3.22.15 Carolina Clash Late Models Results
March 22, 2015 – Gastonia, NC: For once, the weather was perfect. For twice, the race track and facility was perfect. For the third time, Chris Ferguson takes the Skyler Trull Memorial Race at the Carolina Speedway in Gastonia, NC.
The winner of the 2009, 2011 and now 2015 edition of one of the Carolina’s “Crown Jewel” events, Ferguson was all smiles and had so many people to thank from victory lane.
Chris Ferguson, of Mount Holly, North Carolina, was able to power to the lead on the opening lap and maintain that lead amidst many land-mines that he had to sidestep during the event, which saw his #22 nearly crash out while racing in lapped traffic in the event’s final 10 laps. Ferguson was able to lead the final two laps, which finished in green-white-checkered fashion. He held off a late race charge from Rock Hill, South Carolina’s Ben Watkins and Gaffney, South Carolina’s Chris Madden in the closing laps. The team celebrated in style from Carolina Speedway’s Victory Lane.
“There are so many people that I need to thank. From my dad, Bryan, who works so hard to keep me in a fast racecar, my brother Brandon, who works on this car every night, even more than I do, to all my sponsors: Live Oak Aesthetic and Family Dentistry, Team Langley and Langley Collision Center, Carver & Sons Roofing, Inc., XSAN, Keith’s Handyman Services Inc., On Site Solutions, CV Products Inc and all my other sponsors! Dad, did I leave anyone out?”
Ferguson was elated with the victory, along with a throng of supporters waiting to help him celebrate the win. “The first start with Ross (Bailes) was pretty exciting. We both drove our cars hard into one and both were fast on exit. I hate we got together, but I am sure that made for an exciting moment for the fans,” said Ferguson from victory lane, where he was nearly out of breath from the A-main that saw him nearly get taken out during a mid-race crash while racing in lapped traffic.
The initial contact with Bailes on lap one rippled the sheet metal on both cars, but each were able to continue with little problems. Then, as the field raced into the recently widened turns three and four, a major crash occurred when cars running in the top ten careened into one another, sidelining Tim Allen, Scott Shirey and Robbie Bailey. Allen and Shirey received considerable damage to their cars. Once the clean-up was completed, the race restarted with Ferguson clearing Bailes exiting turn two. Three laps were completed before Kelly Guy of Thompson, Georgia (the winner of the first Carolina Clash event held at Carolina Speedway in 2006) rolled to a stop in turn four. On the next restart, Joey Coulter of Union Grove, NC experienced a problem and bucked his way toward turn one before coming to a stop. He was able to make repairs but finished the event 7 laps down in 11th. Six more cars were sidelined with either mechanical problems or damage from cautions and finished the event prior to lap 10. Third place runner Chris Madden experienced a left-rear flat on lap 10 and pitted, but was able to return to the event after the pit stop.
After that, the race experienced a long green-flag run, where Ferguson was able to distance himself from the field. The race continued for 21 laps as Ferguson was marred in lapped traffic. By this point, Ross Bailes was closing the gap on Ferguson, as Ben Watkins, Doug Sanders and Chris Madden were locked in a fierce battle for the top-five spots. As the leaders entered turn two, Ferguson had nowhere to go in the face of a car who had broken loose and about to spin. Ferguson made hard contact on the ride side of his #22, but it was Ross Bailes who made even harder contact as they raced into the ruckus.
This created an interesting scenario for the final nine laps, which restarted single-file. Not sure how the damage would affect the handling on both cars, Ferguson was able to maintain the lead, but it was Ben Watkins who was making the moves. Lap after lap, Watkins was gaining on Ferguson. The final two laps would have set the stage for a thrilling finish, but a key caution triggered by a spin from Kevin Godwin on lap 38 halted the event as Ferguson was set to take the white flag with Watkins closing.
After the reset, Ferguson was able to hold on to win his third Skyler Trull Memorial Race. He picked up $5000 for the win, along with a $500 fastest-qualifier bonus from Mr. Steve Heintz at Heintz Performance. Ferguson gave the check back to Mr. Larry Trull, father of Skyler Trull, to donate to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Watkins claimed his best-ever Carolina Clash second-place finish while Chris Madden dusted off the high-side and raced back to a third-place finish, with Ross Bailes scratching out a fourth fighting a damaged car. Doug Sanders finished a strong fifth.
Josh Langley of Lancaster, South Carolina was the Renegade Race Fuels and Racing Oils Rookie of the Year candidate and scored an impressive sixth-place finish in his first ever Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series start. The Longhorn racer sponsored by Langley’s Collision Center of Lancaster was strong early and battled among the top five early.
Billy Lambert of Mt. Pleasant, North Carolina also entered the event with intentions of running for the Rookie of the Year, depending on the outcome of the first few events. Lambert retired from the event on lap 29 and finished 13th. Other drivers may declare their intent to run for the rookie title as the series makes it next stop at Fayetteville, NC next Saturday.
Other competitors from the Skyler Trull included Travis Brookover from Ripley, West Virginia. In his first ever Carolina Clash appearance, he managed to avoid the mishaps and place a respectable 7th place position in his Kenny Newhouse owned #12 machine on the lead lap.
Brian Ledbetter returned to Carolina Clash racing for the Skyler Trull event, along with Kevin Godwin and Kevin Wilson, who each rounded out the top ten with hard charging performances. Joey
Coulter was the last car running on the speedway at the drop of the checkers and finished 11th with Jonathan Edwards 12th.
Heintz Performance will sponsor the Hard Luck award at each event in 2015. After the race, series officials awarded Tim Allen with the prize after his unfortunate crash in turn three on the first lap of the main event, which took out Scott Shirey and Robbie Bailey.
Zack Mitchell and Doug Sanders captured checkered flags in the Safety-Kleen Heat Races, which set the field after the top-ten qualifiers were locked in to the feature.
The Carolina Clash would like to thank all who attended this first race of the season and give praises to the Skyler Trull race committee and Mr. Larry Trull and family for this great event to begin the season for the Clash since 2009. Also, the Carolina Clash would like to extend thanks to the management and staff of Carolina Speedway in Gastonia, NC for hosting this event annually.
Finally, to all of the drivers who attended the event and the huge crowd of fans for coming out, the Carolina Clash and Carolina Speedway are most appreciative.
For more information, visit www.carolinaclash.com
Sponsors of the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series: American Race Tire, Hoosier Racing Tire, Renegade Race Fuels and Racing Oils, Heintz Performance, Racing Electronics, Safety-Kleen, Lee Furniture Company, Thomas Clarke Performance, and the loyal drivers, racetracks and their fans who make this all possible!
Results From Carolina Speedway
1. Chris Ferguson
2. Ben Watkins
3. Chris Madden
4. Ross Bailes
5. Doug Sanders
6. Josh Langley
7. Travis Brookover
8. Brian Ledbetter
9. Kevin Godwin
10. Kevin Wilson
11. Joey Coulter
12. Jonathan Edwards
13. Billy Lambert
14. Zack Mitchell
15. Anthony Sanders
16. Johnny Pursley
17. Trent Ivey
18. Kelly Guy
19. G.R. Smith
20. Scott Shirey
21. Tim Allen
22. Robbie Bailey
Heintz Performance Fastest Qualifier: Chris Ferguson 15.089
Laps Leader: Ferguson 1-40
Entries: 22
Time of Race: 00:43:44
Safety-Kleen Hard Charger of the Race: Kevin Godwin (+13)
Safety-Kleen Heat Race Winners: Zack Mitchell and Doug Sanders
Heintz Performance Hard Luck Award: Tim Allen
American Racer 15th place Qualifier: Scott Shirey
American Racer 15th place Finisher: Anthony Sanders