the pass.
Scott Drake came home with the win, with Brandon Smith, Mark Norris, Eddie Martin, and Jeff Taylor making up the top five. Johnny Bone Jr., Mike Marler, Wendell Wallace, Kelly Shryock, and Gary Clark rounded out the top ten.
1) Scott Drake, $8,000
2) Brandon Smith, $4,000
3) Mark Norris, $2,500
4) Eddie Martin, $2,000
5) Jeff Taylor, $1,500
6) Johnny Bone Jr., $1,475
7) Mike Marler, $1,450
8) Wendell Wallace, $1,425
9) Kelly Shryock, $1,400
10) Gary Clark, $1,375
11) Mark Noble, $1,350
12) Kevin Salter, $1,325
13) Richie Tosh, $1,300
14) Robby Arnold, $1,275
15) Jack Sullivan, $1,225
16) Billy Moyer, $1,200
17) Brian Mullen, $1,175
18) Donnie Barnhart, $1,150
19) Jason Hughes, $1,125
20) Jimmy Owens, $1,100
21) Claudie Cook, $1,075
22) Randy Zimmerman, $1,050
23) Justin Boney, $1,025
24) Scott Duvall, $1,000
Championship, TCI Automotive Mid-America Modified Champ.
Saturday, March 22
by Larry Olson; Mountain Home, AR
LOCUST GROVE AR. Scott Drake came right back after winning the 25 lap round three qualifying feature, by taking the 8th Annual TCI Automotive Mid-America Modified Chamiponship. Drake fought to overcome, then hold off Brandon Smith in a very impressive run for the Batesville Speedway regular. Drake pocketed $8,000 for the win.
Brandon Smith held the pole for the 50 Lap feature event, with Mike Marler and Drake flanking him in the 3-wide starting configuration. Smith took the point as the green flag fell, with Drake, Marler, Mark Noble, and Robby Arnold falling in behind.
Mark Norris took the fifth spot from Arnold in turn four on lap two, while out front Smith had opened a 5 carlength advantage on Drake. Norris and Noble dueled for fourth on lap four, with Norris gaining the spot in turn two on lap five.
Drake had closed back up on Smith by lap six, while Norris continued to move forward, going side by side with Marler on lap seven. Norris gained the spot, passing Marler in turn two on lap eight.
Out front, Smith and Drake had put the field in their rear view mirrors, as the front-running pair were a half straightaway over the field. Jeff Taylor moved to the fifth spot on lap 10, and Taylor went side by side with Marler on the next go-round.
Drake finally was able to pull even with Smith on lap 12, and drove under Smith, then sliding up in front of him in turn two. Taylor got by Marler for fourth in turn four on lap 13. Eddie Martin worked by Marler for the fifth spot two laps later.
Drake and Smith were still racing nose to tail, and were still a half straightaway ahead of Norris by lap 18. There was pleanty of racing behind them however. Taylor, Martin, and Johnny Bone Jr. went three wide for the fourth spot on lap 19. Bone slid past Martin for fifth on the next lap. That pair was at it again for fifth on lap 24.
Drake was finally able to open some breathing room on Smith, easing out to a 5 carlength lead by lap 25. Drake pulled out to a 10 carlength margin in three more laps.
Martin finally took fifth for good from Bone on lap 30, then Martin challenged Taylor for fourth by lap 31. Martin picked up the fourth spot in turn four on lap 32. Drake continued to pull away from Smith, leading him by 15 carlenghts by lap 35, but that was as much advantage as he would enjoy.
Brandon Smith appeared to be reversing the trend on Drake by lap 40, and had closed back to within 10 carlengths by lap 43. Third place running, Mark Norris, was also closing along with Smith. Smith halfed Drake's lead by lap 47, and the top two were nose to tail at the white, with Norris just behind. Smith came off turn four, getting his nose up to Scott Drake's door, but was unable to make the pass.
Scott Drake came home with the win, with Brandon Smith, Mark Norris, Eddie Martin, and Jeff Taylor making up the top five. Johnny Bone Jr., Mike Marler, Wendell Wallace, Kelly Shryock, and Gary Clark rounded out the top ten.
1) Scott Drake, $8,000
2) Brandon Smith, $4,000
3) Mark Norris, $2,500
4) Eddie Martin, $2,000
5) Jeff Taylor, $1,500
6) Johnny Bone Jr., $1,475
7) Mike Marler, $1,450
8) Wendell Wallace, $1,425
9) Kelly Shryock, $1,400
10) Gary Clark, $1,375
11) Mark Noble, $1,350
12) Kevin Salter, $1,325
13) Richie Tosh, $1,300
14) Robby Arnold, $1,275
15) Jack Sullivan, $1,225
16) Billy Moyer, $1,200
17) Brian Mullen, $1,175
18) Donnie Barnhart, $1,150
19) Jason Hughes, $1,125
20) Jimmy Owens, $1,100
21) Claudie Cook, $1,075
22) Randy Zimmerman, $1,050
23) Justin Boney, $1,025
24) Scott Duvall, $1,000
