Durden tops Super Lates, Barber takes Mods at Columbia
Lake City, Fla. (May 27, 2006) Inspite of the heat, fans came to Columbia Motorsports Park on Saturday night for some good ole fashion short track racing and that is just what they saw.
Johnny Lieupo had no problems leading the way for the popular TQ Late Models. Johnny follows in his dad's footsteps when it comes to racing. Lieupo jumped to the lead on the green and never looked back taking the checkered flat followed by Derek Suits, Brenner Palmiter, Travis Carter and Daniel Cordova. Lieupo took the heat win also.
J.F. McClellan has been on a roll in his Super Late and had the pole for their twenty five lap event. On McClellan's outside was Kevin Durden who was determined to take the point also. McClellan and Durden did some side-by-side action but it was Durden in the end who had the point followed by McClellan, David Hodges, Jay Middleton and Doyle Boatwright. The battle was on as Hodges got pass McClellan leaving Middleton and McClellan battling for third. Boatwright found his hands full of James Powell who was able to take over fifth putting Boatwright sixth. Hodges now finds himself with Middleton knocking oon his door for second. Middleton tries several times as Hodges shuts the door but finally Middleton does make the pass and takes over second.
Durden finds a very fast Middleton closing in on his fairly large lead. Middleton gets closer and closer each lap until finally he is knocking on the door. The caution comes out for Al Berry who has hit the turns 3 and 4 wall. Berry is fine but done for the night. McClellan takes this time to run into his pit for some much needed body repair and comes back out before the green flies.
The restart sees Durden take the point but Middleton is wasting no time trying to take over. Suddenly Durden spins as he and Middleton touch. Middleton is sent to the rear of the field and Durden retains his lead. After one bad start, the green comes out again with three laps to go. Durden maintains the point and takes the checkered followed by David Hodges, James Powell, Jay Middleton, and Doyle Boatwright.
Arnold Hughes has the pole for the Modifieds and takes the point on the green followed by Kurt Jett, Jason Garver, Dave Barber, and Mike Batten. Going down the backstretch, Batten and Shane Taylor get too close with Batten riding down the backstretch wall and retiring to the pits. Jett puts the heat on Hughes taking over the point as Barber passes Hughes for second. Barber is all over Jett but Jett holds but when Jett gets alittle too high, Barber slides right thru and takes the checkered followed by Kurt Jett, Jason Garver, Arnold Hughes, and Shane Taylor.
Aaron Smith had the pole for the Pure Stock feature but it was 2005 Pure Stock Champion John Roling who lead the way for the 20 lap feature. Following Roling to the checkered was Clay McRae, Shane Taylor, Sean Monahan, and Chris Rowe. The Pure Stocks will go for a 50 lap race this Saturday, June 3, at Columbia.
Street Stocks saw Brad Fiene get his first win this year followed by Russell Patterson, Don McKay, Ronnie Crawford, and Mark Nicklas. Don McKay had the pole for the 20 lap event but no one was stopping Fiene in his quest for a win.
Danny Brickert topped the Hornet class followed by Mike Marcellino, Kit Tapper, James Cook and Micky Johnson.
For more infornation on Columbia Motorsports Park, go to columbiamotorsportspark.com.
Happy Memorial Day Weekend.
OFFICIAL RESULTS COLUMBIA MOTORSPORTS PARK MAY 27, 2006
SUPER LATE MODEL
1. #17 Kevin Durden 2. #16 David Hodges 3. #77 James Powell 4. #74 Jay Middleton 5. #57 Doyle Boatwright 6. #19 Dennis Nixon 7. #01 J.F. McClellan 8. #53 Al Berry
OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED
1. #56 Dave Barber 2. #9 Kurt Jett 3. #65 Jason Garver 4. #55 Arnold Hughes 5. #82 Shane Taylor 6. #60 Mike Batten 7. #49 Chuck Lintz DNS 8. #07 Kevin Durden DNS
STREET STOCK
1. #77 Brad Fiene 2. #67 Russell Patterson 3. #93 Don McKay 4. #20 Ronnie Crawford 5. #34 Mark Nicklas
PURE STOCK
1. #18 John Roling 2. #85 Clay McRae 3. #38 Shane Taylor 4. #23M Sean Monahan 5. #23 Chris Rowe 6. #84 Aaron Smith 7. #91 Bucky York 8. #82 Kent Lovett 9. #37 Jason Parker DNS
TQ LATE MODELS
1. #18 Johnny Lieupo 2. #21 Derek Suits 3. #27 Brenner Palmiter 4. #00 Travis Carter 5. #16 Daniel Cordova 6. #6 Daniel Rader 7. #14 Katherine Thomas DNS 8. #43 Jim Aldaus
HORNETS
1. #77 Danny Brickert 2. #3 Mike Marcellino 3. #73 Kit Tapper 4. #26 James Cook 5. #04 Micky Johnson 6. #33 Donald Baker 4. #16 Brian Hull
