3.29.15 Carolina Clash Late Models Results
March 29, 2015, Fayetteville, NC – After a pleasantly mild evening greet fans just one week ago in Carolina, “old man winter” decided to break out one last yawn before retiring for the season. It was one of the coldest nights of March this year and definitely bad timing for the Fayetteville Motor Speedway faithful who had to endure seriously cold winds and biting temps this past Saturday for their “hometown track’s” season opener. The Jim Long, Jr. promoted facility was host of the seventh annual Ed Gibbons Memorial Race for the Carolina Clash Super Late Model series event #2 of the 2015 season.
Twenty-six cars made their way into the event, but post-qualifying attrition narrowed the field down to 24 cars starting, with the most shocking coming as fastest-qualifier Chris Ferguson of Mt. Holly, NC (for the second straight week) announced via Twitter that his night was to be cut short due to an engine malfunction following qualifying. Ferguson bested the second-fastest starter rookie Ben Watkins of Rock Hill, SC by nearly 4-tenths with a lap of 16.839 around the 4/10 mile, semi-banked facility, which was hosting its 58th Carolina Clash event since 2000.
After locking in the top ten starters from qualifying, there were two Safety-Kleen Heat Races, which determined the rest of the starting line-up. Rookie driver Josh Langley of Lancaster, SC and veteran driver from Clover, SC Johnny Pursley took checkers in the heats. Ferguson started a borrowed racecar to take the initial green flag, but pitted the car after two attempts at a start. Stanly, NC Greg Clark, local steel-head racer Christian Joyner and Russell Erwin of Virginia each pitted on lap 1 with mechanical problems on their machines. Once the race started, with a new car on the front row to replace Ferguson, the event saw very few problems, as racers cut in the groove on the bottom as the track began to blacken over after heat races. Only Stanly, NC Jay Sessoms, Clover, SC Ross Bailes, Thompson GA Kelly Guy and Fayetteville, NC native Derrick Francis were sidelined during the first 15 laps, which only saw two cautions. A long green-flag run ensued which saw Justin Labonte, son of NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Terry Labonte, power his new Longhorn chassis out in front by as many as 15 car lengths once the race passed the halfway point. With abrasive track conditions, many began to question whether tire wear would come into play as the event moved into the final 10 laps. Labonte was able to pick his way around traffic and cars at the tail end of the field, but tire issues began to surface.
On lap 32, Josh Langley, the 19-year old driver from Lancaster, SC was first to experience a tire failure. Then, Jim Rasey of Southington, OH also fell victim of tire wear. After those cautions, the race was set for the finish. While in a fierce battle with GR Smith and Donald Bradsher, Ben Watkins lost the air in his right-rear and halted the event’s final lap. Labonte had already taken the white flag, but Watkins had limped to a stop at the entrance of turn three. This set up a final “green-and-white together” last lap restart, which saw Labonte again power away off turn two. Labonte went on to become the fifth different Ed Gibbons Memorial Race winner and the 61st different all-time winner with the Carolina Clash series. From the front-stretch, Justin Labonte was joined by father and racing champion Terry Labonte, and a few crew members who helped him make the night a success.
“I just can’t say enough about this new Longhorn Chassis. This car was awesome. This is our first win like this one (with the Clash) and it is great, especially after all the bad luck we have had over the years.”
Labonte has always qualified well in the past in Carolina Clash events but never could seal the deal, until Saturday night.
Now, the new Carolina Clash points format worked to the advantage of point-leader Chris Ferguson, who entered the event leading by 19 points after the Carolina Speedway win on March 21. The points structure is designed to keep the points battles close and are seeming to do just that. Twelve teams have entered both races so far this season and Ferguson, by virtue of starting the event, was able to earn enough points to maintain the points lead by 14 points. The Carolina Clash point format awards bonus points for fastest qualifiers, heat race winners, A-Main winners and hard chargers at each event. Ferguson has benefitted from two poles and one win, which helped him maintain the point lead. However, the battle is on from second-on-back, where the rest of the top 12 are separated by only 29 points. Donald “Super Duck” Bradsher of Burlington, NC and Kyle Pierce of Statesville, NC made their Clash debuts Saturday and finished second and third. GR Smith of Cornelius, NC debuted a new graphics scheme and land a fourth-place finish. Swansea, SC veteran Scott Shirey maintained a good run for a solid 5th place performance.
The Safety-Kleen Hard Charger of the Race was Anthony Sanders, who returns to the Carolina Clash after winning the 2014 Rookie of the Year sponsored by Renegade Racing Fuels and Racing Oils. Sanders finished 8th after starting from the 18th place position. Roger Dale Hammond of Nichols, SC was slated to start 16th, but experienced engine problems after the second heat race, which series officials award him with the $100 voucher from Heintz Performance of Statesville, NC Hard Luck Award.
The series will move west to Eastern Tennessee to the famous Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tennessee for the first round of Border Wars which will place drivers from the Carolinas in action against drivers from Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia, and possible other states.
The track physical address and track phone are:
14095 W Andrew Johnson Hwy.
Bulls Gap, Tennessee 37711
(423) 378-5942
There will an open practice held at Volunteer Speedway on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 from 7:30 – 10:00 pm. The cost will be $100 per car desiring to practice.
Volunteer Speedway’s Sportsman, Modifieds and Pure Stocks will be in action with the Carolina Clash on April 4.
The Carolina Clash would like to thank the following sponsors for their contributions to the series in 2015:
American Racer, Hoosier Racing Tire, Safety-Kleen, Stock Car Steel & Aluminum/SRI, Renegade Racing Fuels and Racing Oils, Safety Kleen, Heintz Brothers Performance, Performance Tees, Thomas Clarke Performance Web Designs, Racing Electronics, Lee Furniture Company.
Fayetteville Motor Speedway – Race #2 Results
1. Justin Labonte
2. Donald Bradsher
3. Kyle Pierce
4. GR Smith
5. Scott Shirey
6. Zack Mitchell
7. Shawn Sewell
8. Anthony Sanders
9. Johnny Pursley
10. Kerry King
11. Josh Langley
12. Doug Sanders
13. Mike Parker
14. Ben Watkins
15. Kevin Wilson
16. Jim Rasey
17. Derrick Francis
18. Kelly Guy
19. Ross Bailes
20. Jay Sessoms
21. Russell Erwin
22. Christian Joyner
23. Chris Ferguson
24. Greg Clark
DNS – Dale Hammond