Southern Challenge @ Abilene Speedway 10-17-03

[rebelracewriter]

115 modifieds signed in to qualify through 10 heats, sending the winner to the nights A-qualifier, 10 last chance heats taking the top two to the nights B-main and a 15 lap B-main with the top ten transferring to the A-qualifier. In the qualifying heats there were numerous disqualifications, several for safety violations.

During the heats nearly half the winners made high groove passes to get the lead, as the track was quite racey. David Murray came from dead last in his heat to finish second right on the bumper of the winner. The second round heats had few high line passes with Elias Anderson and Joe Colyer running side by side for two laps before Anderson secured the spot in the last lap.

"Big" Mike McCarthy gets the 'Lucky Dog Award' when he was in the right spot at the right time. Matt Martin had a huge lead on the field but ran up on a slower car on the last lap, under heavy braking Martin spun himself out giving the win to McCarthy.

 

Teammates Keith White and Greg Atwood paced the 20 field to green, with White getting out first. Atwood fell back to third as the high groove lost ground. Lap 4 saw Charlie Newton get by Kelly Cross for fourth. By lap 5 White had put some distance on Kenny Stone and Atwood, who had a big gap back to C. Newton and Cross.

The top five spread out, with several small battles back in the pack. At halfway it was still White, Stone, Atwood, C. Newton and Cross in the top five. Cross retook fourth from C. Newton bringing Wesley Veal along to fifth on lap 11.

The races only caution flew on lap 12 when Sherman Barnett made hard contact with the back stretch wall while battling with Elias Anderson for 10th. Barnett was alright but done for the night. On the restart, IMCA National Champion, David Murray got around C.Newton for sixth as Missy McAllister-Kerr slid high and lost two spots.

With five to go White was again gapping the battle for second between Stone, Atwood and Cross. McAllister-Kerr's troubles continued as she starting falling back rapidly. As the white flag flew White had a big lead over the five car battle for second. At the checkers it was White in the Tomastik Motorsports/Accent Plumbing/Qwik Chassis taking the victory.

******Results unofficial pending tech*****

 

1 Keith White

 

2 Kenny Stone

 

3 Kelly Cross

 

4 Greg Atwood

 

5 Wesley Veal

 

6 David Murray

 

7 Charlie Newton

 

8 Elias Anderson

 

9 David Trauernicht

 

10 Ken Couch

 

11 David Davis

 

12 Vince Ogle

 

13 Brian Killingsworth

 

14 Brad Biggs

 

15 Bo Newton

 

16 Christi Georges

 

17 Todd Pullen

 

18 Missy McAllister-Kerr

 

19 Bo Briley

 

20 Sherman Barnett

 

Top 5 to Sundays A-main

 

6-10 to Sundays B-main