In Race 1, Darne set the fast time in qualifying and quickly made his way to the lead. Darne paced the field, while Ryan Wilson, Tommy Lemons Jr. and Myatt Snider all battled for position behind him. A Lap 30 caution stacked the field back up, giving Snider a shot at the lead, but Darne was strong on the restart, pulling away again for his first win anywhere since August of 2012. Snider held on for second, while Wilson, Michael Fose and Lemons Jr. rounded out the top five.
Race 2 saw a nine car invert, putting Melvin Langley on the pole, with Jonathan Findley to his outside. Findley took the early advantage, leading the first 15 laps until Ryan Wilson took over. Wilson led while Mike Darne worked his way toward the front from his starting position of ninth. A late caution let Darne get right to Wilson’s bumper, and after a quick battle for the lead, Darne came out on top, coming away with the sweep. Wilson would settle for second, while point leader Tommy Lemons Jr finished third, Myatt Snider fourth and Findley fifth.
Andrew Grady set a personal first in Limited Late Models. The Knightdale, NC driver had 49 previous starts in all forms of racing, and had not ever led the field to the green flag to start a race. That changed Saturday night, as Grady not only set the fast time in qualifying, but swept the twin-35 lap races.
In Race 1, Chris Chapman led the first lap, but Grady took the lead back and didn’t look back. Behind him, Dillon Spain, Haley Moody, Ross Dalton and Chapman all battled for position. When the checkered flag flew, Grady had dominated, while Rusty Daniels and Chris Chapman took second and third.
In the second race, Dillon Spain, Haley Moody, Ross Dalton and Rusty Daniels led each of the first four laps, respectively, until Daniels could take charge. Daniels led the next 16 laps until a hard-charging Andrew Grady caught his bumper. A few laps of hard racing later and it was Grady pulling away for good. Daniels then fought Moody, the current point leader, until Moody made a last-lap pass for second. Daniels would settle for third.
In Ultimate Body Shop UCARs, James Stroud won, extending his point lead over second place Tyler Horne. Travis Miller finished third after hard-fought racing with Mickey Connor, who finished fourth. Chet Christman won in Street Stocks, beating Mack Parker, Marc Jones and Greg Barnette. Alex Pacheco took the checkered for the second time on the season in Legends, upending Billy Hall in the process, while Blaise Brinkley found his way back into Victory Lane in Bandoleros.
Racing resumes this Saturday night with the X-1R Pro Cup roaring onto the high banks of Southern National Motorsports Park with the Golden Leaf 200. In addition to 200 laps of the X-1R Pro Cup, the Allison Legacy Series, Ultimate Body Shop UCARs, Legends and Bandoleros will all be in action as well. Tickets are just $15 for those 13+, kids 6-12 are $5 with children 5 and under free. For more information, contact the track office at 919-284-1114 or surf to www.snmpark.com.
Results:
Late Model Stock – 50 laps (Race 1)
1. 14 – Mike Darne
2. 2 – Myatt Snider
3. 12 – Ryan Wilson
4. 54 – Michael Fose
5. 27 – Tommy Lemons Jr.
6. 38 – Ricky Jones
7. 23 – Jonathan Findley
8. 42 – Craig Stallard
9. 29 – Melvin Langley
10. 27b- Tommy Lemons Sr.
11. 68 – Andrew Grady
12. 1 – Ronald Renfrow
Late Model Stock – 50 laps (Race 2)
1. 14 – Mike Darne
2. 12 – Ryan Wilson
3. 27 – Tommy Lemons Jr.
4. 2 – Myatt Snider
5. 23 – Jonathan Findley
6. 38 – Ricky Jones
7. 54 – Michael Fose
8. 42 – Craig Stallard
9. 29 – Melvin Langley
10. 1 – Ronald Renfrow
Limited Late Model – 35 laps (Race 1)
1. 1 – Andrew Grady
2. 16 – Rusty Daniels
3. 51 – Chris Chapman
4. 50d- Ross Dalton
5. 7 – Dillon Spain
6. 50 – Haley Moody
7. 07 – Ronald Renfrow
8. 63 – Tyler Mathews
9. 24 – Joshua Bryant
Limited Late Model – 35 laps (Race 2)
1. 1 – Andrew Grady
2. 50 – Haley Moody
3. 16 – Rusty Daniels
4. 7 – Dillon Spain
5. 50d- Ross Dalton
6. 07 – Ronald Renfrow
7. 63 – Tyler Mathews
8. 24 – Joshua Bryant
9. 51 – Chris Chapman
Street Stock – 25 laps
1. 37 – Chet Christman
2. 75 – Mack Parker
3. 39 – Marc Jones
4. 8 – Greg Barnett
5. 9 – Blake DePriest
Ultimate Body Shop UCAR – 25 laps
1. 4 – James Stroud
2. 28 – Tyler Horne
3. 99 – Travis Miller
4. 99r- Mickey Conor
5. 14 – David Wiggins
6. 48 – Duane walker
7. 00 – Aaron Crumpler
8. 86 – Brandon Allen
9. 03 – Greg Wood
10. 1 – Pete Hollowell
11. 60 – Lee Horner
12. 11 – Kurt Jones Jr.
Legends – 25 laps
1. 77 – Alex Pacheco
2. 30 – Billy Hall
3. 91 – Will Bristle
4. 10 – Justin Mitchell
5. 11 – Chris Stancil
6. 20 – Brenton Irving
7. 3 – Ryan Polenz
8. 24 – Mason Diaz
9. 8 – Travis Weber
10. 4 – Jason Austin
11. 88 – Zack Brown
12. 12 – Eric Courtney
Bandoleros – 15 laps
1. 24 – Blaise Brinkley
2. 74 – Henry Broadbent Jr.
3. 51 – Ethan Johnson
4. 77 – Savannah Beasley
5. 25 – Dustin Yeoman
6. 81 – Kailey Murray
7. 81r- Lindsey Rifenburg
8. 47 – Xander Broadbent
9. 48 – Rylee Miller
