Pugh Out Front of SAS Pro Late Models
By Mark Chisum
In the last Pro Late Model Viper Series race at South Alabama Speedway, Geneva’s Andy Pugh was leading when he tangled with a slower car he was lapping and was sent to the rear. In Saturday night’s Massasauga 100, Pugh was running third when the leaders tangled and were sent to the end of the line, giving him the lead. With the lead in hand, Pugh enjoyed watching a ferocious battle behind him in his rear view mirror as he took the checkered flag.
David Hodges led the 21-car field in qualifying with a time of 15.748 seconds. Pugh was the third fastest in qualifying, but drew the pole position in the inversion draw. Without third gear, Pugh had a little trouble getting up to speed and outside pole sitter Trey Mitchell grabbed the lead. Hodges, however, was fast coming through the field from the fourth starting and took the lead on the third circuit. Steven Davis followed Hodges to the front while Pugh had slipped back to fourth.
Pugh worked his way past Mitchell to move into third on lap eight. With several early cautions, Pugh continued to have problems on restarts, falling back two to three car lengths each time, only to reel in the leaders after a couple of green laps. Hodges led Davis, Pugh, DuWayne Middlebrooks, and Gary Sanford Jr. to the halfway point of the race.
Davis was hounding Hodges for the front spot, looking inside and out for a line around the Georgia driver. On a lap 56 restart, Davis got under Hodges to take the point, but Hodges held on to Davis’ bumper. As the exited turn two on lap 66, Hodges got into the back of Davis, sending him around. Both were sent to the rear, moving Pugh to the front.
It was all Pugh needed. To his advantage, Pugh was able to set the pace on the restarts, so he was able to keep everyone behind him. Behind him was where the real battle was going on, with multiple position changes in the final twenty laps. Sanford had moved into second when Davis and Hodges were penalized, but spun on lap 79, moving Ronnie Sanders into the spot. Gresham beat Sanders to the line on lap 80, with Sanders getting there first on lap 81. Meanwhile Hodges and Davis were quickly coming through the field, moving into third and fourth on lap 85.
After the final caution of the night with ten laps to go, the war was on with Hodges, Max Gresham, Davis, Sanders, Mitchell the major combatants. Contact was the major ammo. Hodges moved past Sanders on lap 91 to move into second. Gresham and Davis got past Sanders on the next lap. On lap 97, Sanders moved past Davis and Gresham to move back into third. Gresham and Mitchell followed. Davis fell back to sixth. Trying to regain his position, Davis slammed the front stretch wall on lap 98, ending his hopes. At the same time, Mitchell got past Gresham for fourth. Watching all the action in his rear view mirror, Pugh was out front by several car lengths.
Pugh led the battle across the line. Hodges was second, followed by Sanders, and Mitchell. Sam Smith was able to slip past Gresham on the final lap to finish fifth. There is a three way tie for the series’ point lead between Hodges, Pugh, and Gregory Tallent II.
The Street Stock Feature was another outstanding race, with Chris Lucas coming out on top. Jason Fowler grabbed the lead from the outside pole and led until Jody Henderson took over. On lap 18, Henderson experienced mechanical problems and went off turn three, his night over. Lucas took over the lead, but the fight wasn’t over. Fowler and Jeff Rudd joined Lucas up front. The three raced side by side, nose to tail for several laps. Fowler was on the inside of Lucas with Rudd on his bumper. With two laps to go, Fowler slipped in turn two, slowing both him and Rudd. That was all Lucas needed. Lucas pulled out to a two car length lead which he held until the end of the race. Fowler crossed the line second with Rudd third. Kyle Sims finished fourth and Justin Tyre fifth.
The Roadrunner Feature was shaping up to be another outstanding race before one of the leaders fell off of the pace. Brothers John and Jason Singletary were battling nose to tail for the lead when Jason Singletary fell off of the pace, leaving the win to John Singletary. Doug Powell finished second, followed by Billy Maxie, Mike Wolfe, and Aubrey Glass.
Javis Nelson had an easy time in the Coyote Feature, leading all 20 laps to take the win. Nelson grabbed the lead from the pole position and never looked back. Brent Slawson came from the eighth starting spot to finish second. Without the aid of a caution, Nelson had an insurmountable lead by the time Slawson cleared the field. Max nelson came from the 12th starting spot to finish third. Aaron Nelson and Michael Smith finished fourth and fifth.
Paul Barnes took the lead from Eddy Hinson on lap 11 and went on to win the Minin Sportsman Feature. Hinson held on to second ahead of Burl Brunson, Herndon Buie, and Jeremy Peacock.
South Alabama Speedway will be closed for the Memorial Day Weekend. Action will continue on May 31 with Fan Appreciation Night. Admission is just $2.00 for anyone age 6-60. Everybody else is Free Admission. A full schedule of local racing is scheduled. For more information, contact the track at (334) 565-3539, or visit the track’s web site at www.southalabamaspeedway.com/
Results
Pro Late Model Viper Series
Massasauga 100
1. Andy Pugh
2. David Hodges
3. Ronnie Sanders
4. Trey Mitchell
5. Sam Smith
6. Max Gresham
7. Gregory Tallent II
8. Gary Sanford Jr.
9. Brandon Odom
10. Billy Fulsom
11. Jeff Morgan
12. Steven Davis
13. Zach Holloway
14. Elliott Massey
15. DuWayne Middlebrooks
16. Tyler Caton
17. John May
18. Donald Crocker
19. Chase Knox
20. Chris Commalander
21. Clay Alexander
Street Stock
1. Chris Lucas
2. Jason Fowler
3. Jeff Rudd
4. Kyle Sims
5. Justin Tyre
6. Charles Cotton
7. Danny Bales
8. Dee Bucklew
9. Jody Henderson
10. Steve Allen
Roadrunner
1. John Singletary
2. Doug Powell
3. Billy Maxie
4. Mike Wolfe
5. Aubrey Glass
6. Marshall Flowers
7. Kevin Colloway
8. Jason Singletary
9. Joseph Chandler
10. Charles Gardner
11. Billy Killingsworth
Coyote
1. Javis Nelson
2. Brent Slawson
3. Max Nelson
4. Aaron Nelson
5. Michael Smith
6. Travis Slawson
7. Lee Rogers
8. Dustin Jowers
9. Crystal Davis
10. Joe McHatton
11. Kevin Bishop
12. Ricky Chandler
13. Aaron Horan
Mini Sportsman
1. Paul Barnes
2. Eddy Hinson
3. Burl Brunson
4. Herndon Buie
5. Jeremy Peacock
6. Jeremy Geddings
7. Karen Williams
8. JR Carroll
9. Allen Morgan
10. TJ Jones
11. Donnie Howell
