Posted by Langley Austin on March 23, 2008, 1:29 pm
Board Administrator

Chad Mullis Crusies at Concord in Season Opener ... Marty Ward Takes Two in Twin Races at Greenville Pickens and Justin Johnson Wins at SoBo Story By: Langley Austin Results Provided by: www.racingontheedge.com and Track Websites Concord, NC ~ Half of the RACE22.com "crew", Langley and Kim made their way down to the Concord Motorsport Park for the season opening race for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock Cars and we were treated to a great race despite a short eleven car field for the LMSC. The eleven Late Model Stock Cars provided excitement right from the drop of the green flag as pole sitter and defending champion, Chuck Crump wasn't able to get up to speed and stacked the field up behind him causing Andrew Thomas and Terry Brooks, Jr. to get together and both spin in turn one. That set the field up for another double file restart and gave Crump a chance to get his Ford Fusion out front for the early laps. Crump however had to battle hard with outside pole sitter, Kyle Beattie all the while having to fend off challenges from Brad Kurth and Jeff Melton who was breathing down really hard in behind Crump and Beattie. Crump after a few laps discarded of the trio and looked to be on cruise control until a cut tire sent him to pit road handing the lead to Kurth, who had wrestled second away from Beattie a few laps earlier. Kurth took control of the race for several laps before eventually handing the lead over to a hard charging Chad Mullis, who started fifth and had worked his way past the other front runners for second position. Mullis would never relinquish the lead after taking it despite several more cautions including a four car pile up coming out of turn four when Thomas and Brooks, Jr. got together again and collecting Kevin Love and rookie, David Currier, Jr. as well. Mullis held on to win over Beattie, Love and Justin Hill, who made several pit stops during the race and late looked to have a car that could challenge the top three, but ran out of laps and settled for fourth. Melton was fifth followed by Thomas, Brooks, Jr., Kurth, Currier, Crump and Florida driver, Joey Coulter, who was out getting some laps around the 1/2 mile track in preparation for the USAR Hooters Pro-Cup race coming up on April 26th. --Marty Ward proved that the "old man" could still get up on the wheel as he dominated twin 50-lap races at Greenville Pickens Speedway for the season opening event. Ward had to hold off a few strong challenges from David Roberts in the first race and Randy Porter in the second feature to open the season with two impressive wins over a strong field of 30 cars. Austin Dillon, grandson of NASCAR Team Owner, Richard Childress also competed in both races notching eighth and seventh place finishes respectively. Dillon, who is competing full-time this season in the NASCAR Camping World East Series was getting laps around the 1/2 mile flat track to prepare for the East Series race coming up on April 19th. Dillon is also entered to compete next Saturday night in the UARA-STARS Late Model Stock Car Series season opener at Concord Motorsport Park. --Justin Johnson took his new ride in the Frank Deiny, Jr.(FDJ) Motorsports car and made the most of it at South Boston Speedway on Saturday night for the Easter Bunny 150. Johnson charged up late in the race and gave the fans a thrilling end to the 150 lap race as over the last 35 laps the Johnson and FDJ Motorsports teammate, Dude Gibbs along with CE Falk and former NASCAR National Champion, Philip Morris made it a four way battle for the top position. While Falk and Morris were busy battling each other, Johnson was able to slip by them and then hold off a desperate Morris for the win. Morris, who is bidding for another NASCAR National Title didn't want to settle for second place as only wins will help him in his quest for the title, but Johnson once in the lead wasn't going to give it away. The battle for the lead rage within the last twenty laps with three lead changes the final one coming with seven laps to go when Johnson slip past Morris. Falk settle for third with Gibbs coming home fourth followed to the line by Tommy Lemons, Jr. Lemons as it was reported here on RACE22.com first destroyed his new car earlier in the week in a test at Motor Mile Speedway had to be happy just to survive the 150-lap race at South Boston. RESULTS from these Three Races: Concord Motorsport Park: 1 91 Chad Mullis Mint Hill, NC 2 96 Kyle Beattie Indian Trail, NC 3 88 Kevin Love Midland, NC 4 45 Justin Hill Concord, NC 5 6 Jeff Melton Concord, NC 6 69 Andrew Thomas Monroe, NC 7 23 Terry Brooks, Jr Concord, NC 8 9 Brad Kurth Kernersville, NC 9 3 David Currier Jr. Lincolnton, NC 10 8 Chuck Crump Star, NC 11 02 Joey Coulter Miami Springs, FL Greenville Pickens Speedway: 1. Marty Ward Marietta, SC 2. David Roberts Simpsonville, SC 3. Ralph Carnes Anderson, SC 4. Coleman Pressley Asheville, NC 5. Kenneth Headen Piedmont, SC 6. Anthony Anders Greenville, SC 7. Michelle Theriault Bristol, CT 8. Austin Dillon Welcome, NC 9. Gene Morgan Travelers Rest, SC 10. James Goff Aiken, SC 11. Randy Hawkins Travelers Rest, SC 12. Dan Van Saun Hendersonville, NC 13. Bob Magnum Powdersville, SC 14. Jason Cochran Daytona Beach, FL 15. Chuck Jensen Simpsonville, SC 16. Grant McGinnis Chesnee, SC 17. Chris Black Fountain Inn, SC 18. Michael Burt Belton, SC 19. Darrell Durham, Jr. Easley, SC 20. Anthony Cordell Greenville, NC 21. Amanda Lynch Greenville, SC 22. Jimmy Mann, Jr. Greenville, SC 23. Travis Allen Greenville, SC 24. John Lewis Hightower Travelers Rest, SC 25. Jack Ingram Asheville, NC 26. Barry Boggero Greenwood, SC 27. Dale Dove Simpsonville, SC 28. Jeremy Burns Simpsonville, SC 29. Jared Stokes Six Mile, SC 30. Randy Porter Greenville, SC Race 2 1. Marty Ward Marietta, SC 2. Randy Porter Greenville, SC 3. David Roberts Simpsonville, SC 4. Coleman Pressley Asheville, NC 5. Kenneth Headen Piedmont, SC 6. Ralph Carnes Anderson, SC 7. Austin Dillon Welcome, NC 8. Jimmy Mann, Jr. Greenville, SC 9. John Lewis Hightower Travelers Rest, SC 10. Randy Hawkins Travelers Rest, SC 11. Dan Van Saun Hendersonville, NC 12. Jack Ingram Asheville, NC 13. Darrell Durham, Jr. Easley, SC 14. Dale Dove Simpsonville, SC 15. Grant McGinnis Chesnee, SC 16. Chuck Jensen Simpsonville, SC 17. Michael Burt Belton, SC 18. Chris Black Fountain Inn, SC 19. Gene Morgan Travelers Rest, SC 20. James Goff Aiken, SC 21. Jason Cochran Daytona Beach, FL 22. Amanda Lynch Greenville, SC 23. Bob Magnum Powdersville, SC 24. Michelle Theriault Bristol, CT 25. Anthony Anders Greenville, SC 26. Anthony Cordell Greenville, NC 27. Travis Allen Greenville, SC 28. Barry Boggero Greenwood, SC 29. Jeremy Burns Simpsonville, SC 30. Jared Stokes Six Mile, SC South Boston Speedway: 1 44 Justin Johnson 2 26 Philip Morris 3 40 C.E. Falk, III 4 54 Dude Gibbs 5 27 Tommy Lemons 6 57 Eddie Johnson 7 89 Jonathan Bailey 8 08 Deac McCaskill 9 51 Wayne Ramsey 10 14 Rodney Cook 11 19 Jason Dickerson 12 8 Josh Oakley 13 30 Daniel Watkins 14 52 Timothy Nice 15 88 Chris Hairfield 16 15 Michael Rouse 17 74 Ronald Hill 18 16 Dustin Storm 19 98 Clay Campbell