East Alabama Motor Speedway - 2005 Archives Phenix City, ALA – March 19, 2005 – Officially the last day of winter became officially the first day of racing season at East Alabama Motor Speedway. The Late Model field came out of hibernation full of springtime surprises as present and past champions appeared in the points programs dawning super fast and super good looking racing steeds. Past Late Model Champion JR Moseley was in a new #12 Rocket and Josh Noles was in his new # 16 Rocket. The ever relentless and highly competitive Bobby Joe Eiland was back after a three year hiatus sporting his famous # K8, and one of the most popular past Late Mode champions, The Rock 103 Billy Duell was back in his new #U2. This year’s Late Model field looks to be one of the most exciting and talented groups of cars and drivers to grace the high- banked clay oval in some time. When the green flag dropped on the Late Model feature, Josh Nole was on the inside pole position and veteran Champion Dana Eiland was on the outside. Dana had the right gear to jump out ahead of Noles and take the lead with Noles falling in second and Bobby Joe Eiland in third. Jody Knowles was also sporting a new car with the #17 and was in fourth with William Thomas in close fifth. On lap 3 Matt Woodson went off turn 2 to bring out the first yellow flag caution. On the restart Bobby Joe Eiland moves into the upper groove through turn one right below Josh Noles which gives Noles the choice of slowing down or staying in the marbles and spinning off the track. Unfortunately for Noles, things happen quickly and Noles found himself off turn 2 for a caution, losing his second place position and going to the last place for the restart. Tod Darda put a power move on William Thomas and took over the fourth spot while Bobby Joe pulled along side Dana and challenged for the lead. Before the lap finished, Scott Land goes off the track and Thomas broke retiring to the pits for a DNF. On this restart Bobby Joe gets door to door with Dana, but some how, like the Great Houdini, Dana manages to escape and maintain the lead. The fans are standing, witnessing dirt track racing at its best. Meanwhile, in the back of the field, Josh Nole has his Rocket on a mission working his way back to the front and each competitor is no piece of cake. Jeff Culpepper does not play dead and let you pass him, and neither do Anthony Meadows, Joey Eiland, Gordy Scarborough, or Kevin Knotts. Billy Duell and JR Moseley are putting on quite a show themselves until Moseley begins overheating and has to go to the pits. On lap 23 all the drivers are engaged in a battle somewhere. The pace is furious, and as Jody Noles tries to pick off Bobby Joe for second spot, it gives Dana some breathing room to claim the checkers for the first event of the 2005 season. Bobby Joe Eiland finished second, Jody Knowles third, Tod Darda fourth, Anthony Meadows fifth, Joey Eiland sixth, Billy Duell seventh, Josh Noles eighth, Kevin Knotts ninth, and Gordy Scarborough rounded out the top ten at tenth. Phenix City, ALA – April 2, 2005 – After a week of flooding from copious amounts of spring rainfall, the sun broke through on Saturday which made for perfect track conditions at East Alabama Motor Speedway. The high winds during the day dried the surface of the high-banked clay oval leaving the majority of moisture deep down. After a brief preparation all six divisions took the track which remained multi-grooved, tacky, and dust free the entire evening. In the Late Model division Dewayne Johnson debuted his new green and white TNT chassis # 45. The new color did not dismay his fans as he took the pole for fast time qualifying. When the green flag dropped on the feature event Johnson blasted out to the lead. From the outside pole Joey Eiland hung on to Johnson like the tail of a comet securing the second place position. Tod Darda’s inflatable crew chief did an excellent job in setting up a fast racecar for the evening. Darda started in fourth and was in the third place when Billy Duell and Jeff Culpepper seem to get stuck together. Duell slowed fast in turn one and as Culpepper broke free he was propelled off the high side of turn two bringing out the first caution of the evening. Culpepper was towed to the pits and missed the restart. Back to green flag racing Johnson seemed to be in a class of his own as he quickly distanced himself from Joey Eiland and the rest of the pack. By lap three hard charger Bobby Joe Eiland had come from a tenth place start to take the fifth place position when Matt Woodson broke and brought out another caution. Woodson was towed to the pits. On this restart Johnson again shot out to a lead and Joey Eiland hung in a little closer but could not get close enough to challenge him for the lead. However, things behind the leaders really started heating up as Jeff Mills battled Tod Darda door to door for the third spot. Darda was holding him off while right behind them Billy Duell, who had lost several positions in the Culpepper mishap, had moved back up to challenge Bobby Joe Eiland for fifth. They were sparring door to door when Kevin Knotts spun out and hit the inside wall of turn two to bring out the next caution. Just as the race resumed Woodson came out of the pits but could not get up to speed. He was crawling on the inside groove when the leaders shot by. When the rest of the back came up on Woodson they were braking hard and spinning and sliding. Mills seized the opportunity to slide past Darda for third place. Darda was forced to the high groove and as he entered turn one Duell came into turn one on the inside groove. Duell’s tires hit the dry apron and he slid right up into Darda. Darda managed to keep control of his car coming out of turn two but was loose as Duell moved ahead, Allen Sparks also saw the opening and went by Darda on the inside. Lap 13 proved unlucky for Nick Biddle as he was charging hard through turn 3 when Jeremy Frost lost control coming out of turn four. As Frost spun sideways Biddle had nowhere to go except to T-bone Frost. The drivers were fine but their cars were terminal as they both got towed to the pits. On this restart it was Johnson in the lead followed by Joey Eiland, Jeff Mills, Billy Duell, Allen Sparks, Bobby Joe Eiland, Tod Darda, and Mike Parkerson, looking like William Thomas in a yellow and red # 22, rounded out the top eight. On lap 14 it looked like everyone was running as well as could expected except for Bobby Joe Eiland who continued to find a way to the front. Eiland passed Allen Sparks then closed up on Billy Duell. Johnson in the lead had pulled out to about a 15 car-length lead from Joey Eiland who maintained second place and had about a ten car-length lead from Jeff Mills. Bobby Joe Eiland found the perfect place to pass Duell as he ran downhill from turn three passing Duell in turn four to take the fourth place. Bobby Joe Eiland then set his sights on Mills in third and began running him down as the white flag came out. Johnson took the checkers wire to wire and remarkably Joey Eiland ran second wire to wire. Jeff Mills drove a solid race to capture third and Bobby Joe Eiland finished fourth. Billy Duell turned in a fifth place, Allen Sparks sixth, Tod Darda seventh, Mike Parkerson eighth, Jay Carpenter ninth and Gordy Scarborough rounded out the top 10 finishers. Phenix City, ALA – April 9, 2005 – When Ray Miller brings his National Late Model Series to East Alabama Motor Speedway most local Late Model drivers sit in the grandstands and watch. The NLMS drivers are very professional using the most sophisticated equipment and they exhibit a 100% will to win. Things were a little different this weekend as 9 local drivers showed up to compete with the big guns. The fans were thrilled to see 5 local teams finish in the top ten. The star of the show turned out to be Phenix City’s own Dewayne Johnson. Looking like a part of Michael Andretti’s Team Green in appearance and performance, Johnson put his green and white TNT Chassis Beardon Oil number 45 on the pole for the feature event. The outside pole belonged to the NLMS prolific winner Ivadent Lloyd, who has won the last 2 NLMS events. When the green flag dropped on the feature Johnson just blasted out to the lead. Lloyd saw he was losing ground to Johnson and tried too hard to keep up as he broke loose off turn four and hit the wall to bring out the first caution. He was sent to the rear of the full 24- car field. This put local legend Dana Eiland in second place for the restart. Again Johnson took a commanding lead as Eiland kept pace and they distanced themselves from the pack. Terry Lumley lost control in turn two and spun sideways ripping the right side sheet metal off Chad Wallace’s # 34 before getting pounded by Skip Pannell and Jason Davis. On the ensuing caution Glen Brewer suddenly came to a stop on the back straight and was pushed to the pits for a DNF. When the track was cleared Johnson and Eiland quickly gained a straightaway distance from third place Brad Comer leading the rest of the back. Ivadent Lloyd was definitely the hard charger as he seemingly passed at will looking to get back to the front. Johnson and Eiland were soon in lap traffic and as Johnson came up on Marvin Cook, who was running in Johnson’s preferred line, he slowed in turn three losing some momentum which was just the edge Eiland was looking for to catch him. Eiland pulled alongside Johnson and challenged for the lead down the front straight. The fans were on their feet cheering then Billy Lyles lost it coming out of turn two and hit the inside wall hard to bring out a yellow flag and Johnson retained the lead. On the next restart Brad Comer jumps up next to Eiland and they beat and bang on each other over second place. Eiland gets forced high off his line and Comer slides around to take over second place. Eiland quickly regains his composure and demonstrates his skills as he builds momentum in lap 14, and in a clean pass blows by Comer to regain the second place. By now Johnson is way out front and our hard charger Ivadent Lloyd, looking to take the ninth spot runs into serious trouble named Jeff Culpepper. Culpepper has no intentions of letting anyone around him and he puts an end to Lloyd’s charge to the front. Lloyd and Culpepper have a serious battle going on as Lloyd tries to pass in the high groove, then the low groove, in the corners, tried the old Earnhardt bump and run, but nothing would move Culpepper out of the way. Then as they came down the front straight Culpepper had to brake for lap traffic and Lloyd nailed him in the rear which chain reacted causing Jeremy Faircloth and Tuck Trentham to tear up their cars in a spectacular collision at the flagstand. Trentham was towed to the pits for a DNF and the green dropped again. At lap 18 attrition had claimed nine cars and Chad Wallace slowed and went to the pits overheating to make that number 10 out of the race. The pace was super fast and it was hard for the guys in the back to keep up as Johnson and Eiland begin lapping the back again. The battle over 8th place continued as Culpepper had all the right moves to keep Lloyd behind him and put on a show for the fans. Lloyd got high off his line coming out of turn 2 and another local talent, Scott Knowles, immediately took advantage of the situation and passed Lloyd. Knowles held Lloyd at bay until lap 40 when Comer and Knowles both went to the pits under green. Knowles headed straight for the water hole overheating and Lloyd was back sparring with Culpepper. Trentham came out of the pits and could not get up to speed. He pulled right in front of Culpepper in the groove. As Culpepper slowed to avoid a collision, Lloyd went down to the apron and made the pass. On the next lap Trentham was still circulating in the groove at half speed. Johnson was working his way through lap traffic and coming out of turn 4, Culpepper and Johnson collided. Some front- end sheet metal flew off the leader’s car and the flagman through the yellow for debris. On this lap 45 restart, with just five laps to the checkers, Eiland lost power. After qualifying Eiland had a problem with a couple of valves. His crew chief performed and amazing repair using a drill and some sandpaper which kept Eiland going almost long enough. When Eiland slowed Lonnie Roberts and local driver Anthony Meadows, who drove a strong and smart race staying out of trouble, moved into second and third place. On lap 47, remarkably, Ivadent Lloyd had come from last place to knock on Eiland’s 4th place door. Eiland seemed to muster enough power, running on seven cylinders, to keep Lloyd back as the white flag came out. In an overwhelming display of racing savvy and power, Dewayne Johnson took the checkers for the second week in a row wire to wire. Lonnie Roberts finished second, Anthony Meadows third, Dana Eiland fourth, Ivadent Lloyd fifth, Jordy Nipper sixth, Jay Carpenter seventh, Jeff Culpepper eighth, Marvin Cook ninth, and Brad Comer rounded out the top ten in tenth. Phenix City, ALA – April 16, 2005 – Stan Lester brought his FASTRAK Champions Series for their debut at East Alabama Motor Speedway this weekend. The Fastrak Series features Late Models equipped with factory crate engines, which levels the playing field. Its not the guy with the most money or the biggest engine who wins, since they all must use the reasonable priced factory sealed engines. Rather, it becomes an affordable sport of racing knowledge and skill determining the outcome. After qualifying rounds, the out- of- towners were introduced to our own local champions. Dana Eiland won the pole with a blistering 17.68 and Mickey Benton won the outside pole with a 17.77. Third fastest was Joey Eiland and none of the other competitors were able to break below 18 seconds on the 3/8 mile high- banked clay oval. When the lights went out to begin the feature Dana Eiland fired his K-9 in the usual spot coming out of turn 3. When they got to the flag stand the flagman aborted the start by waving a yellow. They lined up double file and tried it again. When Dana got to the same spot he fired again and the flagman waved this one off and stopped all the cars on the front straight. Dana and Mickey Benton were penalized and moved back to third and fourth while Joey Eiland was moved up to the pole and Crandell Turner to the outside pole. Many of the fans did not understand the ruling. The deal is, the flagman starts the race. The car on the pole cannot fire until the flagman drops the green. Our rules are different; the car on the pole starts the race so there was some confusion. This time Joey Eiland took the lead and in the ensuing mad scramble coming out of turn two, Dana Eiland had secured second place with Mickey Benton in third. Former 1973 National 100 Champion Buck Simmons got his #41 run over on the melee start and suffered wheel damage. He was the first to pull off the track into the pits for a DNF. Dana Eiland was all over Joey Eiland looking for the lead. Scott Childress was trying every trick in the book to pass Jody Palmer running fourth but Palmer had all the right blocking techniques down and there was nothing doing there. By lap 4 the leaders had run into the back of the 23- car field and began lapping traffic. On lap five Dana had Joey Eiland set-up for the pass coming out of turn three. Dana ran downhill out of turn three, maintaining his momentum, onto the apron and like cracking a whip shot out of turn 4 even with Joey Eiland. As they approached the flagstand, Joey was turning left into the K-9 but Dana shook him off. The fat lady was singing "Turn out the Lights" as the K-9 stretched out his legs and took a commanding lead threading his way through the traffic. Last year’s series point champion, Todd Higdon, spun out of turn one and hit the inside wall of turn 2 for a caution. On the restart the K-9 leaped out to a comfortable lead. Joey Eiland ran several car-lengths behind, unable to close the gap while Mickey Benton ran in third, several car-lengths behind Joey yet a few car-lengths ahead of fourth place Jody Palmer. Scott Childress was persistent looking for a way around Childress and these two gave the fans quite a show. Also the battle for sixth place was interesting with Jeremy Ledford trying to pass Tyler Harvey. On lap 23 Brandon Yawn spun and as Ledford and Harvey tried to avoid disaster, the hit each other a stopped on top of turn 2. Anthony Craft also broke on this lap and was towed to the pits for a DNF. On this restart Mathew Daniels got a jump on Roger Arnwood and took over the seventh place position. As they reached lap 34 of the 40-lap event, Jonathon Joines is pressuring Scott Childress for fifth spot. Dana Eiland was still turning incredible fast laps as the pace was vigorous. Joey Eiland was running strong and stayed ahead of Mickey Benton in third but he had no chance of catching the K-9. With three laps to go Benton began to slow and was loosing the pace as the fourth and fifth place cars caught up and looked like they were going to pass. Then Don Brode, Brandon Yawn and Todd Higdon crashed into each other in turn 4 and brought out the caution. It looked like the bell had saved Benton’s third place position, but, there were two laps to go. On the white flag lap Jody Palmer found his way around Benton, who had run third for nearly the entire race. Dana Eiland placed his K-9 in the winner’s circle by taking the checkers in championship form. Joey Eiland finished second, Jody Palmer third, Mickey Benton fourth, Jonathon Joines fifth, Mathew Daniels sixth, David Browning seventh, Roger Arnwood eighth, David Eubanks ninth, and Bill Peters rounded out the top ten in tenth. Phenix City, ALA – April 23, 2005 – It was an unusually cold and windy night for late spring at East Alabama Motor Speedway. However, the excitement on the track overwhelmed any physical discomfort brought on by Mother Nature. The Late Model division did a great job heating things up as they took the track for their 25-lap feature. With Josh Noles on the pole and Tod Darda on the outside pole the competition was on from the get go. On the first start Noles fired first in turn three but Darda caught and passed him before they reached the flag stand. As they entered turn two the field bunched up and began spinning and bumping bringing out the second double file start. This restart was a mirror image of the first with Darda passing Noles and the pile up in turn two, so the third start was single file. Noles held on to the lead with Darda looking high and low for a way into the lead. Bobby Joe Eiland passed Tony Knowles running in fifth while Joey Eiland was looking to the inside of Jeff Mills running third. The leaders began to stretch out from the pack and Wesley Holmes passed Ricky Culpepper for 13th place. On lap 6 Ricky Gunn was fighting a bad set up and lost control, spinning on his own to bring out a yellow flag caution. On this restart Bobby Joe Eiland jumped to the inside of Joey Eiland in fourth which brought out another caution and sent Bobby Joe to the rear of the field for the next restart. As fate would have it on this restart while Gordy Scarborough and Wesley Holmes battled over position, Billy Duell spun in turn four relegating him to the rear for the next restart. Bobby Joe Eiland and Billy Duell mounted a charge to the front creating a lot of excitement and serious racing from the rear of the filed. Up front, Darda was pressuring Noles from every angle on each corner but the leader was running in his preferred line, the upper groove, and always seemed to maintain his momentum enough to keep the lead. On lap 10 Tony Knowles got sideways and Allen Sparks was quick to take advantage and move into fifth spot. Bobby Joe Eiland was wasting no time as suddenly he was challenging Leon Watson JR for seventh and made a successful pass in turn 2 to take over the spot. On lap 14 Knowles passed Allen Sparks but Sparks came right back. Perhaps a little bit too strong as he made hard contact with Knowles causing them both to spin right in front of Bobby Joe Eiland who spun into the wall to avoid further damage. The caution was blamed on Sparks who was sent to the rear for the restart. On lap 16, with Darda not letting up on Josh Noles, trying to take the lead from the inside, the other Noles, the number 6 and Father of Josh, JW Noles, got into a collision with Wesley Holmes. Holmes went to the pits with a flat and JW Noles got a push to the pits for a DNF. On the restart Bobby Joe Eiland came flying into turn one and made the Earnhardt famous "Bump and run" move on Knowles to take over the fifth spot. Knowles stayed right behind Eiland waiting for the opportunity to repay the favor. Leon Watson JR had a horrific crash on the back straight, which totaled out his car and had to get towed to the pits. On lap 22 Darda had managed to pull along side Noles and they ran door to door for the entire lap when coming out of turn two Darda took the lead for the first time and for the one that counts the most. the white flag lap. Once Darda was in clean air he powered out to an impressive lead showing his hand and speed as he took the checkers. Josh Noles came in second and Jeff Mills, who started third and drove a consistent race finished third. Joey Eiland also drove a solid race to finish forth. The battle over fifth may not end for some time. Bobby Joe Eiland was in fifth on the flag lap and Tony Knowles planned a last minute charge to regain that fifth spot. Knowles powered into turn three and used a slingshot maneuver to come out of turn 4 with a run on Eiland. They drag raced to the finish line and what appeared to be a photo finish became a controversy as the track announcer proclaimed Knowles the winner while the track officials in the tower had a different view-point and said Eiland was the winner. Officially, Bobby Joe Eiland was the fifth place finisher and Tony Knowles was given the sixth place finish. Billy Duell finished seventh, Ricky Culpepper eighth, John Green ninth, and Matt Woodson rounded out the top ten in tenth. April 30, 2005 - Rain Out Phenix City, ALA – May 7, 2005 – Mother Nature would not deprive the race fans at East Alabama Motor Speedway and she gave us a beautiful Mother’s Day weekend for plenty of exciting dirt track racing. Former Late Model track Champion Jeff Mills provided the thrill in the Late Model feature beginning with the drop of the green flag. Mills started from the outside pole with Josh Noles on the inside pole. Noles jumped out to lead when he fired first but Mills ran him down and passed before reaching turn one. William Thomas also had a strong start as he came from third and passed Noles to take the second spot in turn two. On lap 4 as Jack Miles broke and coasted to the pits for a DNF, Matt Woodson spun on his own in turn 2 for the first yellow flag caution. On the restart Mills blasted out to a firm lead as Thomas seemed to be having a mechanical failure and was struggling to hang on to second. Bobby Joe Eiland was running in sixth looking to take fifth away from Jeff Culpepper and they battled fiercely running door to door all the way around the track. Then a freak accident occurred in which Nick Biddle shot up across turn 4 causing Joey Eiland to crash into Jeff Culpepper for the next caution. During this yellow flag, surprisingly, William Thomas pulled into the pits relinquishing the second position, with break failure for a DNF. Biddle also went to the pits with terminal damage. On this restart Mills really flexed that big motor and pulled several car lengths away from second place Josh Noles and the rest of the pack. Bobby Joe Eiland was charging hard and made a very cool move diving to the apron in turn one to pass third place Allen Sparks and slip under Noles to emerge from turn 2 in second place. Matt Woodson had a hand full of steering wheel as he spun in turn 4 to cause his second caution of the evening. Bobby Joe Eiland was really running strong and on this restart he ran door to door with Mills and had the fans on the edge of their seats when it looked like he was going to make the pass. However, Mills had the power, the perfect set-up, and an intimate relationship with the 3/8s mile high-banked clay oval, which kept him in the lead. Sparks slowed suddenly and collected a rear bumper full of Jeff Culpepper when Joey Eiland saw the opportunity to catch three birds with one pass and he flew past Wesley Holmes, Jeff Culpepper, and Allen Sparks to find himself running fourth. On lap 11 JR Moseley went off the track and came back on. He began to slow on the front straight as Grady Scarbrough shot by to move into seventh. Moseley took his new Rocket #99 to the pits with a damaged oil pan and no oil pressure for a DNF. Then Scott Land brought out his third caution as Woodson rolled into the pits for his DNF. Land did not realize he had caused three cautions and did not leave the racetrack until the flagman gave him the black flag. On the next restart Joey Eiland slid into Josh Noles in turn two and came out of that confrontation in third place. When this incident occurred, JW Noles checked up and Ricky Culpepper, running on the high groove got collected. The two cars spun like a Mephisto Waltz towards the top of turn two. When they reached the top, they turned perpendicular and JW Noles was catapulted into the air. His car made a barrel roll then four end over end flips coming to a stop upside down at the outside of the track. The red flag came out as emergency crews rushed to the crash site. Amazingly, both drivers walked away but JW Noles’ #6 was DOA in the pits. Maybe a coincidence that after the clean-up and the green flag came back, the next two cars off the track were the relatives of those in that spectacular crash. Jeff Culpepper, the father of Ricky Culpepper, got spun out and went to the pits on lap 16. Then on lap 21 Allen Sparks pushed Josh Noles, the son of JW Noles, off the track in turn 4. Sparks was sent to the rear for the restart. Again Mills took a commanding lead as he gradually pulled away from Bobby Joe Eiland. Billy Duell pulled into the pits overheating as the white flag came out. Jeff Mills drove uncontested to the checkers and celebrated Mother’s Day with a well-earned victory. Bobby Joe Eiland finished second, Joey Eiland third, Josh Noles fourth, Wesley Holmes fifth, Grady Scarbrough sixth, Allen Sparks seventh, Ricky Gunn eighth, Billy Duell ninth, and Jeff Culpepper rounded out the top ten in tenth. Phenix City, ALA – May 14, 2005 – Late Model feature winners seem to change like the spring weather at East Alabama Motor Speedway. This weekend Late Model driver Joey Eiland stepped up to the podium to claim his first checkered flag and announce that he has arrived as a force to be reckoned. Joey took the green flag on the feature from the outside pole with Josh Noles claiming the inside pole with fast time qualifying. When Noles fired Joey matched him and they rubbed coming out of turn 4. Joey suddenly burst into the lead and began to pull away. William Thomas, starting in third, maintained his position in spite of the strong challenge from Leon Watson, JR. Billy Duell went into turn three really hot and then spun coming out of turn 4 to bring out the caution. They were lined back up double file and started again. It was an aggressive identical start with the leaders rubbing then Joey taking the lead. This time Scott Land spun out in turn three and several cars slid to a stop behind him bringing out caution number two. Now they were lined up single file for the third start. Now, with clean air Josh Noles maintained the lead and the first lap counted. Bobby Joe Eiland was charging to the front and sparring with Allan Sparks over sixth position. When they entered turn three neither backed off and the K-8 of Bobby Joe Eiland spun and came to a stop. Matt Woodson also spun and was stuck at the top of the track. The caution was blamed on Bobby Joe and he was sent to the rear for the restart. Josh Noles again powers to the front and gets a four- car length lead on Joey in second. Jeremy Frost broke and went to the pits. Joey caught up with Noles and was looking for the lead from the inside groove. Joey could get even with Noles in the corners but Noles was on the preferred high line and kept more momentum, which allowed him to keep the lead down the straight-aways. Ricky Gunn pulled into the pits and was followed in by Bobby Joe Eiland on lap 8. On this restart Joey hung in close to Noles to attempt a pass when suddenly William Thomas jumped up next to Joey and was challenging him for second. Gordy Scarbrough was pouring on the heat when his power plant blew causing him to spin and come to a stop in front of the flag stand. Wesley Holmes was right behind and went into a spin to avoid a collision with Scarbrough, whose engine was smoking like a nuclear power plant meltdown. On the ensuing green flag Billy Duell had Leon Watson JR set up and made a clean pass in turn 4 to claim the 4th position. Matt Woodson was having handling problems and spun out on the front straight to bring out the next yellow flag. On this restart Joey seemed to have better traction, like his set-was finally coming to him and he stayed glued to Nole’s back bumper. Going into turn one Joey dropped inside Noles and Noles moved up into the cushion of turn two. For just a second or two Noles pushed a little high. That was all that was needed for Joey to get a death grip on Noles and make a successful pass for the lead on lap 14. William Thomas followed Joey through the turns and also had the momentum to pass Noles and take over the second spot. Once in the lead Joey opened up that spec engine and pulled about 6 car lengths ahead of Thomas, who was running six car lengths ahead of Noles in third. Dana Eiland, who started in the rear, ran a very uncharacteristic race. He advanced his position up to sixth but never made the hard charge that normally would put him in first place. Joey Eiland’s tenacity and championship style put him in Victory Lane for the first time in a Late Model and the fans can expect to see him there again. William Thomas drove a solid race to finish in second, Josh Noles finished third, and former Late Model champion Billy Duell came from the back to finish fourth. Leon Watson JR finished fifth, Dana Eiland came in sixth, Allen Sparks turned in a seventh, Mickey Benton eighth, Scott Land ninth, and Ricky Culpepper avoided trouble and rounded out the top ten in tenth. Phenix City, ALA – May 21, 2005 – The old adage about Southern racing being a "family tradition" can be no more evident than at East Alabama Motor Speedway. The Late Model division saw three Eiland’s, Joey, Dana, and Bobby Joe, finish the feature 1, 2, and 3 respectively. The outcome of the fast time qualifying was similar to last week with Joey Eiland on the pole and Josh Noles on the outside. When the green dropped on the feature Joey wasted no time in marking his territory, which was out front leading. Second place Josh Noles had Dana Eiland all over him looking high and low for the pass. Jesse Lamphier couldn’t find the handle and spun to bring out the first yellow flag caution. Leon Watson JR relinquished his fifth place start to go to the pits along with Lamphier and Wesley Holmes. On this restart the leaders got away from the pack fast and there was chaos in the middle as Bobby Joe Eiland began a treacherous charge to the front. He and Jeff Mills were double teaming Billy Duell when the right situation came up and Bobby Joe make a slick move around Mills and Duell into seventh place. Kevin Knotts was also having a hard time getting his ride under control when he spun in turn 2 for the next caution. Ricky Gunn took the yellow flag as a clue to hit the pits and Matt Woodson followed him in. They returned to the end of the line for the restart. This time Dana Eiland gets inside Noles and they battle hard for second place. Bobby Joe is also finding a strong fight trying to get around Jeff Culpepper who is determined to pass and not get passed. When Holmes and Knotts bring out the next caution Bobby Joe uses a shrewd tactic on the restart. Culpepper was in line, in sixth place as they came around turn 3 for the restart. When the leaders, and Culpepper dropped to the inside and fired out of turn three, Bobby Joe fired early and stayed in the high groove. This gave Bobby Joe more momentum than the leaders coming out of turn four. Bobby Joe easily pulled even with Culpepper down the front straight and passed Culpepper and Tod Darda in turn one. Now Bobby Joe had his sights set on Mickey Benton running in fourth. Dana must have known he was coming as Dana began to pressure Josh Noles in second. Darda’s car began smoking heavily out of the right front. Anthony Meadows came flying into turn one and pushed up into Mills. They both stopped then got started on their own with out causing a caution. Dana’s K-9 had a death grip on Noles and stayed glued to the inside until breaking free and lunging forward into second place coming out of turn one. Dana immediately began to reel in Joey who was running uncontested in first. Joey saw Dana coming and really put the pedal to the metal turning super fast laps. Bobby Joe was working over Noles and got to the inside in turn four. Bobby Joe drove real deep into turn one and passed Noles to take the third spot. Noles tried too hard to catch him and spun in turn two to bring out a yellow flag and get sent to the rear for the restart. As the cream rises to the top, so do the best race teams as the starting order on this restart turned into the final order. For the second consecutive week, Joey Eiland took the checkered flag, and this week he did it wire to wire. Dana Eiland needed a few more laps to really test Joey but never-the –less turned in a solid second place finish. Bobby Joe Eiland put on perhaps the most exciting show of the night coming from the back of a pack of highly skilled drivers to finish third. Former Late Model track champion Mickey Benton turned in a respectable fourth place and rookie William Thomas stayed in the hunt and out of trouble to earn the fifth place finish. Anthony Meadows came in sixth, Jack Mills seventh, Billy Duell eighth, Gordy Scarbrough ninth and Ricky Culpepper rounded out the top ten in tenth. Phenix City, ALA – May 28, 2005 – Memorial Day celebrations at East Alabama Motor Speedway were replete with "bombs bursting in air" via the gigantic fireworks display. And, as we paid homage to our fallen military heroes, the "rockets’ red glare" was noticed predominately on the race track as Late Model driver Bobby Joe Eiland blasted his Rocket into the winners circle. Starting the feature from the outside pole position, when the green flag dropped, Bobby Joe wrestled the lead from pole sitter Tod Darda and never looked back. With a star- studded line up, including some of the fastest Late Model cars and drivers in the Southeast, it was no walk in the park to maintain your position. Dennis Hale, running in third, was under the constant pressure of fourth place racing legend and former Late Model track champion Dana Eiland. Rookie William Thomas had his hands full holding onto fifth place after an altercation with Jack Mills which also moved last week’s winner, Joey Eiland into sixth. On lap 5, Jessie Lamphier and Nick Biddle spun to bring out the yellow flag caution. On the restart it looked like Jack Mills felt he owed Thomas some payback and tried, unsuccessfully, to spin Thomas out, hitting him in the rear quarter panel several times. Sometimes karma plays an instant role in certain situations and Jack Mills was about to pay some. Mill’s left front tire went flat and he had to go to the pits losing his position. Nick Biddle broke and coasted to a stop on the front straight to bring out the yellow. On this restart, Bobby Joe quickly assumed the lead with Darda hanging in close looking for the opportunity to take the lead. Dana Eiland was also looking inside Hale for the pass but Hale had enough power to escape the locking jaws of Dana’s K-9. Mill’s karma got him again and you could hear him singing the Darrell Waltrip hit "You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel" as his left front wheel and tire came completely off the car leaving him sitting on the back straight. The next restart looked like the last one until the leaders completed a lap. Robbie Watson and Billy Duell had some unpleasant words and spun out together on the front straight. In an effort to avoid hitting them a larger melee ensued with Matt Woodson, Nick Biddle, Kevin Knotts, Gordy Scarborough, and Cork Bracey plowing into each other. The race was red flagged until the track was cleared and green flag racing resumed. The front five cars quickly gained ground on the rest of the pack but now Joey Eiland seemed to have some mechanical problem as he dropped back with the pack. Watson and Duell have a replay coming out of turn four and they collide again. This time, they both come to a stop and then get going again without bringing out a caution flag. The leaders seem evenly matched. Second place Darda dropped inside Bobby Joe for a quick glimpse of the lead but just as quickly Bobby Joe pulls out to a four car-length lead. Dana Eiland is still looking to the inside of Hale but he can’t quite make the pass either. Thomas in fifth is running in his own space with no more challenges from Joey Eiland and occasionally he gets a look inside Dana coming out of turn 4 but has no chance of mustering enough momentum to make a pass. On the white flag lap Darda charged hard into turn one and looked like he was going to take the lead But Bobby Joe pulled out all the stops and hammered down to take the checkers. Tod Darda finished second, Dennis Hale third, Dana Eiland fourth, William Thomas finished fifth for the second week in a row, Joey Eiland sixth, Josh Noles seventh, Mickey Benton eighth, Robbie Watson ninth, and Matt Woodson rounded out the top ten in tenth. by Sherry Covington The fireworks were not the only thing blazing Saturday night at East Alabama Motor Speedway (EAMS). The track was blazing from the cars roaring down the track. Racing, especially dirt track racing, is as southern as boiled peanuts, sweet tea, and fried chicken. It is similar to the opera, if you love it you will always love it, it you do not, you can learn to appreciate it. And being a good southern belle, I love it. I took my three year old daughter with me and when the Late Models were on the track she told me it sounded like thunder and asked if it was going to rain. The night started out with the Hobby class of cars, which until this year was known as Enduro. The line started with John Capps – J3 on the pole, Alan Flournoy - #39 on the outside, Josh Marchman - #27, Mike Mount - #31, Chris Arnett - #7, and Pat Wall - #14 rounding out the top six spots. There were 17 cars in the starting line up. There was a caution on the second lap so when they restarted it was in single file and Pat Wall #14 had moved up to the 4th position. According to Clint Stanton, long time announcer at EAMS, he’s the new up and comer for the 2005 season. Clint also said, “He has come out of no where and has a very fast car this season.” During lap 10 the #8 car of Rodney Gorman locked up with the #5 of Jay Swint and #8’s axle was broken causing the wheel to fall off and towing into the pits a necessity, his night of racing was over. The #6 car overheated and had to be towed also, ending his night. By this time our up and comer, Pat Wall had moved into second position with first in his sights. Another caution was called on lap 11 and #14 had taken first with #J3 of John Capps having tire problems from locking up. The cars rolled around ranked Pat Wall - #14, Alan Franks - #39, Mike Mount - #31, Chris Arnett - #7, Jason Craft - #0, and Ken Redmon - #66 rounding out the top six. After a few laps under caution the race resumed with Wall holding out the first position for his 3rd win of the season, second consecutive win. Good luck Pat, we look forward to many more wins from you. The next race was the United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) Modified, or open wheeled cars. There were 7 cars in the starting line. They were William Thomas, Mr. Smooth - #22 on the pole, Roderick Dykes - #6, Timbo Gouker the Cardiac Kid - #V94, Justin Thornton - #1, Herbie Donath - #25, and Kevin Simmons - #31 rounding out the top six. #22 Mr. Smooth took the lead right away and it did not seem anyone would be able to catch him. After 7 laps the standing were William Thomas, Mr. Smooth - #22, Justin Thornton - #1, Timbo Gouker the Cardiac Kid - #J94, Herbie Donath - #25, Kevin Simmons - #31, and Eric Gano - #11G rounding out the top six. They continued racing for 8 more laps with the same line finishing. Next up was the Super Street, which is very similar to the Late Models except for a few setup items, the type of motor, and the types of rear ends. I personally would rather be a super street than a late model, especially if it is based on rear ends. The starting line up was Josh Weathers - #91, Marvin Cook - #40, Todd Mitchell - #20, Steven Gaines Jr - #50, Paul Walters - #17, and Danny Stroud - #22 rounding out the top six positions with 14 cars total starting out. The excitement started early in this race with Brandon Pijnenburg - #83 spinning out in turn 3. This called out a caution with a double line restart. By lap 4 Marvin Cook - #40 had taken the lead, Josh Weather - #91 in the second position, then Todd Mitchell - #20, Paul Walters - #17, Steven Gaines Jr - #50, and Chad Marchman - #27 rounding out the top six. Lap 17 was very exciting as several things happened to call out cautions during that lap. Tim Hester - #2 had some handling problems that pushed his car high in coming out of turn two causing him to go slightly over the oval on the back straightaway, but he soon was back on but never gained many positions after that. Jimmy Evilsizer - #15 was forced out with car problems, as were Paul Walters - #17 and finally Tim Hester - #2. Meanwhile the cars stood as Marvin Cook - #40 in the lead, Josh Weathers - #91, Todd Mitchell - #20, Chad Marchman - #27, and Roger Arnett the Outlaw - #7 rounding out the top six positions. The race continued thru to lap 20 with any other incidents and Marvin Cook - #40 took the win, then Josh Weathers - #91, Todd Mitchell - #20, Chad Marchman - #27, #22 Danny Stroud, and Roger Arnett the Outlaw - #7 finishing up the top six. Then the Big Boys, the Late Models, came on the track. This is the main event, what everyone waits to see. The starting line was Tod Darda - #91 on the pole, Bobby Eiland - #K8 on the outside pole, Dana Eiland - #K9, #23, Jack Mills - #7, and Josh Noles, Mr. Quicktime - #16 rounding out the top six positions with a total of 20 cars starting. When these cars start coming out of turn 4 if you are down there, you can feel the vibrations in your very bones. It truly is thunder on the tracks when they roar by. By Lap 5 Bobby Eiland - #K8 had taken the lead from Tod Darda - #91, then #8 Dennis Hale, Dana Eiland - #K9, #22 William Thomas, Joey Eiland the Latest Contender - #29, and #1 rounding out the top six. Tod Darda - #91 went too high coming out of turn 2 and Bobby Eiland - #K8 took the advantage and took second away but by the time the guys came out of turn 4 going down the front straightaway Tod - #91 had taken it back. Lap 8 saw a large pile up of cars going into turn 1, involving 6 cars. The #55 car of Nick Biddle took the worst of the damage and was towed into the pits, ending his night of racing. The race was going great until Matt Woodson - #88 spun out in turn 4, but didn’t cause much damage to his car. The race continued with Bobby Eiland - #K8 taking the win, then Tod Darda - #91, Dennis Hale - #8, Dana Eiland - #K9, #22 William Thomas, and Joey Eiland the Latest Contender - #29 rounding out the top six finishers. Next up were the Bomber class, which sees many new drivers and the only female racing at EAMS, Christy Noles in the #16. Billy Duell Jr - #7 sat on the Pole, #31, John Michael - #29, Richard Stevens the Rocketman - #00, #15, Richard Stephens Sr - #00sr, and Keith McTaggert - #17 rounding out the top six spots with 11 cars on the starting line. The cars came out or turn 4 starting the race and by the time they roared into turn 1 Richard Stephens the Rocketman - #00 had moved from 4th to 2nd. By lap 9 Richard Stephens the Rocketman - #00 had moved into 1st with Billy Duell Jr - #7 then Steve Mount - #31, Richard Stephens Sr - #00sr, John Michael - #294, Jerry Luke - #89, and Montana Dudley - #55 rounding out the top six positions. The rest of the race was pretty uneventful once Rocketman - #00 had taken the lead. They finished Richard Stephens the Rocketman - #00, Billy Duell Jr - #7. Richard Stephens Sr - #00sr, Steve Mount - #31, John Michael - #294, Jerry Luke - #89, and Montana Dudley - #55 were the top six finishers. Last up were the Pony Stock or if you’ve ever heard them, the Buzz Bombers. These are little 4 cylinders that sound like a swarm of bees coming after you. Terry Braswell - #2 sat on the pole, Chad Carden - #c22 on the outside, Allen McConnell - #24, Kelly Leonard - #13, Ray Fowler - #33, and Bill Taylor - #T8 rounding the top six positions with 9 cars starting out. By Lap 6 Kelly Leonard - #13 had taken 2nd from Chad Carden - #c22 and Alton Weed - #17 had taken 5th. During the Lap 8 Kelly Leonard - #13 had taken 2nd back and Darien Williams - #27 had moved into the top six. Terry Braswell - #2 took the win, followed by Kelly Leonard - #13, Chad Carden - #c22, Allen McConnell - #24, Ray Fowler - #33, Alton Weed - #17, and Darien Williams - #27. The track hosted a fireworks show for the kids who were very exciting and actually quieter than the racing, or at least according to my three-year-old. EAMS also hosts Spectator Racing, where fans can take their cars on the track against each other. There is a registration fee but the winner receives $100 and comes back for the championship and can take home the monster trophy. So any of you who think you have a fast car come out and walk the walk, or race the race. The website, www.EAMSDIRT.com, has a listing of all special events scheduled for this race season. If you want a night of super fast excitement then East Alabama Motor Speedway the place to be. Phenix City, ALA – June 4, 2005 – By far the most successful event of the season had thousands of fans filling the grandstands and hundreds of racers and thrill seekers taking to the high banked clay oval and infield of East Alabama Motor Speedway. Barnam and Bailey would be hard pressed to produce a more exciting show than this week’s production. The Monster Truck show highlighted the evening with Preditor winning the competition. ATVs ran the infield circuit in between events, as the action never stopped. A Tuff Man’s truck competition allowed the fans to run their personal trucks through the course and David Forker won that event in his high jumping Range Rover. Local dare devil Tater Holmes went one up on the Monster trucks as he got some serious air sailing over the rows of smashed vehicles on the truck course in his junkyard special. Mixed into the show were the six divisions of stock car racers. The evening culminated with the Late Model feature. Our most prolific champion Dana Eiland won the pole with a light speed lap of 17.68. Bobby Joe Eiland also broke into the 17- second world to win the outside pole. The second row had two more speedsters, Josh Noles and Joey Eiland making for a very exciting chase for the lead. When the green dropped on the feature Dana assumed his regular position – the lead and began pulling away from the pack. Joey Eiland got up next to Bobby Joe Eiland and they ran door to door in a frantic drag race to turn one. Bobby Joe was on the inside and Joey had the preferred high line, which gave him just enough of an advantage to secure second spot coming out of turn two. Josh Nole came up and got a glimpse inside of Bobby Joe. While Josh was trying to decide how to handle this situation, another tough competitor, Mickey Benton pulled alongside looking to pass Noles for fourth spot. On lap 6 Wesley Holmes broke on the back straight and coasted to a stop to bring out the first yellow. Cork Bracey also broke and coasted into the pits. On this restart as Dana took the lead and turned the corner in turn one his K-9 laid down on him. When Dana lost his momentum Joey, in second had to slow which allowed Bobby Joe to pull alongside. Dana revived his K-9 for the next lap and kept the lead. When they got back to turn one Dana fired coming off the corner and again the K-9 laid down, a hesitation costing momentum. Bobby Joe seized the opportunity and went around Joey to take over second place. As they came down the front straight Dana’s K-9 dropped all its oil and came to a stop in turn one bringing out the yellow flag. Dana was pushed to the pits where his K-9 was pronounced DOA with a blown motor for a DNF. On the restart Bobby Joe had the lead and was running like a scalded dog. Within two laps Bobby Joe was 8 car-lengths ahead of Joey and still pulling away. Noles came up to challenge Joey while William Thomas began looking inside Jeff Mills for fifth. Chad Herrington, the flagman, threw the yellow on lap 14 for debris. On this restart Noles got inside Joey and something broke on Joey’s car sending him to the pits and bringing out another yellow flag. The front line up for the lap 15 restart was Bobby Joe, Noles, Benton, Mills, Thomas and Anthony Meadows. As Joey came out of the pits he had to join the field at the rear. He had a lot of speed coming into turn three before the green came back and he sailed past some cars in the rear. With so much more speed he easily passed Ricky Culpepper and Gordy Scarbrough. The track officials penalized Joey one spot for jumping the start alleging Joey began passing cars before the green came back. On the white flag lap the leaders stretched out and remained where they were. Culpepper was trying hard to pass Scarbrough and they drag raced side by side to the checkers. Scarbrough inched him out and retained his seventh place finish. For the second week in a row Bobby Joe Eiland took the checkered flag and raised the bar for the Late Model division. Josh Noles came in second, Mickey Benton third, Jeff Mills fourth, William Thomas finished fifth for the third week in a row, Anthony Meadows sixth, Gordy Scarbrough seventh, Joey Eiland eighth, Ricky Culpepper ninth, and Matt Woodson rounded out the top ten in tenth. by Sherry Have you ever talked to a basketball player and had a pain in your neck from holding your head straight up? That is what it is like looking at the Monster Trucks, which East Alabama Motor Speedway (EAMS) hosted this weekend. These trucks are the basketball players of the racing world. These trucks are massive! Watching these humongous trucks jump over three regular sized cars in like watching a 300lb linebacker run a football for a touchdown. It goes against the laws of nature that something this big can jump or move like it does. The best-looking monster truck was Predator; it had eyes on the hood, ears on the side, and teeth in the front. Also EAMS hosted the Quad Wars. And if you are like me you are asking what is a Quad? It’s a racing 4 wheeler and the kids that ride them are fearless. The fastest Dusty Parish ‘Dude’, ran the obstacle course in 30.20 seconds. He was riding a Banshee 4 Wheeler, and according to a spectator, James Ohearn, ‘you just can’t beat a Banshee, those things are really fast’. The course consisted of 5 jumps with the second being the largest. As Dude came on the course he took the first jump and then over the second he threw his feet up in front of him. Again, it is amazing how the laws of gravity are broken. The youngest rider that night was Logan Smith who is 6 years old. He rode through the course and took the jump like a future pro. Keep it up Logan and we hope to see your talents as you get older. Next up was what we all really came to see, stock car racing. First up was the UMP Modified race which featured 7 cars. The line up was Rusty Harmon - #12 on the pole, then Rodgerick Dykes - #6 on the outside pole followed by Justin Thornton #1, Timbo Gouker Cardiac Kid - #V94, Donnie Harig - #62, and Herbie Donath - #31. The race started and Rodgerick Dykes - #6 worked his way up front and by lap 8 had taken the lead from #12. There was a caution called on this lap due to Herbie Donath - #31, with them lining up Rodgerick Dykes - #6, followed by Timbo Gouker Cardiac Kid - #V94, Herbie Donath - #31, Rusty Harmon - #12, and lastly Donnie Harig - #62. They restarted when Donnie - #62 went off the track along the back straightaway bringing out another caution. The race restarted with the same line up and finished their last lap with Rodgerick Dykes - #6 taking the win, his 6th of the season followed by Timbo Gouker Cardiac Kid - #V94, Herbie Donath - #31, Rusty Harmon - #12, Donnie Harig - #62. The Pony class was second up and came buzzing onto the track. It featured 7 cars with Terry Braswell - #2 sitting on the pole followed by Josh Kelly - #13, Greg Gatlin - #11, Ray Fowler - #33, BJ Freeman - #B1, Allen McConnell - #24, and Miles Holton - #2M. Right after starting Josh Kelly - #13 went off the back straightaway bringing out the first caution of their race. Since that lap had been completed it was a single line restart with Terry Braswell - #2 leading with Greg Gatlin - #11 in second and Allen McConnell - #24, Ray Fowler - #33, Miles Holton - #2M. By the time the cars had reached turn 1 on the second lap Kelly - #13 had moved into 3rd from the back of the restart. During lap 3 Terry - #2 and Greg - #11 put some distance between them and the rest of the drivers. The race continued with Miles - #2M lagging further and further behind until lap 6 when the lead car of Terry Braswell - #2 passed him followed by the rest of the line. By lap 9 the leaders Terry - #2 and Greg - #11 had moved ahead by half the track from the rest of the drivers. Terry Braswell - #2 was the winner for his 8th win of the season with Greg Gatlin - #11 taking second and Josh Kelly - #13 in third, followed by Allen McConnell - #24, Ray Fowler - #33, and Miles Holton - #2M who was 3 laps down but held in until the end. The Hobby class had a lot of excitement tonight. The race started with 12 cars in the line up for 12 laps of racing. John Capps - #J3 was on the pole with Josh Marchman - #27 on the outside pole followed by Pat Wall - #14, Adam Brown - #9, Jason Craft - #0, Robert Jackson - #12, Rodney Gorman - #8, Chris Arnett - #7, Kenny Mathis - #55, John Rogers - #22, Troy Bruffy - #00, Jim Gossett - #12. Right after the cars started out of turn 4 the battle between Pat - #14 and Josh - #27 for second place began. By lap 3 Pat - #14 had taken 2nd place. Troy - #00 looked to be having handling problems that caused him to come out of turn 2 high which made it difficult for him to gain any positions. By lap 4 John - #J3 had a tremendous lead causing you to wonder what miracle he had under his hood. He was followed by Pat Wall - #14, Jason Craft - #0, Josh Marchman - #27, Rodney Gorman - #8, Chris Arnett - #7, Adam Brown - #9, Kenny Mathis - #55, Troy Bruffy - #00, John Rogers - #22. By lap 8 Rodney - #8 had taken 4th from Chris - #7 just before Robert Jackson - #12 spun out bringing out the first caution of the night. The cars restarted with John Capps - #J3 in the lead followed by Pat Wall - #14, Jason Craft - #0, Rodney Gorman - #8, Chris Arnett - #7, John Rogers - #22, Troy Bruffy - #00, Adam Brown - #9, Kenny Mathis - #55, and Robert Jackson - #12. The drivers restarted and John - #J3 again taking a tremendous lead from Pat - #14 which caused you to think the racing gods must have been granting John - #J3 his wish for a win that night. He took the win for his 4th of the season followed by the points leader Pat Wall - #14, Jason Craft - #0, Rodney Gorman - #8, Chris Arnett - #7, Adam Brown - #9, Kenny Mathis - #55, and John Rogers - #22. The Big Boys, Late Models, were forth up to race tonight with 14 cars in the starting line and 20 laps to race. Dana Eiland - #K9 was on the pole Bobby Eiland - #K8 on the outside pole followed by Josh Noles Mr. Quicktime - #16, Joey Eiland - #29, Mickey Benton - #2, Wesley Holmes - #11, William Thomas Mr. Smooth - #22, Jeff Mills - #15, Anthony Meadows - #31, Cory Bracey - #29, Ricky Culpepper - #110, Gordy Scarborough - #27, Jeff Culpepper - #10, and Matt Woodson - #88. During Lap 5 Gordy - #27 went off the back straightaway coming out of turn 2 while Cory - #29 and Wesley - #11 were having problems bringing out the first caution of the night in lap 6. This caused a single line restart with Dana Eiland - #K9 in the lead followed by Joey Eiland - #29 who had taken second from Bobby Eiland - #K8, now in third, with Josh Noles Mr. Quicktime - #16, Jeff Mills - #15, William Thomas Mr. Smooth - #22, Gordy Scarborough - #27, Matt Woodson - #88, and Cory Bracey - #29. After the restart Bobby - #K8 and Joey - #29 began a two lap fight for 2nd with Bobby finally taking it during lap 8. Dana – #K9 had car problems and had to pull into the pit which brought out a caution for every one. They restarted with Bobby Eiland - #K8 in the lead followed by Joey Eiland - #29, Josh Noles Mr. Quicktime - #16, Mickey Benton - #2, Jeff Mills - #15, William Thomas Mr. Smooth - #22, Anthony Meadows - #31, Gordy Scarborough - #27, Matt Woodson - #88, and Cory Bracey - #29. In lap 14 Bobby - #K8 had the track almost to himself with the lead he had developed and Ricky Culpepper - #110 reentered the track. Lap 16 saw four restarts for this lap, it was the lap that we never thought would end. Joey - #29 had car trouble causing a caution but was able to get back out while the line went down the front straightaway. Matt - #88 spun out in turn 2 causing the caution to be called on this lap again. The guys lined back up for a single line restart and coming out of turn 4 Joey - #29, Ricky - #110, and Gordy #27 went three wide smashing into each other causing another caution to be called and Joey - #29 was sent to the back of the line for the restart. On the last restart of lap 16 Joey - #29 passed Gordy - #27 as he moved up the line of cars. The rest of the race was uneventful with Bobby Eiland - #K8 taking the win, his 2nd win of the season, followed by Josh Noles Mr. Quicktime - #16, Mickey Benton - #2, Jeff Mills - #15, William Thomas Mr. Smooth - #22, Anthony Meadows - #31, Joey Eiland - #29, Gordy Scarborough - #27, Jeff Culpepper - #10, Rickey Culpepper - #110, Matt Woodson - #88, and Cory Bracey - #29. Second to last race was the Bomber class. They started the race with 9 drivers and 12 laps to race. Richard Stephens Sr. - #00SR was on the pole with Richard Stephens Jr. The Rocketman - #00JR on the outside pole followed by Jerry Luke - #89, Montana Dudley - #55, Greg Nix - #57, Keith McTaggert - #17, Michael Miles - #2, John Michael - #294, and Billy Duell Jr. - #7. By lap 2 Greg - #57 had pulled out of the race and Richard Sr. - #00SR and Rocketman - #00JR had taken a good lead from the rest of the pack with Jerry - #89 not too far behind them. In lap 5 Jerry - #89 caught fire from somewhere under his car and had to retreat into the pits where the fire crew was waiting. He came out of the car fine to everyone’s relief but brought out the first caution of the night. Lap 6 had the restart with Richard Stephens Sr. - #00SR in first followed by Richard Stephens Jr. The Rocketman - #00JR, Montana Dudley - #55, John Michael - #294, Billy Duell Jr. - #7, Keith McTaggert - #17, and Michael Miles - #2. During lap 8 Montana - #55 began dueling with Rocketman - #00JR for second but Rocketman held his position and Billy - #7 started trying for 4th place. After 12 laps Richard Stephens Sr. - #00SR held onto 1st for the win, his 6th of the season, followed by Richard Stephens Jr. The Rocketman - #00JR, Montana Dudley - #55, Greg Nix - #7, John Michael - #294, Keith McTaggert - #17, and Michael Miles - #2. The last race of the night was the Super Street cars with 9 cars starting and 12 laps to race. Chad Marchman - #27 sat on the pole and Roger Arnett The Outlaw - #7 sat on the outside pole followed by Jimmy Evilsizer - #15, Steven Gaines Jr. - #50, Bobby Hearn - #10, Marvin Cook - #40, Danny Stroud - #22, and Sam Moore - #1. During the first lap Jimmy - #15 moved into 2nd that began a fight to hold that place from The Outlaw - #7. During lap 7 Sam - #1 had some problems that brought out the first caution and he finally dropped out with the line as Chad Marchman - #27 in first followed by Jimmy Evilsizer - #15, Roger Arnett The Outlaw - #7, Marvin Cook - #40, Danny Stroud - #22, and Bobby Hearn - #10. The remainder of the race was uneventful with Chad Marchman holding first for the win, his 3rd of the season, followed by Jimmy Evilsizer - #15, Roger Arnett The Outlaw - #7, Marvin Cook - #40, Danny Stroud - #22, and Bobby Hearn - #10. Overall it was a great night of racing and some excitement from the Monster Trucks and Quad Wars. Next week The Sprint cars are featured. If you have not experienced the excitement those little cars can generate you need to come out and watch. These little things can fly around that track and again defy the laws of physics by not taking flight. Check out the website www.eamsdirt.com for all of the exciting events coming up this summer. June 11, 2005 - Rain Out Phenix City, ALA – June 18, 2005 – For the second time this year, the Late Model Fastrak Series came to East Alabama Motor Speedway. Local drivers were permitted to race against the series provided they ran crate engines and passed the series’ technical inspection. With all the competitors in equally powered cars, other factors of racing would determine ones’ success. The advantage went to the local Late Model drivers who dominated the race. Bobby Joe – 4 in a row – Eiland not only picked up the checkered flag for the 40 lap Fastrak event, but also took the checkers in the local series Late Model feature for his fourth straight win at East Alabama. Bobby Joe was the owner of the truth as he took the pole for the Fastrak feature in a perfectly set-up car, and owned all the keys to speed on the high banked clay oval. With Dana Eiland’s K9 on the outside pole the drop of the green on the feature began with an adrenaline fed drag race down the front straight into turn one. Bobby Joe was quick off the corner on the inside and defined the lead. As they came around Jeremy Ledford ended up into the outside wall at turn one and they were lined up for the second double file start. Bobby Joe asserted his dominance and determination by assuming the lead and taking control of the race. He didn’t escape the constant presence and pressure of Dana Eiland shadowing Bobby Joe’s every move from second place. William Thomas was quick to take advantage of a driving error by Justin Sims and made a clean pass to take over seventh place. Joey Eiland, right behind Thomas, also had the momentum to make the pass on Sims, move into eighth, and begin working on Thomas. On lap 7 Jonathon Joiner broke and coasted to a stop in turn 4 to bring out the yellow flag. On this restart, Bobby Joe and Dana began blasting their thrusters, leaving the field a straightaway behind within two laps. "33 began looking inside "44" but couldn’t quite execute the pass. Local driver Anthony Meadows demonstrated some of his magical keys to speed and went by Curtis Cline to take over fourth position Randall Jordan and Todd Higdon began a fierce battle for position. Save the lead, perhaps the strongest of all battles was for ninth position with Joey Eiland, Justin Sims, and Mathew Daniels beginning at lap 19. Three wide excitement coming out of turn four had the fans cheering on local Joey Eiland. As Bobby Joe and Dana orbited the field hitting lap traffic, Roger Arwood broke to bring out the caution and Billy Costello also retired to the pits. At the halfway point it was Bobby Joe leading with Dana, Jeff Fields, Anthony Meadows, Curtis Cline, David Browning, and William Thomas running up front. Suddenly Jeff Fields’ right front goes flat and he is forced to relinquish his third position and go to the pits. Randall Jordan went off the back of the track for the midway caution. On this restart Thomas was looking for a way around Browning when Sims and Daniels get side by side. Daniels goes inside Joey Eiland and they race side by side for a complete circuit. Daniels passes Joey Eiland in turn 3 at lap 37. Dana began an all out offence for the lead and began pulling alongside Bobby Joe, waiting for the smallest driving error from Bobby Joe. When the white flag came out Bobby Joe and Dana raced side by side into turn three. With Dana on the inside coming out of four, matching Bobby Joes’momentum the opportunity arose for Dana to "slide" up into him and take over the lead. But Dana, being the great champion he is, drove Bobby Joe clean and kept his distance. Bobby Joe Eiland took the checkers in a perfectly executed race. Dana Eiland took second. Anthony Meadows finished third, Curtis Cline fourth, David Browning fifth, William Thomas sixth, Justin Sims seventh, Mathew Daniels eighth, Ronnie Tullis ninth, and Joey Eiland rounded out the top ten in tenth with 5 local drivers finishing in the top ten. Racing 6/18/05 BY SHERRY COVINGTON The thunder rolled into East Alabama Motor Speedway Saturday night at full speed without a cloud in the night sky or a drop of rain. EAMS sponsored the Fastrak Champion Series Saturday night along with the weekly stock car racing. Fastrak Champion Series is a racing circuit that offers ‘a good purse, a family atmosphere, a great points fund while controlling cost and to take the ingenuity out of the sport and put the success of the car back in the hands of the driver and crew’ according to their website, www.fastrakracing.com. There are three divisions, southern, mid east, and mid west. This series starts in March and races well into October while traveling to several tracks all in your division. EAMS hosted the June 17th race which featured 32 cars vying for a position in the main event. These guys had a practice session before the sun went down then after a few heat races for the stock cars; they started their time trials to qualify for the feature event later in the night. The night of racing started with a last chance race for the Fastrak cars, which is designed to give the drivers that did not qualify in their time trials a chance to still make it into the feature race. This is a 15 lap race with top spots getting into the 40 lap feature. The first stock car racing after the last chance race was the Pony Stocks. They came buzzing onto the track for 12 laps of racing fun. There were 7 cars that started the race with only 4 finishing. Greg Gatlin - #11 sat on the pole followed by Terry Braswell - #2 on the outside pole along with Chad Carden - #C22, Josh Kelly - #13, Colby Harvey - #14, Allen McConnell - #24, and Ray Fowler - #33. The race started good for these guys and by lap 7, Chad Carden - #C22, Allen McConnell - #24, and Ray Fowler - #33 had dropped out of the race for varying reasons. Colby Harvey - #14 looked to be having handling problems and could not seem to gain any ground while Braswell - #2 had a half track lead by lap 10. The last four cars hung in there until the end with Terry Braswell - #2 taking the win, his 9th of the season and 4th consecutive. I think it’s fair to say he has a dominating car this season. Terry was followed by Greg Gatlin - #11 in second, Josh Kelly - #13 in third, and Colby Harvey - #14 hanging in there for fourth. The second race of the evening was the Hobby class, which had a lot of action and 5 cars not finishing the race. The race was for 12 laps with 14 cars in the starting line all battling for a win and bragging rights. Chris Arnett - #7 had the fastest car in the heat races giving him the pole, followed by John Capps - #J3 on the outside pole, along with the points leader Pat Wall - #14, Ken Redmon - #66, Allen Flournoy - #F39, Jason Craft - #0, Kenny Mathis - #55, Rodney Gorman - #8, Jay Swint - #5, Tracey Baker - #98, Adam Brown - #9, Mark Vinyard - #714, Jeff Stone - #02, and Dana Brittingham - #15. During the first lap a few cars had flat tires due to some bumping, Capps - #J3 and Wall - #14, and had to come into the pits for tire changes. Wall - #14 made it back out but had to start in the back with a bent right side wheel and no shock, making it a challenge for the points leader to accomplish much. After the restart Redmon - #66 had a slight smoking problem while Mathis - #55 seemed to be loose coming out of turn 3 going into turn 4 where he spun out and smacked the wall. During lap 3 Craft - #0, began to spin coming out of turn 4 bringing out a caution and giving Capps - #J3 a chance to get back into the line up after having his flat tire changed. They restarted with Ken Redmon - #66 in the lead, followed by Allen Flournoy - #F39, Chris Arnett - #7, Rodney Gorman - #8, Jay Swint - #5, Tracey Baker - #98, Pat Wall - #14, Adam Brown - #9, Kenny Mathis - #55, John Capps - #J3, and Jason Craft - #0. In Lap 4 Flournoy - #F39 began his fight for first while Wall - #14 seemed to be slightly loose coming out of turn 4. Wall - #14 was able to control it and in lap 5 took 6th place by pulling in front of Tracey Baker - #98 coming off of turn 4 and down the front straightaway, one of Wall’s - #14 favorite places to pass. During lap 6 Redmon - #66 spun out in turn 3 bringing out another caution. The restart of lap 7 had Allen Flournoy - #F39 in front followed by Chris Arnett - #7, Rodney Gorman - #8, Pat Wall - #14, Jay Swint - #5, Tracey Baker - #98, Adam Brown - #9, Jason Craft - #0, John Capps - #J3, and Kenny Mathis - #55. During lap 9 Redmon - #66 again had problems, this time with a flat tire but were right back out after a change in the pits. During lap 11 Wall - #14 began his fight for 3rd with Gorman - #8 but with 1 lap to go, no shock, and bent right side wheel Wall - #14 could not get the power to take 3rd even though he’d pulled from last into 4th with those multitude of problems. Unfortunately it was not enough to take 3rd away from Gorman - #8 who were able to hold his place. The race finished with Allen Flournoy - #F39 holding onto 1st for his second win of the season, followed by Chris Arnett - #7, Rodney Gorman - #8, Pat Wall - #14, Adam Brown - #9, Jay Swint - #5, Jason Craft - #0, John Capps - #J3, and Kenny Mathis - #55. The third race up last night was the Fastrak Champion Series with 24 cars in the starting line for 40 laps of exciting thunderous racing. The line up featured several local drivers and several visitors in the southern division. Local Driver Bobby Joe Eiland – #K8 sat on the pole, followed by Hometown Legend, Dana Eiland - #K9 on the outside pole, along with Jeff Fields - #16, Curtis Cline - #44, Mathew Daniels - #18, Anthony Meadows - #31, William Thomas - #22, David Browning - #28, Joey Eiland - #29, Ronnie Tullis - #45, Roger Arowood - #8, Ronny Bilbrey - #96, Randall Jordan - #121, Justin Sims - #18S, David Eubanks - #14E, Jonathan Joiner - #56, Jody Palmer - #25, Jeremy Ledford - #3, Bill Peters - #88, Todd Higdon - #49, Tyler Harvey - #9, Billy Costello - #00, Gary Phillips - #G97, and Shan Smith - #17SS. The cars were just thundering out of turn 4 for the start of the race when Thomas - #22 passed Meadows - #31 out of turn 4 for 6th place. In Lap 6 Daniels - #18 began the fight with Eiland - #29, who was having handling problems, for 8th place. In lap 7 the Eilands - #K8 and #K9 had a huge lead from the rest of the pack, they were just under a half track length from lapping the back of the line. Joiner - #56 spun out in turn 3 bringing out a caution. As the cars roared into turn 3 of lap 8 Meadows - #31 began his fight for 4th from Cline - #44 and by lap 10 had taken 4th away. By lap 15 Daniels - #18 had taken 8th place away from Eiland - #29 who was still struggling with his tires and loose car. Lap 19 had a caution due to problems from Fields - #16, who moved to the back pushing Meadows - #31 up to 3rd. The race roared to life with Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8 in the lead, followed by Dana Eiland - #K9, Anthony Meadows - #31, Curtis Cline - #44, David Browning - #28, William Thomas - #22, Joey Eiland - #29, Mathew Daniels - #18, Justin Sims - #18S, Ronnie Tullis - #45, Todd Higdon - #49, Randall Jackson - #121, David Eubanks - #14E, Jody Palmer - #25, Shan Smith - #17SS, Gary Phillips - #G97, Bill Peters - #88, and Tyler Harvey - #9. In lap 21 Thomas - #22 began his fight with Browning - #28 for 5th place and Daniels - #18 began his fight for 7th with Eiland - #29, but Eiland, despite his continued handling problems held his position. During lap 25 coming out of turn 4 Daniels - #18 again almost took Eiland’s - #29 position. But going down the front straightaway Sims - #18S challenged Daniels - #18 for his position in 8th. Sims - #18S pulled up beside Daniels - #18 to go two wide into turn 1. By lap 29 the Eilands, Bobby Joe - #K8 and Dana - #K9, had taken a huge lead and pulled away from the line, followed by Meadows - #31, Cline - #44, Browning - #29, and Thomas - #22, who had pulled away into their own little pack too. In lap 31 Sims - #18S took Daniels’ - #18 position away and by lap 33 had also taken Eiland’s - #29 position going into turn 4 when Eiland - #29, who continued to have a loose car and handling problems, went too high. During lap 34 the leaders, the Eiland boys, Bobby Joe - #K8 and Dana - #K9, started lapping the end of the line. During lap 37 Eiland - #29 again lost position as he went too high and Daniels - #18 was there to take advantage and gain ground. Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8 held onto his first place to win followed by Dana Eiland - #K9, Anthony Meadows - #31, David Browning - #28, William Thomas - #22, Justin Sims - #18S, Mathew Daniels - #18, Joey Eiland - #29, Ronnie Tullis - #45, Todd Higdon - #49, David Eubanks - #14E, Shan Smith - #17, Jeff Fields - #16, Gary Phillips - #G97, and Randall Jackson - #121. The fourth race of the evening was the Super Street class for 15 laps with 15 cars in the starting line. Chad Marchman - #27 sat on the pole this weekend with Sam Moore - #1 on the outside pole, followed by Josh Weathers - #91, Marvin Cook - #40, Brandon Pijnenburg - #83, Tim Hester - #2, Roger Arnett The Outlaw - #7, Joseph Darda - #92, Todd Mitchell - #20, Luke North - #29, Bobby Hearn - #10, Skeeter Redmon - #566, Danny Stroud - #22, Lynn Robbins - #11, and Jimmy Evilsizer - #15. Starting the race out of turn 4 Cook - #40 was loose and Pijnenburg - #83 took advantage and took 3rd away. Then again in lap 1 coming out of turn 3 and into turn 4 Cook - #40 was loose causing a 4 car pile up involving himself, Mitchell - #20, Evilsizer - #15, and Stroud - #22. Both Mitchell - #20 and Stroud - #22 had to be towed back into the pits ending their night of racing. The restart was single line with Sam Moore - #1 in the lead followed by Chad Marchman - #27, Brandon Pijnenburg - #83, Marvin Cook - #40, Roger Arnett The Outlaw - #7, Bobby Hearn - #10, Tim Hester - #2, Lynn Robbins - #11, Joseph Darda - #92, Josh Weathers - #91, and Luke North - #29. During lap 3 Arnett The Outlaw - #7 began his fight for 3rd and North - #29 had problems causing him to spin out going into turn 4. In lap 4 Darda - #92, Robbins - #11, and Weathers - #91 being brave, went three wide down the front straightaway causing the fans to roar with excitement. In Lap 6 Arnett The Outlaw - #7 took advantage of the continuing handling problem of Cook - #40 and took back his 4th place position. In lap 8 Cook - #40, still plagued with handling problems, started getting loose going into turn 4 and he spun out again, bringing out another caution. Sam Moore - #1 held first for the restart followed by Chad Marchman - #27, Brandon Pijnenburg - #83, Roger Arnett The Outlaw - #7, Bobby Hearn - #10, Tim Hester - #2, Josh Weathers - #91, Lynn Robbins – #11, and Marvin Cook - #40 who continued to struggle with his car the rest of the race. In lap 10 Robbins - #11 took 7th away from Weathers - #91 but Weathers decided he was not going to put up with that and going down the front straightaway flexed his muscle and took his position back. During lap 11 Arnett The Outlaw - #7 took 3rd away from Hester - #2 and Darda - #92 drove back onto the track to get back in the race. Sam Moore - #1 held onto his lead for his 1st win of the season followed by Brandon Pijnenburg - #83, Roger Arnett The Outlaw - #7, Bobby Hearn - #10, Josh Weathers - #91, Lynn Robbins - #11, Joseph Darda - #92, Marvin Cook - #40, and Tim Hester - #2. The fifth race up for the evening was the UMP Modified or Open Wheel cars which raced for 12 laps and had 6 cars in the starting line. Rodgerick Dykes - #6 sat on the pole followed by Herbie Donath - #25, Timbo Gouker - #V94, Donnie Harig - #62, Kevin Simmons - #31, and Eric Gano - #11G. This race was a real crowd pleaser with its excitement and the end of the race left only 4 cars rolling down the front straightaway to finish the race. Harig - #62 went really high starting out of turn 4 and was able to take 3rd away from Gouker - #V94. During lap 4 Gano’s - #11G hood came loose and flew up obstructing his view of the track which in turn caused him to spin up on the track in turn 3 bringing out the first caution. The EAMS crew was able to take the hood off for him and he restarted with the line in the back. But coming out of turn 3 on the restart of lap 4 Harig - #62 again went high into the loose dirt spinning out causing Simmons - #31 and Gano - #11G to crash in turn 4. Gano - #11G sat, with his car smoking, where he had stopped in turn 4 waiting along with Simmons - #31 for the EAMS tow trucks to bring them back into the pits, thus ending their nights of racing. The restart of lap 7 saw the remaining four cars tight knit as they came out of turn 4 down the front straightaway, but by turn 2 Dykes - #6 had pulled away. Coming out of turn 4 going into lap 10 Gouker The Cardiac Kid - #V94, began his fight with Donath - #25 for 2nd place, but coming out of turn 2, Donath - #25 and Gouker The Cardiac Kid - #V94 tangled up and spun out. They restarted and Gouker The Cardiac Kid - #V94 took 2nd from Donath - #25. On the final lap Donath - #25 went into turn 3 too deep and a little high and spun out as Rodgerick Dykes - #6, the points leader for Open Wheel, took the win, his 7th win of the season followed by Timbo Gouker The Cardiac Kid - #V94, Donnie Harig - #62, and Herbie Donath - #25. Next up was the second main event of the night, the Late Models which raced for 15 laps and featured 12 cars, many of whom had just finished the Fastrak Champion Series race. This switch required for those drivers to change tires as Fastrak requires Goodyear Eagle tires and EAMS requires Hoosier tires. Many of the fans wondered if Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8 would dominate this race like he did in the Fastrak and was Joey Eiland - #29 able to fix his handling problems that plagued him during Fastrak? Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8 seemed headed in the right direction for a win as he had the fastest qualifying time and sat on the pole, followed by Tod Darda - #91 on the outside pole, along with Dana Eiland - #K9, Joey Eiland - #29, Cale Simons - #C2, Kevin Knotts - #17, Josh Noles - #16, Nick Biddle - #B55, John Greene - #2, Matt Woodson - #88, Gordy Scarbrough - #27, and Ricky Culpepper - #110. Coming out of turn 4 on the start, Noles - #16 was able to get around Knotts - #17 but coming back around and out of turn 4 in lap 1, Noles - #16 went too high and Knotts - #17 was there to take advantage and take his spot back. Eiland - #K9 began his fight with Darda - #91 for 2nd during lap 2 and Woodson - #88 spun out going into turn 3 bringing out the first caution of the race. After the restart of lap 3 Noles - #16 took back 6th place and Woodson again spun out in turn 4. Going into turn 1 of lap 4 Noles - #16 passed by Cale Simons - #C2 who, for whatever reason, tapped him causing him to spin, tag the wall and then go over the track backwards between turns 1 and 2. Cale Simons - #C2 came into the pits to have his crew check his car but when he went back onto the track they made him start in the back. Noles - #16 was towed back into the pits, ending his night of racing but at least he was physically ok just shaken a bit from his recent ride. The cars roared back to racing and by lap 6 Cale Simons - #C2 could be seen moving up the line. During lap 7 Biddle - #B55 passed Knotts - #17 for 5th place and Cale Simons - #C2 looked to be having trouble as smoke poured from his car every lap coming out of turn 4. During lap 9 Cale Simons - #C2 had a flat tire bringing out a caution and sending him into the pits, which could have been why smoke was pouring from his car in the turns, the body rubbing on the tire. The cars were strident on the restart with Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8, Tod Darda - #91, Dana Eiland - #K9, Joey Eiland - #29, Kevin Knotts - #17, Nick Biddle - #B55, Gordy Scarbrough - #27, John Greene - #2, Ricky Culpepper - #110, and Matt Woodson - #88, all roaring back into action. During lap 11 Woodson - #88 passed by Culpepper - #110 for 9th place. Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8, the points leader, dominated last night and again held onto his first position for the win, his 3rd of the season and 3rd consecutive, followed by Tod Darda - #91, Dana Eiland - #K9, Joey Eiland - #29, Nick Biddle - #B55, Kevin Knotts - #17, Gordy Scarbrough - #27, John Greene - #2, Matt Woodson - #88, and Ricky Culpepper - #110. The last race of the evening was the Bomber class, which featured 12 laps of racing with 12 cars on the starting line. Would the Rocketman racecars dominate yet again this week? It seemed so as they were in the front of the starting line. Billy Duell Jr - #7 was able to hold his own for the pole position in the race followed by Richard Stephens Jr Rocketman - #00JR, Michael Miles - #02, Richard Stephens Sr - #00SR, Jerry Luke - #89, John Michael- #294, Phil Hammon - #01, Keith McTaggert - #17M, Christy Noles - #16, Bruce Blanding - #2, Greg Nix - #57, and Adam Rodriguez - #20. In the beginning lap Rodriguez - #20 spun out in turn 4 but was able to gain control and get back in the race without a caution being called. Going down the front straightaway of lap 3 Stephens Jr Rocketman - #00JR pulled by Duell Jr - #7 to take the lead. During lap 4 Blanding - #2 went too high in turn 4 and Luke - #89 pulled in front. Also Stephens Jr Rocketman - #00JR had begun lapping the end of the line. A caution was called on lap 6 and the restarting line was Richard Stephens Jr Rocketman - #00JR, Billy Duell Jr - #7, Richard Stephens Sr - #00SR, Michael Miles - #02, Bruce Blanding - #2, Jerry Luke - #89, Phil Hammon - #01, Adam Rodriguez - #20, Greg Nix - #57, John Michael - #294, and Keith McTaggert - #17M. During lap 8 Christy Noles - #16 was back out onto the track and Rodriguez - #20 and Blanding - #2 tied up in turn 4 but no caution was needed. The race continued without incidence and Richard Stephens Jr Rocketman - #00JR held out for the win, his 2nd of the season, followed by Billy Duell Jr - #7, the points leader Richard Stephens Sr - #00SR, Michael Miles - #02, Bruce Blanding - #2, Jerry Luke - #89, Phil Hammon - #01, Adam Rodriguez - #20, Greg Nix - #57, John Michael - #294, and Keith McTaggert - #17M. Overall is was a very exciting night of racing, whether you were cheering on the Eilands in the Fastrak Champion Series Feature, or again in the Late Model Feature, or the come from behind races we saw. Some of the divisions are beginning to see a dominating driver while the Championship is still open for others. Who will dominate next week in stock car races? Will it be Super Street points leader Chad Marchman - #27 or his closing foe Roger Arnett The Outlaw - #7? Or for Hobby Class will it be points leader Pat Wall - #14 or will John Capps - #J3 have the miracle under his hood again? Or will points leader and race dominator for Bomber division, Richard Stephens Sr - #00SR take the win? For the remaining season schedule, check out EAMS website at www.eamsdirt.com. Phenix City, ALA – June 25, 2005 – Former Late Model track champion Jeff Mills was one of the first teams to pull into the infield of East Alabama Motor Speedway this Saturday night. They parked in the number one spot and promptly unloaded their number 15 Benning Auto Parts Monte Carlo, as if to let everyone know they were outfitted with their stoking motor that won the last time they competed. Bobby Joe Eiland, who has won the last four events in a row, was not intimidated as he won the pole with fast time qualifying at 17.03 seconds. Mills won the outside pole and the stage was set for a thrilling Late Model feature. When the green flag dropped on the feature no one could have imagined what was about to happen. As they blasted down the front straight, Bobby Joe took about a half car length ahead of Mills. As they passed the flag stand Mills suddenly hit the outside retaining wall and ricocheted back onto the track clipping the rear end of Bobby Joe who was preparing to enter turn one. Bobby Joe spun 180 degrees and hit the outside wall. The rear end lifted off the ground as pieces of his car began to explode and fly into the air. With only the two front tires touching the ground, Bobby Joe flew off turn one in a horrific crash. The shocked crowd was relieved to see Bobby Joe climb out of the wreckage unscathed but when his totaled out car was towed to the pits for a DNF it meant the end of Bobby Joe's bid for 5 victories in a row. William Thomas was moved to the outside pole for the second start as he had the third fastest qualifying time. When the green dropped Mills had that stroking motor hooked up, transferring its awesome power to the clay in a perfect set up. Mills quickly took a commanding lead from Thomas in second. Mickey Benton in third begins to look inside Thomas for a pass while Dana Eiland looks for a way around Josh Noles. Dana took the inside groove going into turn one while Noles was on the outside groove. Noles got a little high of his line and began to slide in the marbles, which was all Dana needed to make a clean pass in turn two and move into fourth behind Mickey Benton. Tommy Perkins was off the pace and circulating very slow in the middle of the track. Cars had to avoid him as they came up on him Matt Woodson had trouble navigating around Perkins and spun into the inside wall of turn two to bring out his first caution for the evening on lap 6. On the restart Mills set a blistering pace and the leaders were trying to maintain their ground without looking to pass. After a few laps Wesley Holmes got into Perkins, who was still slow, and they both came to a stop for the next caution. On this restart Gordy Scarborough spun out in turn two but got it going again and avoided the caution. Shane Renfroe wasn’t quite that lucky as he spun in turn two and was charged with the caution. This time as Mills pulled out to his lead, Mickey Benton got a fender on Thomas and was looking for a pass which slowed them both and allowed Dana Eiland to close in on Benton. The second, third, and fourth place cars began a fast paced battle for position. Just when it got interesting Woodson spun in turn two for his second yellow. On this restart Dana Eiland was all over Benton which forced Benton to either pass Thomas for second or lose his third place to Dana. Benton got inside Thomas coming out of turn two and stayed even until the approached turn three. Benton was on the inside of Thomas and as Thomas began to enter turn three Benton held his line and they looked like they were hooked together. They both spun and a melee ensued as Jack Mills, Josh Noles, and Marc Gooden all tried to avoid hitting Thomas and Benton but crashed into each other and ended up on the inside wall of turn three. Mickey Benton’s car got tore up and was towed to the pits as was Josh Noles’ car and they both took DNF’s. The top five restart order was Jeff Mills, William Thomas, Dana Eiland, Jack Mills, and Marc Gooden. Jeff Mills put the pedal to the metal and opened up that big motor in clean air. He was beyond anyone threatening the lead. But William Thomas suddenly found himself in the battle of his life when racing legend Dana Eiland began an all out assault to take over Thomas’ second place. Dana was charging from the inside and would pull along side Thomas on the straight-aways but Thomas knew the fastest way to take the corners and maintain his momentum to stay ahead coming out of turns two and four. This battle became the highlight of the race as the rookie and the veteran champion had the fans on the edge of their seats. Wesley Holmes came flying low into turn one and got into the side of Woodson. Holmes was able to keep going but Woodson came to a stop. Race director Chad Wallace said his policy is when a racing accident occurs, whoever stops on the track gets charged with the caution. As this was Woodson’s third yellow flag he was black- flagged and sent to the pits. When racing resumed the excitement between Thomas and Dana Eiland continued. The flag came out and Mills was out front powering his way to the checkers. Thomas and Dana Eiland ran side by side. It looked like Dana made a pass going into turn three but Thomas got even coming out of turn four. They touched briefly and then side by side they raced to the checkers were Dana Eiland won by less than a foot to take second place. Jeff Mills collected his second win of the season with Dana Eiland second, William Thomas third, Jack Mills fourth, Wesley Holmes fifth, Shane Renfroe sixth, Gordy Scarbrough seventh, Marc Gooden eighth, Tommy Perkins ninth, and Matt Woodson rounded out the top ten in tenth. by Sherry Covington The threat of rain did not keep the fans from coming out to see the races last night. You could feel the excitement in the air. Everyone was gearing up for next weeks Summer Sizzler July 4th Spectacular. And it promises to be a huge night for all divisions. The Bomber division was up first with 15 laps of racing and 10 cars on the starting line. Jerry Luke - #89 proved he had the fastest car as he was sitting on the pole followed by Billy Duell Jr - #7 on the outside pole along with Richard Stephens Sr - #00SR, Montana Dudley - #55, John Michael - #294, Christy Noles - #16, Keith McTaggert - #17M, Adam Rodriguez - #20, Jay Elliot - #53, and Richard Stephens Jr - #57. Coming out of turn 4 beginning the race Luke - #89 pulled out in front right away and Stephens Jr - #57 had a problem in turns 1 and 2 bringing out a caution and single line restart. On the restart going into turn 1 Duell Jr - #7 passed Luke - #89 to take the lead then Elliot - #53 pulled in front of Michael - #294 going into turn 3. By lap 5 the pack is starting to separate with the first three cars pulling away increasing their leads. It looked as if Dudley - #55 and Rodriguez - #20 seemed to be struggling with their cars. During lap 7 Noles - #16 spun out in the front straightaway, it looked as if she was a little loose coming out of turn 4, this brought out a caution. The restart of the lap had Billy Duell Jr - #7 in the lead followed by Richard Stephens Sr - #00SR, Jerry Luke - #89, Richard Stephens Jr - #57, Jay Elliot - #53, John Michael - #294, Keith McTaggert - #17M, Christy Noles - #16, Montana Dudley - #55, and Adam Rodriguez - #20. Going into turn 2 of the restart Noles - #16 passed McTaggert - #17M. In lap 9 Luke - #89 tried to take 3rd from Stephens Jr - #57 but Stephens holds his own. Then in lap 11 the two cars are side by side going down the front straightaway into turn 1. Stephens Jr - #57 again held his place but Luke - #89 tried again by pulling along side of Stephens - #57 on the front stretch heading into turn 1. Then coming out of turn 2 Luke - #89 took third, looking to move into first. Then in lap 13 Duell Jr. - #7 fell to 4th and Stephens Sr - #00SR took the lead. During lap 13 Luke - #89 took the lead but held it for only a short time before Stephens Sr - #00SR took it back and held it until the end. Richard Stephens Sr - #00SR took the win for his 7th win of the season, followed by Jerry Luke - #89, Richard Stephens Jr - #57, Billy Duell Jr - #7, Jay Elliot - #53, John Michael - #294, Christy Noles - #16, Keith McTaggert - #17M, Montana Dudley - #55, and Adam Rodriguez - #20. UMP Modified race was the second race of the evening for 12 laps and 9 cars in the starting line. Rodgerick Dykes had the fastest car in the heat race and sat on the pole followed by Timbo Gouker The Cardiac Kid- #V94 along with William Thomas Mr. Smooth - #22, Carlton Allen - #22, Justin Thornton - #1, Donnie Harig - #62, Kevin Simmons - #31, Herbie Donath - #25, and Eric Gano - #11G. The drivers lined up and were ready for action. Coming out of turn 4 Dykes - #6 took the lead followed by the yellow car of Thomas - #22. Then Thomas - #22 tried pulling up to take the lead from Dykes - #6 but was shut down. By lap 3 Dykes - #6 and Thomas - #22 pulled away from the rest of the pack which was lead by Gouker - #V94. In lap 4, coming out of turn 4 Thornton - #1 passed Donath - #25 to take 5th place. In lap 8 Dykes - #6 pulled away to take a huge lead followed by William Thomas - #22. Timbo Gouker - #V94. Carlton Allen - #22, Justin Thornton - #1, Herbie Donath- #25, Eric Gano - #11G, Kevin Simmons, and Donnie Harig - #62 who seemed to be having problems with his car. By lap 10 Thomas’s yellow #22 had taken the lead from Dykes - #6. They along with Gouker - #V94 in third pulled away from the rest of the pack. William Thomas Mr. Smooth - #22 held first for his 5th win of the season, followed by points leader, Rodgerick Dykes - #6, Timbo Gouker - #V94, Carlton Allen - #22, Justin Thornton - #1, Herbie Donath - #25. Eric Gano - #11G, and Kevin Simmons - #31. The Super Street drivers were up third that night with the Outlaw Roger Arnett - #7 driving his car with force and determination that he was going to win. They had 20 laps to race that night and 11 cars in the starting line. Roger Arnett - #7 sat on the pole along with Steven Gaines Jr - #50 on the outside pole, followed by Brandon Pijnenburg - #83, Tim Hester - #2, Leroy Mills - #15, Marvin Cook - #40, Luke North - #29, Donnie Kite - #46, Jimmy Evilsizer - #15, Bryant Granger - #27, and Chad Marchman - #27. Right from the start Outlaw Arnett - #7 meant he was a force to be reckoned with that night by taking the lead coming out of turn 4. During lap 1, Cook - #40 went off the track in turn 2 causing a caution and double line restart with him returning to the pits for the night. Again on the restart the Outlaw Arnett - #7 pulled out in front. Coming out of turn 4 Pijnenburg - #83 tried passing Gaines Jr - #50 but was unsuccessful. By lap 2 the first 5 cars pulled away from the remaining 6 with Granger - #27 smoking in the corners. In lap 3 Kite - #46 spun off the track in turns 3 and 4 bringing out another caution. The restart of lap 3 had Roger Arnett - #7 in the lead, followed by Steven Gaines Jr - #50, Brandon Pijnenburg - #83, Tim Hester - #2, Jimmy Evilsizer - #15, Leroy Mills - #15, Chad Marchman - #27, Luke North - #29, and Donnie Kite - #46. During lap 4 Evilsizer - #15 trying pulling past Hester - #2 but Hester held him off. Granger - #27 seemed to be loose in the turns and continued smoking in the turns. In turns 3 and 4 of lap 7 Kite - #46 spun off the track just missing the retaining wall and bringing out another caution. By the restart of lap 7 Granger - #27 had dropped out into the pits. Marchman - #27 passed Mills - #15 in turn 2 of lap 10 just before the problems start in lap 11. In Lap 11 Hester - #2 began having problems in turns 3 and 4 bringing out a caution and sending him into the pits followed by Kite - #46. With the restart of lap 11 only 7 cars remained, Roger Arnett - #7, Steven Gaines Jr - #50, Brandon Pijnenburg - #83, Jimmy Evilsizer - #15, Chad Marchman - #27, Leroy Mills - #15, and Luke North - #29. In lap 12 North - #29 pulled past Mills - #15 for 6th place, then he went off the track in turns 1 and 2. By the restart of lap 13 Marchman - #27 had returned to the pits and only 6 cars restarted that lap. In lap 14 Pijnenburg - #83 passed Gaines Jr - #50 on the back straightaway and then a late hit from Gaines Jr - #50 caused Pijnenburg - #83 to spin out in turn 4. Lap 14 restart had only 5 cars starting with Gaines Jr - #50 reprimanded to the pits for the night. During lap 15, some debris flew onto the track and a caution was called for safety. With the restart Hester - #2 as able to restart in the back. During lap 16 North - #29 passed Mills - #15 for fourth place. By lap 18 the Outlaw Arnett - #7 had taken a huge lead and held it to the end. This is the Outlaw Arnett’s - #7 second win this season putting him in the lead by 5 points. Second place went to Brandon Pijnenburg - #83 followed by Jimmy Evilsizer - #15, Luke North - #29, Leroy Mills - #15, and Tim Hester - #2. The Pony Stock, the fourth race of the night, had and interesting race that ended with only two cars finishing. It started with 12 laps and 4 cars and by the time they flew the checkered flags 2 cars remained and they ended the race after just 8 laps. Terry Braswell - #00, driving Rocketman’s car, sat on the pole followed by Greg Gatlin - #11, Jesse Lamphier - #33, and Allen McConnell - #24. The race started and coming out of turn 4 of lap 1Braswell - #00 spun out and McConnell - #24 had come into the pits for the night. The race restarted and Gatlin - #11 tried to take 1st from Lamphier - #33 but Lamphier held him off. Then in lap 3 Braswell - #00 tried to capture 2nd from Gatlin - #11. But in lap 4 Gatlin - #11 began having car problems and had to go to the pits, ending his night and handing 2nd to Braswell - #00. The race resumed for 4 more laps and ended in lap 8 with Jesse Lamphier - #33 taking the win, his second of the season, followed by Terry Braswell - #00, Greg Gatlin - #11, and Allen McConnell - #24. The Late Models were fifth to race that night with 14 cars starting, only 8 finishing, and 25 laps of racing. The sound of jet engines began coming out of turn 4 with points leader, Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8, once again on the pole followed by Jeff Mills - #15 on the outside pole along with William Thomas Mr. Smooth - #22, Josh Noles - #16, Mickey Benton - #2, Dana Eiland - #K9, Wesley Holmes - #11, Jack Mills - #7, Marc Gooden - #21, Billy Herrin - #18, Gordy Scarbrough - #27, Tommy Perkins - #7, Shane Renfroe - #98, and Matt Woodson - #88. Eiland - #K8 pulled out in front starting out and it pushed Mills - #15 fairly close to the wall going down the front straightaway. With no where to go the back corner of #K8 and the front corner of #15 hit causing Eiland - #K8 to spin, tag the wall, and go off the track between turns 1 and 2. This called out the first caution of the race which meant a double line restart, but already it would be minus one car as Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8 was towed into the pits for the night. Jeff Mills - #15 was bound and determined to make this his night and as the race restarted he pulled out in front quickly. By the end of lap 1 Benton - #2 had pulled by Noles - #16 with Eiland - #K9 trying to get by Noles - #16 in lap 2 and finally succeeding. In lap 3, Holmes - #11 pulled up, trying, to take 5th from Noles - #16 on the front straightaway but Noles regained his ground going into turn 1. Scarbrough - #27 passed Woodson - #88, for 9th place, going down the front straightaway of lap 4. Woodson had problems in turn 2 of lap 6 bringing out a caution and Perkins - #7 was sent to the back of the restart line. Another caution was called due to Perkins - #7 spinning out in turn 2 of lap 7 which allowed Holmes - #11 to reenter the race. On the restart Scarbrough - #27, Holmes - #11, and Renfroe - #98 flew by Perkins - #7 and Eiland - #K9 tried to take 3rd from Benton - #2 but was unsuccessful. In lap 10, Holmes - #11 again had problems in turn 2 bringing out another caution. Lap 10 restarted with Jeff Mills - #15 in the lead followed by William Thomas - #22, Mickey Benton - #2, Dana Eiland – K9, Josh Noles - #16, Jack Mills - #7, Marc Gooden - #21, Gordy Scarbrough - #27, Wesley Holmes - #11, Shane Renfroe - #98, Matt Woodson - #88, and Tommy Perkins - #7. Lap 10 restarted and Holmes - #11 taged Scarbrough - #27 coming out of turns 3 and 4 for the restart but Scarbrough held the car under control. Then going down the back straightaway chaos began as Mickey Benton - #2, Josh Noles - #16, Tommy Perkins - #7, and Marc Gooden - #21 piled up into the guard rail going into turn 3. Noles - #16 and Benton - #2 were both out for the night. Coming out of turn 4 of Lap 11 Eiland - #K9 tried to take second from Thomas - #22 but was unsuccessful. In lap 14 Woodson - #88 had a problem in turns 1 and 2 bringing out a caution and having him relegated to the pits for the night. The car count was now down to the final 8 cars that will finish. Again in lap 17 Eiland - #K9 tried to take 2nd from Thomas - #22 while Mills - #7 was having car problems. By lap 18 Jeff Mills - #15 had a huge lead from the rest of the pack. Again in lap 21 Eiland - #K9 tried to take 2nd from Thomas - #22 but Thomas held him off. By lap 23 Jeff Mills - #15 had pulled away from William Thomas - #22 in 2nd and Dana Eiland - #K9 in 3rd and even they have pulled away from the remaining 5 cars. In lap 24, Gooden - #24 had severe car troubles and came to a dead stop on the front straightaway. He was pushed into restarting his engine to resume the final lap of the race. Jeff Mills - #15 held onto the win, his second of the season, followed by Dana Eiland - #K9, who took 2nd from William Thomas - #22, finishing 3rd, along the front straightaway in a dramatic finish. Jack Mills - #7 in 4th followed by Wesley Holmes - #11, Shane Renfroe - #98, Gordy Scarbrough - #27, and Marc Gooden - #21. The Hobby class of drivers was sixth to race that night with 15 laps and 13 cars in the starting line. Randy Register - #19 sat on the pole along with Chris Arnett - #7 on the outside pole, followed by Ken Redmon - #66, Jeff Catrett - #02, Rodney Gorman - #8, Allen Franks - #39, John Capps - #J3, Jay Swint - #5, Adam Brown - #9, Pat Wall - #14, Efren Holbrook - #28, Tony Edward - #71, and Dave Foker - #401K. Beginning the race Register - #19, pulled out in front right away and Capps - #J3 tried to take 6th from Franks - #39 going down the front straightaway. He finally passes him during lap 2 while Edward - #71 came to a dead stop in turn 4 bringing out the first caution of the night. On the restart Register - #19 was out in front again and Gorman - #8 tried to take 3rd from Redmon - #66. Points leader Wall - #14 began his journey up the line by taking 8th from Brown - #9 in turn 2 of lap 3 and then continues by taking 7th from Swint - #5 in turn 3 of lap 4. In turn 4 of lap 5 Brown - #9 took 8th from Swint - #5 who then took it back going down the front straightaway. In turn 2 of lap 6 Wall - #14 spun out in turn 2 bringing out a caution with him having to restart in the back of the line and Foker - #401K pulling into the pits for the night. Lap 6 restarted and coming out of turn 2 Brown- #9 spun out bringing out another caution and restart for the lap that would never seem to end. The second restart of lap 6 brought Swint - #5 back into the race and in turn 3 Capps - #J3 tired to take 4th from Redmon #66 but he held him off. Coming out of turn 4 of lap 7 Franks - #39 tried to take 6th from Gorman - #8 but Gorman was able to hold him off. In lap 9 Catrett - #02 began smoking and having problems which brought another caution. On the restart of lap 9 Redmon - #66 had problems in turns 1 and 2 but was able to rejoin the line and the lap restarted again. Points leader Wall - #14 again began his long journey up the line of drivers by moving past Holbrook - #28 for 8th, proving he may deserve the name Speed Racer! In Lap 11 Wall - #14 justified the name, Speed Racer, by taking 7th from Brown - #9 in turn 3. In lap 12 Gorman - #8 began having serious engine problems as white smoke pours from the back of his car bringing out another caution. The restart had Randy Register - #19 in the lead followed by Ken Redmon - #66, John Capps - #J3, Rodney Gorman - #8, Allen Franks - #39, Pat Wall - #14, Adam Brown - #9, Jay Swint - #5, and Efren Holbrook - #28. Wall - #14 found his groove and went high to take 5th from Franks - #39 in turn 3. Redmon - #66 moved around Register - #19 to take first coming out of turn 2 and Wall - #14, again moving up, took 4th from Gorman - #8 coming out of turn 2 going down the back straightaway. Speed Racer Wall - #14 just didn’t have enough laps left to finish moving up the line that night. Ken Redmon - #66 finished 1st, his first of the season, followed by Randy Register - #19, John Capps - #J3, Pat Wall - #14, Allen Franks - #39, Adam Brown - #9, Jay Swint - #5, Chris Arnett - #7, and Efren Holbrook - #28. The last race of the night was the second for the Open Wheel Modified drivers. They raced for 12 laps with 9 cars starting out. This time William Thomas - #22 sat on the pole followed by Justin Thornton - #1 on the outside pole along with Rodgerick Dykes - #6, Herbie Donath - #25, Timbo Gouker - #V94, Carlton Allen - #22, Eric Gano - #11G, Kevin Simmons - #31, and Donnie Harig. In turn 3 of lap 2 Gouker - #V94 moved past Thornton - #1. Donath - #25 went off the back of the track and brought out the first caution. This lap restarted several time dues to differing problems. In lap 3 Donath - #25 tried to pass Gouker - #V94 but Gouker holds him off and actually pulled away from him holding onto 3rd then coming out of turn 4 Thomas’s - #22 car looked like it jumped out of the spring box when his coil spring jumped from the car. He hobbled into the pits, ending his night of racing. The restart had Rodgerick Dykes - #6 in the lead followed by Timbo Gouker - #V94, Herbie Donath - #25, Carlton Allen - #22, Donnie Harig - #62, Devin Simmons - #31, and Eric Gano - #11G. Lap 10 was a very eventufl lap, Gano’s - #11G car died in turns 3 and 4 and Thornton - #1 bumped Simmons - #31 and sparks flew as they came out of turn 4. The lap restarted and they roared to life. In lap 11 Gouker - #V94 and Donath - #25 tagged up and spun out in turns 3 and 4. Then Gano - #11G, tried to avoid that collision and spun out and stopped, he had to be pushed by the wrecker to restart. The race ended with Rodgerick Dykes - #6 taking the win, his 9th win of the season and 3rd consecutivly. He was followed by Timbo Gouker - #V94 in 2nd, along with Herbie Donath - #25, Carlton Allen - #22, Donnie Harig - #62, Devin Simmons - #31, and Eric Gano - #11G. Overall it was a very exciting, if not exhilarating, night of racing. July 4th weekend had several events that will prove to be just as exciting. The 7th Summer Sizzler begins for Super Street, Hobby, and Bomber classes. Saturday night hosts the time trials for the above mentioned classes plus Late Models. The feature events will be Sunday night along with a Demolition Derby and fireworks. The battle for points leader will begin between Outlaw Arnett - #7 and Marchman - #27. Will Hobby class points leader Speed Racer Wall - #14 prove himself once again or will Capps - #J3 have his special miracle under the hood? Will points leader Stephens Sr. - #00SR dominate again? Check out the website, www.eamsdirt.com, for all the details. Come out and bring the family for a truly thrilling night or racing and fireworks. Phenix City, ALA – July 3, 2005 – Never let it be said that East Alabama Motor Speedway does not know how to throw a party for America. This weekends’ two day gala Fourth of July event included a gigantic fireworks display, a demolition derby that was won by a member of the traditional family of winners, Billy Duell Jr. (those boys know how to tear up some cars), a special Mini- Late Model event, six classes of stock cars, and a capacity filled grandstand with cheering spectators. The event culminated with the running of the Late Model feature. For decades the veteran champion Dana Eiland has continually excited the fans and won races. Perhaps most importantly he has set the standard for excellence both as a driver and in automotive performance. Dana’s crew chief Mike Harris brought a car that was set up so perfectly that Dana won the pole for the heat race with a 17.46-second qualifying lap. Then he dominated the field of highly competitive drivers to win the pole for the feature event. When the green dropped on the feature Dana immediately took a commanding lead. Second place Allen Sparks apparently got tired of running a mediocre race car and stepped up to the plate with a brand new car that turned him into a serious contender. Bobby Joe Eiland running in third got a fender inside Sparks going into turn one and looked like he was going to take the second place spot. Sparks however showed that he had more than just a pretty paint job as he rocketed off the corner to maintain second place. On lap 3 Wesley Holmes coasted into the pits with a mechanical failure as Billy Herrin was pushing Gordy Scarborough down the front straight but was unable to make the pass. By lap 6 Dana was almost a straightaway ahead of the field when Kevin Knotts spun in turn 4 to bring out the lap 7 caution. On this restart again Dana was the quickest out of turn 4 to maintain the lead. Sparks was trying hard to stay up with Dana and when they went into turn one Sparks pushed a little high opening the door for Bobby Joe on the inside who fired in turn one to pull even with Sparks in turn two. They battled side by side down the back straight then they hooked together and spun. Sparks spun off the track but the caution was called on Mickey Benton running in the back who pulled off the track to avoid a collision. On this restart Leon Watson JR was having a problem named Tod Darda who wasted no time passing him. Scotty Knowles also beamed himself up to fifth in his brand new GRT. By lap 15 Dana was driving a perfect race. With the precision of a neurosurgeon, Dana hit his marks and gained ground with each passing second. He was a full straightaway ahead of second place Sparks when Dana began lapping traffic. The first to get lapped was Monte Vaughn. Maybe it was the turbulence off Dana’s K-9 but right after he went by Vaughn spun out for a caution and went to the pits calling it a night. When the green flag came out again Dana blasted out to his commanding lead while second place Sparks and third place Bobby Joe supplied the suspense and excitement over who was going to finish second. Sparks was running the preferred line in the high groove while Bobby Joe was on the inside groove. Bobby Joe had the advantage in the corners but Sparks carried a little more momentum coming out of the corners, which kept him slightly ahead down the straight-aways. Knowles’ set up was coming to him as he had enough speed to come up and challenge Darda’s fourth position. Another exciting battle was Anthony Meadows trying to get around Leon Watson. The white flag flew and Dana was a full straightaway ahead of second place. Dana took the checkers uncontested, wire to wire, punctuating his legendary championship style. Allen Sparks had a tremendous showing to finish second and thwart all of Bobby Joe’s attacks for the entire event. Bobby Joe Eiland finished third, Tod Darda fourth, Scott Knowles fifth, Leon Watson JR sixth, Anthony Meadows seventh, Kevin Knotts eighth, Josh Noles ninth, and rookie Matt Woodson, who shows improvement each week, rounded out the top ten in tenth. Summer Sizzler Seven Sherry Covington The evening began with a somber note as everyone waited for the rain to fall. It was a light steady rain for about an hour but it did not dampen the fans spirits. They were all still packed in the stands, waiting to see their favorite drivers race. The night was full of excitement, despite the rain, as this was the first part of the Summer Sizzler 7! Super Street, Hobby, and Bomber class were all racing for $1,000 each and a huge trophy. The divisions, including Late Model, practiced and had time trials the night before. There were several battles waiting to be played out. And neither the fireworks nor drivers let the fans down on the excitement. The first race of the night was the Super Street class for 30 laps of racing and 13 cars in the starting line. The night proved to be full of excitement with this feature event and the guys did not let us down. Brandon Pijnenburg - #83 had the fastest car in qualifying and sat on the pole followed by Jimmy Evilsizer - #15 on the outside pole along with Marvin Cook - #40, Chad Marchman - #27, Todd Mitchell - #20, Josh Weathers - #91, Danny Stroud - #22, Roger Outlaw Arnett - #7, Al Walker - #02, Paul Walters - #17, Tim Hester - #2, Steven Gaines Jr - #50, and Bobby Hearn - #10. The cars shot out of turn 4 for the start and Evilsizer - #15 quickly pulled away to the lead but by turn 2 a caution had been called and the cars realigned for another double line restart. On the second restart Pijnenburg - #83 pulled out in front this time coming out of turn 4 setting up his entire race lead. On lap 2 Cook - #40 passed Evilsizer - #15 and Outlaw Arnett - #7 had pulled into 7th place. In lap 4 Hester - #2 looked to be having problems with his cars, moving real slowly, and then he pulled into the pits. By lap 5 Pijnenburg - #83 had a half track lead from the rest of the line of cars. By lap 7 the cars were well spaced covering the entire track with Pijnenburg - #83 closing in on the last car. As Pijnenburg - #83 closed in on Hearn - #10 to lap him, Gaines Jr - #50 spun in turn 3 bringing out the first caution of the night. He recovered and was able to rejoin the line of cars. The restart of lap 9 the cars were lined up with Brandon Pijnenburg - #83 in the lead followed by Marvin Cook - #40, Jimmy Evilsizer - #15, Josh Weathers - #91, Chad Marchman - #27, Todd Mitchell - #20, Roger Outlaw Arnett - #7, Danny Stroud - #22, Paul Walters - #17, Al Walker - #02, Bobby Hearn - #10, and Steven Gaines Jr - #50. In lap 10, Mitchell - #20 started to slide in turns 3 and 4 but held control and Hester - #2 rejoined the race. Coming out of turn 4 in lap 14, Walter - #17 tapped Stroud - #22 but Stroud controlled it and regained control going down the front straightaway. By lap 16 the first five cars pulled away from the rest of the line and then in turns 1 and 2 Hearn - #10, Gaines Jr - #50, and Stroud - #22 seemed to have problems bringing out a caution. Lap 16 restarted with Pijnenburg - #83 again shooting out in front coming off turn 4. Lap 17 Outlaw Arnett - #7 was a little loose coming out of turn 4; Stroud - #22 tried to avoid hitting him and Arnett - #7 and Walters - #17 tagged up. This caused Walters - #17 to spin and come to rest again the wall of the front straightaway. Walters - #17 was towed into the pits looking like his night of racing was over, Stroud - #22 drove on a flat tire into the pits for a quick change. The restart of lap 17 had Brandon Pijnenburg - #83 leading Marvin Cook - #40, Jimmy Evilsizer - #15, Josh Weathers - #91, Chad Marchman - #27, Todd Mitchell - #20, Roger Arnett - #7, Al Walker - #02, Tim Hester - #2, Danny Stroud - #22, Steven Gaines Jr - #50, and Bobby Hearn - #10. The restart saw Hearn - #10, Stroud - #22, and Walters - #17 back in the race. Walters - #17 had a new determination and by lap 20 had moved up 5 positions in 3 laps. In lap 21, Hearn - #10 tagged Hester - #2 in turn 4 causing Hester - #2 to fall out of the race. In lap 23, Weathers - #91 passed Pijnenburg - #83 to take a short lead but by lap 28 Pijnenburg - #83 had taken the lead back and Hester - #2 rejoined the race. Coming out of turn 4 of lap 28 Evilsizer went high and then stopped. It looked as if his rear-end busted causing him to be towed into the pits and taking him out the race for the night. On the restart of lap 28 Weathers - #91 tried to take second from Cook - #40, but Cook - #40 held strong. Brandon Pijnenburg - #83 was the big winner for the night, winning the Summer Sizzler 7 for the Super Street class, his second win of the season. Marvin Cook – 40 took 2nd in the Summer Sizzler 7 and Josh Weathers - #91 took 3rd. They were followed by Chad Marchman - #27, Todd Mitchell - #20, Roger Outlaw Arnett - #7, Al Walker - #02, Danny Stroud - #22, Bobby Hearn - #10, and Tim Hester - #2. The second race of the night was the Hobby class with the competition high between Points leader Pat Speed Racer Wall - #14 and John Capps - #J3. The cars were also competing for the Summer Sizzler 7 with 25 laps of racing and a huge line up of 18 cars. The line started with John Capps - #J3 on the pole and Pat Wall - #14 on the outside pole, followed by Derrick Pearce - #2, Rodney Gorman - #8, Alan Franks - #39, Chad Wallace - #27, Jason Craft - #0, Adam Brown - #9, Tater Holmes - #01, Chris Arnett - #7, Blake Meadows - #31, Kenny Mathis - #55, Jay Swint - #5, Tracey Baker- #98, Dana Brittingham - #15, Jim Gossett - #12, Mike Mount - #31, and Bill Patterson - #29. Coming out of turn 4 for the start Capps - #J3 shot out in front leaving little wonder that yes, he did have the miracle under his hood and Brittingham - #15 looked to be having car trouble as he was trailing badly. After the first lap Capps - #J3 had a huge lead. In lap 4 Capps - #J3 lapped Brittingham - #15. In lap 6 Pearce - #2 tried to take second from the points leader Speed Racer Wall- #14 but was unsuccessful as Wall - #14 was on a mission with Capps’ - #J3 place being his target. Holmes - #01, in the Dukes of Hazzard replica car, began having problems coming out of turn 3. In lap 12 Speed Racer Wall - #14 tried to take Capps’ - #J3 places as they were beginning to lap the back cars. Problems in turns 1and 2 brought out a caution in lap 13. The restart of 13 had John Capps - #J3 in the lead, followed by Pat Wall- #14, Derrick Pearce - #2, Chad Wallace - #27, Rodney Gorman - #8, Adam Brown - #9, Jason Craft - #0, Chris Arnett - #7, Jay Swint- #5, Blake Meadows - #31, Robert Jackson - #12, Dana Brittingham - #15, and Tracey Baker - #98. In lap 14 Wall - #14 tried to take Capps - #J3 coming out of turn 4 but a caution was called. Then on the restart of 14 Wallace - #27 tried to take 2nd from Wall - #14 but Wall held his place and held him off. In lap 17 Capps - #J3, lapped Brittingham - #15 on the front straightaway. Out of turn 3 in lap 18, Jackson - #12 started to loose control and spin but regained it going into turn 4. During lap 23 Mathis - #55, who was back in during the last caution, spun out in turn 4 causing a caution to be called. Coming out of turn 4 of the restart of lap 23 Swint - #5 tried to take 7th from Arnett - #7 but failed as Arnett - #7 held his own. Apparently his prayers to the racing gods were heard as John Capps - #J3 and his miracle under his hood held onto win first in the Summer Sizzler 7 for Hobby class, his fifth of the season. Points leader, Pat Speed Racer Wall - #14 took second place and Chad Wallace - #27 took third. They were followed by Rodney Gorman - #8, Alan Franks - #39, Jason Craft - #0, Chris Arnett - #7, Jay Swint - #5, Tracey Baker - #98, Kenny Mathis - #55, Jim Gossett - #12, and Dana Brittingham - #15. The third race of the night was the Bomber class with Richard Stephens Sr and Billy Duell Jr ready to battle for first. They had 25 laps to battle it out and 13 cars all fighting for the same spot. Points leader, Richard Stephens Sr - #00 sat on the pole along with Billy Duell Jr - #7 on the outside pole, followed by Montana Dudley - #55, Robbie Burt - #25, Bobby Duell - #7, Jay Elliot - #53, Adam Rodriguez - #20. Christy Noles - #16, Steve Mount - #31, Keith McTaggert - #17M, Greg Nix - #57, John Michael - #294, and Jerry Luke #89. The race began with Stephens Sr - #00 and Duell Jr - #7 side by side going into turn 1 and Stephens Sr - #00 pulling into first on the back straightaway. A caution was called and on the single line restart Stephens Sr. - #00 pulled out in front, which he held all night. In lap 4 Elliot - #53 tried to take 5th from Bobby Duell - #7 and Stephens Sr - #00 has a commanding lead. By lap 5, Noles - #16 had moved into 5th place from 7th and Burt - #25 was out of the race with car problems. In lap 8, McTaggert - #17M had regained with 8th place position from Nix - #57 and Noles - #16 had problems in turns 1 and 2 bringing out a caution. On the restart of lap 8 Bobby Duell - #7 tried to take 3rd from Luke - #89 but Luke - #89 held him off. In lap 9 Rodriguez - #20 had problems in turns 1 and 2 bringing out another caution. In the restart of lap 9 Michael - #294 passed McTaggert - #17M and Rodriguez - #20 again had problems and spun out in turn 4. Michael - #294, still moving up the line, passed Elliot - #53 in turn 3 of lap 11. Then McTaggert - #17M, trying to regain positions, passed Elliot - #53 in turn 3 of lap 12. Duell Jr - #7 tried to take first from Stephens Sr - #00 on the back straightaway during lap 12, but Stephens Sr - #00 was on a mission and it did not involve anything but finishing first. By lap 16 Stephens Sr - #00 and Duell Jr - #7 pulled away from the rest of the drivers. Then during lap 17, Luke - #89 and Bobby Duell - #7 also pulled away from the rest of the drivers creating three segments of cars. Then in a dramatic event, in turn 3, Billy Duell’s - #7 car started smoking and sparking as fluids leaked from his car and he came to a complete stop in turn 1 of lap 18, bringing out another caution. He was towed from the track ending his night. The restart of lap 18 had Richard Stephens Sr - #00 leading Jerry Luke - #89, Bobby Duell - #7, John Michael - #294, Keith McTaggert - #17M, Greg Nix - #57, Christy Noles - #16, and Jay Elliot - #53. Elliot - #53 shot out of turn 4 moving up three positions to 6th. In lap 21, Michael - #294 tired to take third from Bobby Duell - #7. Again in lap 23 Michael - #294 tried to take third from Bobby Duell - #7 in turn 4, tagged him and Duell - #7 spun out and hit the front wall. He was back in by the time lap 23 restarted. The lap restarted and Noles - #16 and Duell - #7 tie on the back straightaway and Noles - #16 spun off the track and when Duell - #7 spun into the back wall before turn 3. The restart of the restart of 23 had Duell - #7 trying to move up but McTaggert - #17M held him off. The race finished with Richard Stephens Sr - #00 taking first for the Summer Sizzler 7 for bomber class, his eighth of the season and second consecutively. Jerry Luke - #89 took second and John Michael - #294 took third. They were followed by Greg Nix - #57, Christy Noles - #16, Keith McTaggert - #17M, Bobby Duell - #7, and Jay Elliot - #53. The fourth race of night was the UMP Modified cars with 12 laps of racing and 7 cars in the starting line. Rodgerick Dykes - #6 sat on the pole with Donnie Harig - #62 on the outside pole, followed by Timbo Gouker - #V94, Herbie Donath - #25, Justin Thornton - #1, Kevin Simmons - #31, and Adam Melton - #11. ON the start coming out of turn 4 Dykes - #6 pulled out in front, where he would stay all night. In turn 4 of lap 1 Harig tried to move past Thornton - #1 and accomplished it in turn 1. In lap 2 Harig - #62 and Donath - #25 both spun out in turn 4 bringing out the first caution of the night. In lap 5 going into turn 3 Melton - #11 started to spin but gains control by turn 4. In lap 6 Donath - #25 spun off the track coming out of turn 2. The restart had the line as Rodgerick Dykes - #6, Timbo Gouker - #V94, Justin Thornton - #1, Donnie Harig - #62, Kevin Simmons - #31, Herbie Donath - #25, and Adam Melton - #11. In lap 7, Thornton - #1 took his place back from Harig - #62 in turn 4. In lap 8 Donath - #25 tried to move past Simmons - #31 in turn 4 and by turn for of lap 9 had moved past him. In lap 10 Melton - #11 spun out coming out of turn 3 into turn 4. On the restart Harig - #62 took third from Thornton - #1 but by turn 2 Thornton - #1 had taken it back. Again Melton - #11 spun out in turn 4 but the race finished with Rodgerick Dykes taking the win, his ninth of the season and third consecutively, followed by Timbo Gouker - #V94, Donnie Harig - #62, Justin Thornton - #1, Herbie Donath - #25, Kevin Simmons - #31, and Adam Melton - #11. The fifth race of the night was the Late Models with 25 laps of racing and 17 cars in the starting line. Dana Eiland - #K9 sat on the pole with Allen Sparks - #34 on the outside pole, followed by Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8, Leon Watson Jr - #60, Tod Darda - #91, Joey Eiland - #29, Mickey Benton - #2, Josh Noles - #16, Kevin Knotts - #17, Scott Knowles - #66K, Anthony Meadows - #31, Wesley Holms - #11, Billy Herrin - #18, Robbie Watson - #60R, Matt Woodson - #88, Gordy Scarbrough - #27, and Montie Vaughn - #50V. Coming out of turn 4 of the start, Sparks - #34 jumped out in front of Eiland - #K9 and then in turns 3 and 4 Watson - #60 went high into the turns and spun off the track, bringing out the first caution. With a double line restart, Darda - #91 seemed to push up high on Eiland - #29, which caused Eiland - #29 to go into the wall ripping off the side of his car and severely damaging his front end. He was towed into the pits ending his night of racing. On the restart of lap 3 Eiland - #K9 moved past Sparks - #34 taking first in turn 4 and Noles - #16 moved past Scarbrough - #27. By lap 5, Eiland - #K9 had a tremendous lead from the rest of the cars. In lap 7 Watson - #60R tagged Knotts - #17 in turns 3 and 4, they spun out bringing out another caution. Watson - #60R was sent to the back for the restart. During the restart of lap 7, Eiland - #K8 tried to take second from Sparks - #34 and they spun out but Eiland - #K8 gained control and was right back into it. Due to the spinning they restarted the restart and again Eiland - #K8 tried to move past Sparks - #34 but was unsuccessful this time. In lap 9, Knowles - #66K moved past Watson - #60 and then Noles - #16 tried to take Knotts’ - #17 place in lap 10. By lap 11 Eiland - #K9 had a huge lead from the remaining cars. Eiland - #K8 again tried to take second from Sparks - #34 in turn 4 of lap 14 but Sparks - #34 held firm to his place. By lap 15, Eiland lapped the end cars and Vaughn - #50V seemed to be loose and came into the pits for a quick check. Darda - #91 tired to take third from Eiland - #K8 in turn 3 of lap 16. Lap 16 brought out a caution from Noles - #16 having problems on the front straightaway. The restart had Dana Eiland - #K9 in the lead of Allen Sparks - #34, bobby Joe Eiland - #K8, Tod Darda - #91, Scott Knowles - #66K, Leon Watson Jr - #60, Anthony Meadows - #31, Kevin Knotts - #17, Josh Noles - #16, Matt Woodson - #88, Gordy Scarbrough - #27, and Montie Vaughn - #50V. The remainder of the race was pretty uneventful with Eiland - #K9 taking a huge lead and finishing first, his third of the season. He was followed by Allen Sparks - #34, Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8, Tod Darda - #91, Scott Knowles - #66, Leon Watson - #60, Anthony Meadows - #31, Kevin Knotts - #17, Josh Noles - #16, Matt Woodson - #88, Montie Vaughn - #50V, and Gordy Scarbrough - #27. The last race of the night was the Pony Stock with 12 laps of racing and 6 cars in the starting line. Terry Braswell - #2 sat on the pole along with Michael Queen - #1 on the outside pole, followed by Allen McConnell - #24, Josh Kelly - #13, Richard Stephens Jr - #00, and Allen Weed - #17. Coming out of turn four for the start the cars were in a tight pack into turns 1 and 2. In turn 4 of lap 1 Stephens Jr - #00, McConnell - #24, Kelly - #13, and Weed - #17 touched and tagged each other which caused them to spin out. On the restart Kelly - #13 moved up the line on the inside of the front straightaway. By turn 3 of lap 2 though, Kelly - #13 had moved to last and seemed to be having problems. Weed - #17 had a flat tire and came into the pits for a quick change followed by Kelly - #13 who came into the pits for the night. In lap 3 Stephens Jr - #00 took first from Queen - #1 coming out of turn 2. In lap 5, McConnell spun out of turn 2 and was stuck on the ridge going off the track and had to literally be pulled off by the tow truck and into the pits. In the restart, Stephens Jr - #00 tried to take first from Braswell - #2 but failed until lap 9. Braswell - #2 tried to take it again in turn 3 but Stephens Jr - #00 held him off to win, his first for Pony Stock. He was followed by Terry Braswell - #2, and Michael Queen - #1. July 9, 2005 - Rain Out Phenix City, ALA – July 16, 2005 – This week’s Summer Sizzler 77 lap Late Model event at East Alabama Motor Speedway brought in a large field of competitors vying for the $2000 to win prize. After fast time qualifying and a six- lap dash for the pole, Dennis Hale found himself on the pole as the fastest qualifier. On the outside pole was the legend, Dana Eiland. When the green dropped on the feature Tod Darda, in third, tried to get an early jump on Dana which caused them both to get out of shape and cause a pile up behind them. Billy Herrin got the worst end of that deal as his car got wasted and towed to the pits for a DNF without even completing the first lap. The cars were lined up double file and this time Dana kept his bumper slightly ahead of Hale, waiting for Hale to fire. Hale however had his own strategy and did not fire, hoping Dana would jump the start and get put back a row. Dana was aware of that trick and did not fire. As Hale ran slower and slower through turn three and four the cars began piling up behind them and the start aborted by flagman Jimmy Head. They were lined up double file and this time Dana stayed slightly behind Hale coming out of turn three. When Hale fired to start the race from the inside, Dana fired from the top of turn four and ran downhill picking up enough extra momentum to blast into the lead before reaching the flag stand and the fat lady was already singing. Meanwhile the rest of the field was engaged in World War 3, as the fight over positions became extremely intense. William Thomas began his charge to the front by working over Shane Renfroe in turn one and taking over Henry Carter’s spot on the back straight in successive moves. Tod Darda was searching high and low for a way around Hale to get into second spot. This exciting battle let Dana get even farther ahead of the pack. On lap 6 Darda finally got around Hale in turn one and then Hale became the aggressor while Darda defended second spot. As Dana began lapping traffic Gordy Scarborough began smoking profusely and dropping oil in the high groove. Simultaneously Scott Knowles suffered a similar malady and began dropping more fluids in the upper groove. The yellow flag came out as efforts to dry up the slick groove began. As the lap 10 green came back out Dana’s nephew, Bobby Joe Eiland, who started in the 22nd position was involved in giving the fans and other drivers a seminar in how to be successful starting in the back as he scratched and clawed his way into 13th. On lap 12 Wesley Holmes was running very slow in the upper groove. Since William Thomas was defending his position from Bobby Joe, he tried to maintain his line but the collision with Holmes was inevitable. Thomas was shot off the back of turn two and the yellow came out again. Thomas's #22 Scorpion got stung hard breaking the front control arm and giving him a DNF for the night. When the green flew Dana assumed his normal position- in the lead pulling away from the pack, and Bobby Joe was now pressuring yet another Eiland, Joey, for tenth spot. Suddenly Chad Wallace lost it and went off the top of turn two to bring the yellow back. Wallace rejoined the hunt before the lap 13 green came out. While Dennis Hale was busy trying to reclaim the second position he did not notice Jordy Nipper who was suddenly about to take third. Hale switched from offense to defense and began protecting the third spot. Matt Woodson developed a mechanical problem and coasted into the pits while Dana and Tod Darda got way out front of the pack. Bobby Joe was now working on Leon Watson JR who was finding out just how fast Allen Sparks had become. Bobby Joe was passing Nick Biddle in turn 4 to take over 7th and began contemplating a strategy to get around Allen Sparks. Dana was weaving through the lap traffic, picking off JR Moseley then he ran up on Jack Mills. Mills tried to race him in a futile effort to avoid the inevitable, which allowed Darda to close the gap and put the lead in question for a few laps. Bobby Joe was still on the mission to the front as he worked his magic on Jeff Mills running in fifth. Dana pulled up on Joey Eiland to put him a lap down and Joey, being a champion himself, did the noble thing and pulled out of the way allowing Dana to keep his momentum. At lap 56 Dana was reeling in Anthony Meadows, who is no slouch and has a fast car. Dana’s run was really impressive considering he was lapping most of the field of respectable race teams. On lap 59 Dana shot by Meadows in turn two and closed in on Allen Sparks. They hit briefly at the flag stand but Dana pulled away completing the pass. Dana was now lapping the top ten leaders as he targeted Leon Watson JR running in ninth. On lap 66 Dana blasted by Watson and as Darda tried to lap Joey Eiland they hooked and spun to a stop in turn 4. Waston also went off the track. On lap 71 the leaders were Dana, Darda, Hale, Jeff Mills, Bobby Joe, and Nipper rounding out the top 6. On the restart Bobby Joe was quick to rocket by Jeff Mills and move into fourth. When Bobby Joe came up on Hale, he took the inside groove and came out of turn three slightly ahead. Hale broke loose and went into a slide which chain re-acted collecting Watson, Sparks, and JR Moseley. As they sat immobilized in turn four, Hale’s Triple 8 Pure Hale racing machine burst into flames. Hale bailed out to avoid the inferno and walked to the pits, obviously very dejected after running such a great race for 73 laps and having his efforts go up in smoke with only 4 laps left. The 4-lap shoot out to the checkers was an exciting finish as Bobby Joe moved inside Darda and the battle for second was a cliffhanger. Only on the white flag lap as they raced to the checkers did Bobby Joe take the second spot. A most impressive run going from twenty-second to second, following in his Uncle Dana’s footsteps, Bobby Joe proved he’s got winning in his blood. Dana Eiland took the checkers in his legendary championship form to add to his legacy of greatness. Bobby Joe Eiland finished second, Tod Darda third, Jeff Mills fourth, Jordy Nipper fifth, Anthony Meadows sixth, Joey Eiland seventh, Allen Sparks eighth, Leon Watson JR ninth, and former Late Model Track champion JR Moseley rounded out the top ten in tenth. A night of Come From Behind Racing Sherry Covington The evening was full of excitement and edge of seat tension. It was a hot, muggy night but none of the fans seemed to mind as they waited for the Summer Sizzler Seven Features to start. It was sure to be many good races with the Eilands roaring and ready to go. Bobby Joe and Dana both put on a good show with their demanding driving presence. The Hobby class always promises some form of excitement with Pat Speed Racer Wall driving and John Capps' miracle under his hood. The Pony Class had the Summer Sizzler Feature, as did the Open Wheel Modified Class. A true night of thundering excitement waited for the fans. The evening began with the Late Model Summer Sizzler Seven Feature, 75 laps of racing and 26 cars starting out. #T8 sat on the pole along with Dana Eiland - #K9 followed by Tod Darda - #91, Nick Biddle - #55, #1N. Jeff Mills - #15, Allen Sparks - #34, #66, Leon Watson Jr - #60, Joey Eiland - #29, Shane Renfroe - #98, #11, Chad Wallace - #34, William Thomas - #22, Josh Noles - #16, #11, #99, #18, Anthony Meadows - #31, Jack Mills - #7, #G12, Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8, Matt Woodson - #88, #67, and Gordy Scarbrough - #27. The start out of turn 4 set the stage for the race. #T8 bumped Eiland - #K9 out of turn 4 and Herrin - #18 was tangled up in the melee. Eiland - #K9 and Herrin - #18 both spun to a stop on the front straightaway bringing out the first caution. The restart was a double line and between turn 3 & 4 Woodson - #88 became stuck on the side of the track and had to be pushed back onto the track with the wrecker and once again the race was restarted. This time Eiland - #K9 shot out in front into the lead that he would hold for the entire race. In lap 2 #11 came down low and pasted #28. In lap 3, Thomas - #22 passed by #28 in turn 4. During lap 4, it seemed that Woodson - #88 and #67 were slower and slower, possibly handling problems. In lap 5, Meadows - #31 tired to take Eiland’s - #K8 place but Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8 had fought his way up from the back and was not letting anyone take a place from him. In lap 7, Eiland - #K8 continued his move toward the front by passing Jack Mills - #7. In lap 10, Scott Knowles - #66 began smoking and slowing down and eventually stopped on the back straightaway. The restart of lap 10 had Dana Eiland - #K9 in the lead followed by Tod Darda - #91, #T8, #1N, Nick Biddle - #55, Jeff Mills - #15, Allen Sparks - #34, Leon Watson - #60, Joey Eiland - #29, #11, William Thomas - #22, Shane Renfroe - #98, bobby Joe Eiland - #K8, Jack Mills - #7, Anthony Meadows - #31, Chad Wallace - #34, #99, Matt Woodson - #88, #12, #67, and #11. In lap 12, Watson - #60 passed Allen Sparks - #34 for 7th place and #11 had problems bringing out a caution. The first restart of lap 12 had Woodson - #88 back out and Eiland - #K8 passed Eiland - #29 for 9th place, continuing his trek towards the front. Then another caution was called due to #28 stopping in turn 4. The second restart of lap 12 had 34 back into the pits for a quick tire change and #11 seemed a little loose. By lap 17, Eiland - #K9 and Darda - #91 had a huge lead from the rest of the line. In lap 19 coming out of turn 4 #12 bumped Noles - #16 but Noles was able to control is and not loose his position. Then Eiland - #K8 continuing his quest for the front tried to pass Watson - #60 and Thomas - #22, but both held their own against the fierce driving of Bobby Joe. In lap 23, #11 went too high in turn 4 almost loosing control but held it as he roared down the front straightaway finally coming to a stop in turn 1, bringing out another caution. The restart of lap 23 had Dana Eiland - #K9 in the lead along with Tod Darda - #91, #8, #1N, Jeff Mills - #15, Nick Biddle - #55, Allen Sparks - #34, Leon Watson - #60, Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8, Anthony Meadows - #31, Joey Eiland - #29, Jack Mills - #7, Shane Renfroe - #98, #12, Josh Noles - #16, #99, and #67, with Chad Wallace - #34 and Matt Woodson - #88, both in the pits for repairs. As the lap restarted Watson - #60 and Eiland - #K8 were side by side going down the back straightaway into turns 3 & 4. Eiland - #K8 took 8th from Watson - #60 as the cars flew down the front straightaway. Chad Wallace - #34 was back into the race with this restart but again had problems, this time his car was not shifting into high gear, and he came back into the pits, ending his night of racing. In lap 25, Eiland - #K8 continued his quest for the front by passing Biddle - #55 for 8thth place. In lap 28, Sparks - #34 seemed a little loose in turn 2 and Eiland - #K8 took advantage and moved past him. In lap 31, Watson - #60 tried to take 8th place from Biddle - #55 down the back straightaway but Biddle held his own. By lap 35 Eiland - #K9 and Darda - #91 had a huge lead from the rest of the drivers and by lap 37 had lapped the end of the line, Mosley - #99. In lap 40, Eiland - #K8 tried to take 6th place from Jeff Mills going into turn 4. In lap 51, Mills - #15 moved past Nipper - #1N for 4th place and Eiland - #K8 moved past Nipper - #1N for 5th place. In 51 laps, Bobby Joe Eiland proved he is definitely a force to be reckoned with by moving from 23rd starting position to 5th place. By lap 62, Eiland - #K9, a man on a mission, had lapped up thru the back of the line and it was difficult to determine which car was in which place. Then during lap 70, Sparks - #34, Eiland - #29, and Darda - #91 tagged up in turn 4 and Watson - #60, trying to avoid the mess, spun up off the track bringing out a caution. On the restart of lap 70 Nipper - #1N and Watson - #60 tag up in turn 2 causing another restart of lap 70. Then in lap 72, Eiland - #K8 passed Mills - #15 for 4th place and Watson - #60 again ties up, this time with Meadows - #31. Eiland - #29, Sparks - #34, and Land - #G12 all spin out in turn 4 trying to avoid the tie up of Watson - #60. In another multi-car tangle, Hale - #T8 spins out in turns 3 and 4 causing Eiland - #29, Mosley - #99, Sparks - #34, and Watson - #60 to tangle up avoiding their collision. Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8 moved into 3rd and Hale - #T8 was towed into the pits for the night. In a stunning finish, Eiland - #K8 tired to take second from Darda - #91 in turns 1 and 2 but Darda held him off until right before crossing the finish line on the front straightaway, Eiland - #K8 pulled ahead to finish 2nd. Dana Eiland - #K9 took the win for the Summer Sizzler Seven Late Model series, his 3rd for the season, followed by points leader Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8 in 2nd, along with Tod Darda - #91, Jeff Mills - #15, Jordy Nipper - #1N, Anthony Meadows - #31, Joey Eiland - #29, Allen Sparks - #34, Leon Watson - #60, JR Mosley - #99, Dennis Hale - #T8, Jack Mills - #15, Dennis Strickland - #67, Scott Land - #G12, Nick Biddle - #55, Shane Renfroe - #98, Josh Noles - #16, Matt Woodson - #88, Wesley Holmes - #11, William Thomas - #22, Henry Carter - #28, Chad Wallace - #34, Stacey Roberts - #11, Gordy Scarbrough - #27, Scott Knowles - #66, Billy Herrin - #18, and Dewayne Johnson - #45. The second race was the Super Street for 20 laps of racing and beginning line of 18 cars. Leroy Mills - #15 sat on the pole that night along with Danny Stroud - #22 on the outside pole followed by Ricky Culpepper - #110, Todd Mitchell - #20, Roger Arnett - #7, Marvin Cook - #40, Steven Gaines Jr - #50JR, Chad Marchman - #27, Luke North - #29, Jimmy Evilsizer - #15, Vernon Taylor - #28, Sam Moore - #1, #21, Joseph Darda - #92, Scooter Brown - #00, Donnie Kite - #46, #313, and Steven Gaines Sr - #50SR. Coming out of turn 4 to start the race Stroud - #22 jumped out in front setting the stage for later events. But Taylor - #28 had problems and was towed into the pits and North - #29 spun out in turn 1 and Darda - #92 spun off the track. On the restart of lap 1, Stroud - #22 again took the lead by turn 2. Then in turns 1 and 2 Mitchell - #20 spun off the track followed by North - #29. The track seemed to be extremely dry as cars kept spinning coming out of turns 2 and 4. By lap 8 things seemed to be settling into a rhythm until cook - #40 tapped Gaines - #50SR, but Gaines being the experienced driver he is, held control of his car. The in lap 9 Gaines Jr - #50JR spun out and off the track in turn 4 and had to be towed into the pits, ending his night of racing. By lap 15, Kite - #46 had spun off the back straightaway coming out of turn 2 and then again in lap 18 going into turn 4. This time however, he had to be towed into the pits ending his night of racing. The race ended with Danny Stroud - #22 taking first, his first win of the season, followed by points leader Roger Arnett - #7, Chad Marchman - #27, Joseph Darda - #92, Jimmy Evilsizer - #15, Marvin Cook - #40, Scooter Brown - #00. Leroy Mills - #15, and Donnie Kite - #46. The third race of the night was the UMP Modified drivers for 15 laps and 7 cars in the starting line. William Thomas - #22 sat on the pole along with Rodgerick Dykes - #6 on the outside pole, followed by Donnie Harig - #62, Herbie Donath - #25, Kevin Simmons - #31, Justin Thornton - #1, and Ryan Sanders - #9o. Thomas - #22 shot out in front on the start coming off of turn 4. Harig - #62 went off the back side of the track coming out of turn 4. In lap 4, Harig - #62 tried to take 5th from Simmons - #31 in turn 4 but Simmons held his place. By lap 7, Thomas - #22 had a huge lead then Dykes - #6 in second, followed by Donath - #25 then the remainder of the line. In lap 9, Harig - #62 passed Thornton - #1 to take 4th place. By lap 11, Thomas - #22 lapped the last car. By lap 12, Thomas - #22 had a half track lead. The race finished with William Thomas - #22 finishing first, his 4th for the season, followed by Rodgerick Dykes - #6, Herbie Donath - #25, Donnie Harig - #62, Justin Thornton - #1, Kevin Simmons - #31, and Ryan Sanders - #9o. The fourth race of the night was the Pony Stock; they were racing for the Summer Sizzler Seven for 20 laps and 10 cars in the starting line. Chad Carden - #C22 sat on the pole along with Greg Gatlin - #11, followed by Richard Stephens Jr. - #00, Alton Weed - #17, Jesse Lamphier - #33, Kevin Simmons - #31, Allen McConnell - #24, Terry McCraine - #28, Jimmy Williams - #30, and Terry Braswell - #2. Coming out of turn 4 to start, Gatlin - #11 pulled out in front setting himself up for the lead. In lap 4, McConnell - #24 spun out in turn 4. In lap 5, Weed - #17 tried to move past Fowler - #22 down the front straightaway but Fowler held his own. During lap 7, McCraine - #28 had some problems on the back straightaway. In lap 11, Lamphier - #33 and Braswell - #2 tied up a little in turn 4 but both held control and kept racing. In lap 12, Simmons - #31 moved past Braswell - #2 coming out of turn 2. By lap 16, the first three positions had a huge lead from the remainder of the pack. In lap 18, Braswell - #2 passed Simmons - #31 to take 6th place in turn 4. Greg Gatlin - #11 held onto his position to take first in the Summer Sizzler Seven, his first of the season, followed by Richard Stephens Jr. - #00, Ray Fowler - #22, Alton Weed - #17, Jesse Lamphier - #33, Kevin Simmons - #31, and Terry Braswell - #2. The fifth race of the evening was the Bomber class for 15 laps and 12 cars in the starting line. Jerry Luke - #89 sat on the pole along with Billy Duell - #7 on the outside pole followed by, Richard Stephens Sr. - #00, Christy Noles - #16, Greg Nix - #57, Keith McTaggert - #17, Montana Dudley - #55, Adam Rodriguez - #20, Kim Short - #15, Tanner Tyler - #7, and #3. The cars started rolling and by lap 4 Nix - #57 tapped Tyler - #7 going down the front straightaway but both held their own. Then in lap 6, Tyler - #7 again tied up with someone, this time Rodriguez - #20 in turns 3 and 4. With the restart of lap 6 Stephens Sr. - #00 was back in the race and McTaggert - #17 passed Rodriguez for 6th place. In lap 10, Duell - #7 seemed to be having some handling problems but managed to keep it under control. Then Noles - #16 tried to pass Luke - #89 for first but spun out and had to rejoin the line in the back. Jerry Luke took the checkered flag, his 2nd win of the season, followed by Billy Duell - #7, Greg Nix - #57, Kim Short - #15, Keith McTaggert - #17, Christy Noles - #16, and Adam Rodriguez. The last race of the night was the Hobby class for 20 laps of racing and 17 cars in the starting line. Mike Mount - #31 sat on the pole along with Adam Brown - #9 on the outside pole followed by Alan Franks - #39, John Capps - #J3, Tracey Baker - #98, Jason Craft - #0, Rodney Gorman - #8, Jim Gossett - #12, Rodney Register - #19, Ed Willingham - #19, Chris Arnett - #7, Kenny Mathis - #55, Dave Foker - #401K, Josh Marchman - #27, Pat Wall - #14, Randy Renfroe - #99, and Dawson Clayton - #30. The race started and by lap 2 Capps - #J3 had pulled into 2nd. By lap 3, points leader Pat Speed Racer Wall - #14 had moved from 16th place into 9th. By lap 4, Wall - #14 passed Arnett - #7 in turn 4, moving his way up front. In lap 6, Foker - #401K spun out in turns 1 and 2 and off the back straightaway but was right back on the track. In lap 8, Craft tried to take Gorman’s - #8 place in turn 4 but it was to no avail. Then in lap 10, Speed Racer Wall - #14 passed Baker - #98 for 6th place, again proving he could walk the walk. Also, in lap 10, Mount - #31 spun out and a caution was called. Then in a series of exciting events, Gorman - #8 tried to pass Brown - #9 and Craft - #0 did in fact pull ahead of Gorman - #8 in turn 2. Wall - #14 also passed Gorman - #8 in turn 4. Then a caution was called when Marchman - #27 spun out in turn 2. By the time this lap was restarted and complete the points leader, Pat Wall - #14, had moved into 5th place. In lap 12, Craft - #0 pulled past Brown - #9 for 3rd place. Wall - #14 tried to move past Brown - #9 for 4th but Brown - #9 held him off. John Capps - #J3 and his super engine, finished first followed by Alan Franks - #39, Jason Craft - #0, Adam Brown - #9, Pat Wall - #14, Rodney Gorman - #8, Chris Arnett - #7, Tracey Baker - #98, Rodney Register, Randy Renfroe - #99, Jim Gossett - #12, Dave Foker - #401K, and Mike Mount - #31. Phenix City, ALA – July 23, 2005 – Former East Alabama Motor Speedway Late Model Track Champion Mickey Benton announced shortly before the drivers meeting that tonight was his night to win. Some drivers were skeptical considering the dominance of a few of the major players in the Late Model division. Benton was not being boisterous, as he is a mild spoken gentleman, but stated that he had just installed a brand new big crate engine in his # 2 Grease Monkey GRT and he was fast. He knew that to run up front with the likes of legend Dana Eiland and a handful of other competitors that ran big motors he needed to upgrade his equipment. It did not take long for Benton to back up his claim as he won the outside pole with fast time qualifying. When the green flag dropped on the feature, pole sitter Bobby Joe Eiland ran door to door with Benton into turn one. As they came off the corner of turn two Benton showed that he had successfully set up his GRT to transfer all that new power to the clay and he rocketed out to the lead down the back –stretch. On lap 2 Dana Eiland shot by Wesley Holmes to take over fourth but Billy Herrin went off turn 2 and Johnny Varnum stopped in turn two to bring out the first yellow flag caution. The field was reset and once again the green came out and Benton took the lead with Bobby Joe clinging to his inside quarter panel for the entire circuit. On lap 4 Matt Woodson slammed hard into the outside turn one wall to bring out the next caution. The restart had Benton out front with Bobby Joe all over him looking for a way into the lead. Bobby Joe could get side by side with Benton in the corners but Benton would get back out front on the straight-aways. The fact that Benton was running in the preferred upper groove, which was in perfect racing condition, helped Benton retain the lead. The inside groove was still wet and slippery because of a near tragic accident earlier in the day. While the track crew was prepping the surface for the race, the near 70-year-old motor grader operator, Joe, slipped and fell under the grader while it was running. Both back wheels ran over his torso. He was taken to the emergency room and found to have no broken bones but was kept for observation in case of internal injuries. The rest of the concerned track crew went to the hospital. When they returned later in the afternoon to pack the track there was not enough time to work the inside groove. For those running the inside it meant less traction than the outside groove. Bobby Joe was one of those who needed that grip to pass Benton. Benton knew if he protected his line there was no way Bobby Joe could get around him. Dana Eiland was running the inside groove and found better traction out of turn 2 where he successfully passed Holmes. On lap 11 Holmes, William Thomas, who had been running in fifth, and Scott Land all went to the pits. Dana Eiland was trying to pass Joey Eiland to move into third. Last week Joey moved out of Dana’s way getting lapped but this was for position and Joey was putting up a fight. The battle was fierce and Joey was holding his own until a flat caused him to slow and Dana moved into third. Joey stopped on the track but they got the lap in and Joey went to the pits for a new tire. The green came back out and as the leaders came out of turn 2, Joey came back onto the track from the back pit entrance right in front of the leaders. Since Joey was in the upper groove there was a lot of ducking and dodging to get around him. Then when Joey stopped in turn 4 the flagman showed Joey the black flag. Joey complied, went to the pits, got out of his car and ran to the pit stewards on the front straight to plead his case. The Sheriffs followed him expecting trouble but the race director, Chad Wallace explained the ruling. Once a driver enters the pits he can only re-enter the track from the front straight entrance. Joey realized his error and calmly returned to his pit and took the DNF. Now, with Dana looking for a way past Bobby Joe in second, the ensuing battle let Benton get a comfortable lead for the first time. Now the excitement was who was going to finish second. On the white flag lap Bobby Joe and Dana were running door to door. When they came out of turn four, for some reason James Mills was poking along in the groove. What would have been a photo finish for second became a near collision as the cars slid past the flag stand trying to avoid Mills. Mickey Benton’s prophecy came true as he picked up the checkers wire to wire. Bobby Joe Eiland picked up second, Dana Eiland third, Leon Watson fourth, Leon Watson JR fifth, and Gordy Scarbrough rounded out the top 6 in sixth. Phenix City, ALA – July 30, 2005 – The 2002 East Alabama Motor Speedway Late Model track champion Shane Thompson returned to the competition with a big surprise for everyone. Thompson debuted his new Rocket Chassis 2005 Grand Prix equipped with an extremely powerful Brown Engineering engine. Thompson placed his Fun Carts of Opelika, Abney Grading & Paving, T&T Graphics #00 on the outside pole next to the other super-fast stroking engine of Jeff Mills for the feature. When the green dropped on the feature event Mills got up front fast with Thompson all over him. The middle of the field had a group of fast cars and determined drivers who went into turn one three wide and came out of turn two sideways and literally flying off the track as Anthony Meadows got some serious air. Mickey Benton got his Grease Monkey # 2 GRT high in the mix and blasted into space. It looked really bad and the EMS was sent to the scene. Joey Eiland was the third, in the low groove, he took some hits and spun to a stop. After a pit stop Meadows and Benton rejoined the field in the rear, the accident was not as bad as it initially appeared, however, it greatly decreased their odds of taking the checkers in this impressive field. Green again, déjà vu, except this time it was Wesley Holmes, Mike Parkerson, and Gordy Scarbrough spinning in turn two to bring out the yellow flag. The third time was a charm and the first lap was in the books as there was intense action all around the track. Bobby Joe Eiland was no stranger to working his way to the front and immediately began working on Mike Parkerson running eighth. Bobby Joe could close in and get to the inside but Parkerson would shake him and keep his position. Jeff Culpepper qualified third, was running third, and had his hands full but stayed right on Thompson in second until mechanical failure in turn four. Culpepper did a 360 and everybody got around him without incident, but he brought out the yellow and was relegated from third to the rear for the restart. On all these restarts Thompson was looking for a way to jump Mills from the inside. Thompson would follow in Mills’ tire tracks until Mills would fire in turn four. Then Thompson would take the inside groove and drag race Mills to turn one. Mills had his Benning Auto Parts # 15 hooked up and was turning low seventeen’s on the 3/8 mile high- banked clay oval, making him nearly impossible to pass. The next unfortunate victim of chance was Leon Watson JR. He was maintaining his fifth position and defending himself from the constant attacks of Joey Eiland. Joey made the pass on the backstretch and Watson followed him into turn four where he suddenly broke loose and began spinning. In an effort to avoid major attrition, Josh Noles, Matt Woodson, Mike Parkerson, and Bobby Joe Eiland all crack their throttles, brake, and pile up. Their momentum carries the accident into Watson whose car gets trashed and carried to the pits on a hook for a DNF. The character of this race is taking a more definitive shape as Wesley Holmes makes a successful pass on Gordy Scarborough. Bobby Joe was working on Parkerson, who jumped all over Josh Noles taking the fifth spot. Now Bobby Joe was lining up Noles for the next rung in the ladder. Noles made a small driving error getting a little high of his defensive line and Bobby Joe was Johnny on the spot with the power to take advantage and move into fifth. A piece of debris on the front straightaway was the likely culprit responsible for Joey Eiland spinning in turn two about the time the yellow came out for the debris. Parkerson also suffered a flat tire and had to pit. As cream rises to the top so do legends like Dana Eiland who was now in third to match speed with the powerful engines and right on set-ups of Mills and Thompson. These three pulled away from the field as Thompson pressured Mills 24/7. Dana kept a car length distance giving him the room to pass them both if a mishap occurred. Gordy Scarborough pulled into the pits at lap 21 as the pace was still at light speed. Then, the unlikely, unpredictable quirk of fate happened as Mills lost some grip coming off turn 4 and Thompson’s mid-summers night dream came true as he was door to door with Mills going into turn one. Again, Mills could not stick to his line and Thompson solidly took the lead as Mills spun to a stop ending an awesome display of power and driving savvy. With two laps remaining Thompson put the pedal to the metal in clean air and checked out on Dana Eiland. Thompson’s first showing of the year was a tremendous success as took the checkers and raised the already high bar another notch. Second place Dana Eiland’s crew chief Mike Harris said tonight proved one fact- a big motor set up properly will outrun the best of the crates. He said, "will go back to the books and meet the challenge." Third place finisher was Joey Eiland with Bobby Joe Eiland coming from eighth to finish fourth. Wesley Holmes, Josh Noles, Anthony Meadows, Matt Woodson, Jeff Mills, and Gordy Scarborough rounded out the top ten finishers. On Edge Excitement Sherry Covington The rain threatened to halt the racing but not dampen the spirit of the fans. It was a good night and with the clouds, the racing started early. The drivers all jumped onto the track to help pack it and then the practice began; the first look at the cars’ abilities for the night. By the time the Thunder sounded from the Late Models the blood was already flowing in the heart of the fans. Tremendous excitement was in the air with the Eilands roaring down the track along with Jeff Mills and Mickey Benton, all vying for the win that night. Then the drama in the Hobby class, would Speed Racer Wall beat out John Capps and did Capps have his miracle under his hood this week? The fans were sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for the racing to start. The first race of the night was the Hobby Class, which had 15 laps of racing and 16 cars in the starting line. Points leader, Pat ‘Speed Racer’ Wall - #14 sat on the pole followed by John Capps - #J3 on the outside pole, along with Chris Arnett - #7, Keith Hudson - #15, Jay Swint - #5, Allen Franks - #39, Tracey Baker - #98, Scott Sherres - #41, Mark Vinyard - #7-14, Josh Marchman - #27, Joe Mama - #3:16, Rodney Gorman - #8, Jason Craft - #0, Blake Meadows - #31, Jeff Catrett - #02, and Mark Donaldson - #1. The race began and Catrett - #02, Craft - #0, and Meadows - #31 all tagged up and spun out coming out of turn 4, which brought out the first caution of the night. The restart was a double line and Catrett - #02 again had problems and caused another caution, an altercation on the racetrack during the heat race, and he was sent to the pits for the night. This time though a lap had been completed and it was a single line restart with ‘Speed Racer’ Wall - #14 in the lead, setting the stage for the entire race. The race continued with the restart, Gorman - #8 had a flat tire and came into the pits for a quick change and his crew had him back on the tracks just as the line passed turn 4. Then in turn 2 Hudson - #15, his first week back, lost his drive shaft which caused him, Vinyard - #7-14, Meadows - #31, Swint - #5, and Franks - #39 to become tangled up and sent Franks off the back in turn 2. The race finally restarted and points leader Wall - #14, shot out in front. In lap 3, Meadows - #31 passed Vinyard - #7-14 in turn 3 to take 7th place. Then, in the same lap, Gorman - #8 passed Vinyard - #7-14 in turn 4 to take 8th from him. By lap 6, ‘Speed Racer’ Wall - #14, had a demanding ½ track lead and Capps - #J3 had a ¼ track lead from the remainder of the cars. In lap 7, Meadows - #31 tried to take 5th from Marchman - #27 but Marchman held his position. Then in lap 8, Arnett - #7 was tapped by Franks - #39 in turns 1 and 2, which sent Franks off the track on turn 2 and Arnett - #7 held control and remained in the race just a little loose coming out of turn 2. The restart of lap 10 saw Franks - #39 back on the track but in turn 2, Vinyard - #7-14 spun out but came right back on the track. The remainder of the race was pretty uneventful with Pat ‘Speed Racer’ Wall - #14 holding on for the checkered flag, his 5th win of the season and 2nd consecutive win, followed by John Capps – #J3, Chris Arnett - #7, Tracey Baker - #98, Josh Marchman - #27, Rodney Gorman - #8, Blake Meadows - #31, Scott Sherrer - #41, Jay Swint - #5, Alan Franks - #39, Mark Vinyard - #7-14, Keith Hudson - #15, Jason Craft - #0, Jeff Catrett - #02, and Mark Donaldson - #1. Capps - #J3 racing team protested the motor of Pat Wall - #14, which, upon inspection, proved he really is a legal and clean racer. The second race of the night was the Super Street with 20 laps of racing and 9 cars in the starting line. Chad Marchman - #27 set out to prove tonight was his night by winning his heat race and sitting on the pole. He sat along side of Jimmy Evilsizer - #15 on the outside pole. They were followed by Ricky Culpepper - #110, Paul Walter - #17, Roger ‘Outlaw’ Arnett - #7, Steven Gaines Jr - #50, Danny Stroud - #22, Marvin Cook - #40, and Brandon Kelly - #K98. The race began and Gaines - #50Jr. was loose in turns 3 and 4 causing him to smack into Cook - #40 and Stroud - #22, who in turn spun out. The race restarted and going into turn 3, Gaines Jr - #50 broke a tie rod which sent him over the bank between turns 3 and 4. He was towed into the pits with a broken tie rod and ripped nose, ending his night of racing. The race began again and Culpepper - #110 passed Evilsizer - #15 in turn 4 to take 2nd place. Stroud - #22 passed by Arnett - #7 in the same place to take 5th place. In lap 2, Culpepper had a problem and spun in turn 2 bringing out another caution, which sent him to the rear on the restart. On the restart, Walters - #17 tried to take 2nd from Evilsizer - #15 on the back straightaway but Evilsizer held him off and kept his position. In lap 6, Arnett - #7 tried to take 4th from Stroud - #22 but Stroud held the Outlaw off. Then in lap 7, Walters - #17 again tried to take 2nd from Evilsizer - #15 but Evilsizer, being the good driver he is, held him off and protected his position again. Then in lap 9, Arnett - #7 tried to take 4th from Stroud - #22 again, but Stroud - #22 drove with determination and held him off. Marchman - #27 proved that this was his race and dominated the entire night. The race finished with Chad Marchman - #27 taking the win, his fourth of the season, followed by Jimmy Evilsizer - #15, Paul Walters - #17, Danny Stroud - #22, Roger ‘Outlaw’ Arnett - #7, Ricky Culpepper - #110, Marvin Cook - #40, and Steven Gaines Jr - #50jr. The third race of the night was the Late Models with 25 laps of racing and 14 cars in the starting line. The night began with a local favorite sitting on the pole, Jeff Mills - #15 along with Shane Thompson - #00 on the outside pole followed by Jeff Culpepper - #10, Leon Watson Jr - #60, Dana Eiland - #K9, Josh Noles - #16, Anthony Meadows - #31, Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8, Joey Eiland - #29, Mickey Benton - #2, Wesley Holmes - #11, Matt Woodson - #88, Mike Parkerson - #22, and Gordy Scarbrough - #27. The race began and Mills - #15 shot out in front coming out of turn 4. Eiland - #29, Meadows - #31, and Noles - #16 went three wide down the front straightaway into turn 1. Then in turn 2, Watson - #60 and Meadows - #31 hit hard and spun off the back with the ambulance being called to check on Anthony Meadows - #31. Meadows got out of his car and was declared ok but his car had to be towed to the pits due to a flat tire. Before the restart of lap 1, Meadows’ crew had his flat tire fixed and he was back on the track to rejoin the other cars. The restart, Eiland - #K8 jumped the start and was penalized by being moved back one position. The lap finally restarted and Eiland - #K8 again tried to take Parkerson’s - #22 position coming out of turn 4, but Parkerson held him off. In lap 2, Eiland - #29 and Noles - #16 tapped into each other but held control, Culpepper - #10, however spun out trying to avoid the two of them. A caution was called and the restart line up had Jeff Mills - #15 in the front followed by Shane Thompson - #00, Dana Eiland - #K9, Leon Watson Jr - #60, Joey Eiland - #29, Josh Noles - #16, Mike Parkerson - #22, Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8, Matt Woodson - #88, Gordy Scarbrough - #27, Anthony Meadows - #31, and Wesley Holmes - #11. On this restart Eiland - #29 tried to pass Watson - #60 for 4th place. Then going into turn 4, Watson - #60, Noles - #16, Eiland - #K8, Woodson - #88, Parkerson - #22, and Eiland - #29 all smashed into each other in a huge pile up. Everyone was able to restart their cars and move except for Parkerson - #22, Watson - #60, and Noles - #16; they had to be physically pulled apart. All the drivers were ok and the race restarted once again. In lap 4, Meadows - #31 and Scarbrough - #27 bumped and rubbed each other but kept on racing. Then Scarbrough - #27 spun out in turns 1 and 2 bringing out a caution. The restart line had Jeff Mills - #15 in first followed by Shane Thompson - #00, Dana Eiland - #K9, Joey Eiland - #29, Josh Noles - #16, Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8, Mike Parkerson - #22, Wesley Holmes - #11, Anthony Meadows - #31, Matt Woodson - #88, and Gordy Scarbrough - #27. In lap 9, Eiland - #K8 passed Noles - #16 for 5th place and began working on passing Eiland - #29 in turn 2. Parkerson - #22 had problems in turn 2 and spun out bringing out a caution which was beneficial for Noles - #16 as he had a piece of metal flapping on his car, though it wasn’t slowing him down at all. Again in lap 11, Parkerson - #22 spun out from problems, but instead of rejoining the line, he went into the pits ending his night of racing. On the restart Holmes - #11 passed Noles - #16 for 6th place on the back straightaway. By this time, Jeff Mills - #15 had dominated the first half of the race and looked to finish that way. By lap 19, Mills - #15, Thompson - #00, Eiland - #K9, Eiland - #29, and Eiland - #K8 all had a huge lead from the rest of the line. Then by lap 21, Mills - #15, Thompson - #00, and Eiland - #K9 had pulled away even more. But all that came to and end in lap 22, when Mills - #15 was passed by Thompson - #00 in turn 2 and then Eiland - #K9, never one to miss an opportunity, tried to take 2nd from Mills along the front straightaway. Mills - #15 though seemed to have problems as he spun out in turns 1 and 2. The restart had Shane Thompson - #00 in first followed by Dana Eiland - #K9, Joey Eiland - #29, Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8, Wesley Holmes - #11, Josh Noles - #16, Anthony Meadows - #31, Matt Woodson - #88, and Jeff Mills - #15. Going into turn 1 Eiland - #29 tried to pass Eiland - #K9 for 2nd and then in turn 3 Eiland - #K8 tried to pass Eiland - #29 for 3rd. Shane Thompson - #00 held first for the win, his first of the season, followed by Dana Eiland - #K9, Joey Eiland - #29, Bobby Joe Eiland - #K8, Wesley Holmes - #11, Josh Noles - #16, Anthony Meadows - #31, Matt Woodson - #88, Jeff Mills - #15, Gordy Scarbrough - #27, Mike Parkerson - #22, Leon Watson Jr - #60, Jeff Culpepper - #10, and Mickey Benton - #2. The fourth race of the evening was the UMP Open Wheel Modified cars with 12 laps of racing and 8 cars in the starting line. William Thomas - #22 sat on the pole along with Marvin Cook - #1 on the outside pole followed by Ricky White - #0, Rodgerick Dykes - #6, Donnie Harig - #62, Timbo Gouker - #V94, Kevin Simmons - #31, and Herbie Donath - #25. Starting out of turn 4 Thomas - #22 shot out of turn 4 like being shot from a sling shot. Going into turn 3, Harig - #62 and Gouker - #V94 fought for 4th. Then Cook - #1 tapped into Donath - #25, causing Donath to loose control and spin off the track, Cook was sent to the rear on the restart of the lap. On the restart Donath - #25 passed Harig - #62 for 5th place as Harig seemed to be a little loose coming out of turn 4. In lap 4, Harig - #62 spun out and came to a stop on the front straightaway, he was sent to the rear on the restart. Then on the restart Simmons - #31 spun out and a caution was called, he too was sent to the rear for the second restart of lap 4. In lap 6, Cook - #1 went high in turn 4 and Harig - #62 tried to take advantage of it but Cook held him off. Then going into turn 1, cook - #1 and Simmons - #31 tied up and spun out causing a caution. The restart of lap 6 had William Thomas - #22 in first followed by Rodgerick Dykes - #6, Ricky White - #0, Timbo Gouker - #V94, Herbie Donath - #25, Donnie Harig - #62, Kevin Simmons - #31, and Marvin Cook - #1. On the restart going into turn 4, White - #0, Gouker - #V94, Harig - #62, and Donath - #25 bunched up but spread back out as they came out of turn 4 onto the front straightaway. In lap 9, Donath - #25 passed Harig - #62 in turn 3 to take back 5th place. In lap 10, Donath - #25 spun out and off the track in turn 2 sending him to the rear for the restart. The race finished with William Thomas - #22 taking the win, his seventh of the season and third consecutively, followed by Rodgerick Dykes - #6, Ricky White - #6, Timbo Gouker - #V94, Donnie Harig - #62, Kevin Simmons - #31, Herbie Donath - #25, and Marvin Cook - #1. The fifth race of the night was the Bomber class with 15 laps of racing and 12 cars in the starting line. Jerry Luke - #89 sat on the pole along with Montana Dudley - #55 on the outside pole followed by Bobby Duell - #72, Billy Duell Jr - #7, Christy Noles - #16, Richard Stephens Sr - #00SR, Richard Stephens Jr. - #00JR, John Michael - #294, Jeff Stone - #02, Chad Brighten - #57, Bobbie Burt - #25, and John Jacobs - #53. The race start and Luke - #89 shot out in front. Duell - #7 passed Dudley - #55 for 2nd in turn 3 and Stephens - #00JR passed Stephens Sr - #00SR for 5th place. Then Stephens - #00JR passed Duell - #72 for 4th place and then Stephens Sr - #00SR passed Duell - #72 for 5th place. In lap 4, Luke - #89 had problems in turns 1 and 2 causing a caution and was sent to the rear for the restart. The restart had Billy Duell Jr - #7 in the lead followed by Richard Stephens - #00JR, Richard Stephens Sr - #00SR, Bobby Duell - #72, Christy Noles - #16, John Michael - #294, John Jacobs - #53, Jerry Luke - #89, Chad Brighten - #57, and Montana Dudley - #55. In lap 5, Stephens Sr - #00SR and Duell - #72 went into turn 1 side by side. Then Jacobs - #53 tied up with another car and spun out and off the track in turn 2. By the end of the restart of lap 5, Luke - #89 had moved up to 5th place with 1st in his sights. In turn 3, Duell - #72 passed Jacobs - #53. Then making another move, Duell - #72 passed Michael - #294 in turn 1. In lap 7, Stephens Sr - #00SR passed Stephens Jr - #00JR for first. Then in lap 8, Duell - #72 tried to pass Stephens Jr - #00JR for 2nd but Stephens Jr held him off. But that move left Duell - #72 open and Noles - #16 was there to make her move. She passed him in turn 2 to take 3rd. It looked as if Duell - #72 retaliated by tagging Noles - #16 and causing her to spin out in turn 3, he was sent to the rear for the restart. In lap 11, Noles - #16 tapped the front wall and then bounced all the way down the front but took back control and kept racing. Then Noles - #16 lost control and spun in turn for of lap 13 and was sent to the rear for the restart. In the restart of lap 13, Duell - #72 passed Luke - #89 in turns 3and 4 and Luke - #89 tagged Duell while Michael - #294 tried to avoid this mess and spun out himself. All of this caused Luke’s - #89 fan to go into the radiator sending him to the pits for the night. The race restarted and Richard Stephens Sr - #00SR held on for the win, his 9th of the season, followed by Billy Duell Jr - #7, Bobby Duell - #72, Christy Noles - #16, John Jacobs - #53, John Michael - #294, Jerry Luke - #89, Richard Stephens Jr. - #00JR, Chad Brighten - #57, Montana Dudley - #55, and Robbie Burt - #25. The last race of the night was the Pony Stock; they buzzed onto the track for 12 laps of racing and with 7 cars in the starting line. Terry Braswell - #2 sat on the pole along with Ray fowler - #33 on the outside pole followed by Josh Kelly#13, Jesse Lamphier - #88, Allen McConnell - #24, Miles Holton - #M2, and Terry McCraine. Braswell - #2 pulled out in front coming out of turn 4 and by lap 6 had a demanding lead from the rest of the line. Holton - #M2 was lagging behind, further and further, and in danger of being lapped when he called it a night and headed into the pits. In lap 8, Fowler - #33 spun out in turns 3 and 4 and was sent to the rear on the restart. Lamphier - #88 tried to take 1st from Braswell - #2 going down the front straightaway in lap 9, but Braswell held him off to keep his lead. McConnell - #24 spun down the front straightaway coming out of turn 4 on lap 9. Terry Braswell - #2 held on to take the win, his eleventh with of the season, followed by Jesse Lamphier - #88, Josh Kelly - #13, Ray Fowler - #33, Allen McConnell - #24, Miles Holton - #M2, and Terry McCraine - #28. The night was truly exciting no matter what class you were cheering on. There are many more weeks of racing left. So check out the website, www.eamsdirt.com to see the up coming events. August 6, 2005 - RAIN OUT ALABAMA 500 at EAST ALABAMA By Jay Vaquer Phenix City, ALA - September 25, 2005 - The 27th Annual Alabama State Championships were held over this past 4 day weekend at East Alabama Motor Speedway. Hundreds of race teams in eight divisions participated in the gala event to the delight of thousands of race fans attending the spectacle. In the Super Late Model division there was a 100 lap dog and cat fight as the star- studded field took the track for their feature. Clint "Cat Daddy" Smith in the # 44 did not show up until Sunday and took the last transfer spot in the consolation race to start the feature dead last. Lavon Sparks won the pole with Robert Gant on the outside pole. When the green dropped Gant took the lead with Sparks in second and Mike "the Head Man" Head in third. This trio of super speedsters wasted no time in gaining ground from the pack. Halfway through the pack, local hero Dana Eiland started in fourteenth and right off the bat began charging to the front with his # K9 as he passed #23 Westmoreland for thirteenth. On lap nine Bryan Sumner hit the outside wall of turn four to bring out the caution. Race director Chad Wallace implemented an innovation this year by having double file restarts, which really made the competition more exciting. On this restart Gant took the lead but Mike Head powered into second place and was all over Gant looking for the lead. On lap 10 Cat Daddy Smith turned a lap of 17.10 while the leader Gant turned a 17.34. Dusty Chitwood broke on lap 11 and nearly caused a pile up as he came to a stop in the groove bringing out the next yellow flag. On this restart Randy Hemphill spun out and nearly collected Eiland's K-9. Things got real interesting as Jody Knowles, Dana Eiland and Clint Smith were running three wide all the way around the high- banked clay oval. The K-9 and Cat Daddy were engaged in a real dogfight as they both wanted to move to the front. Gant, the leader decided to pull out the stops and hammer down to get away from Head and pulled out to a 10 car-length lead. Eiland was looking for a way around Brandon Rose and they ran side by side around the track, as there were two distinct blacked-over grooves on the inside and middle of the track. When Bryan Sumner broke and coasted to the pits, the Cat Daddy saw his opportunity to jump the K-9 and move ahead, which he did and then began working on Rose. On lap 24 the leader Gant was in lap traffic which allowed Mike Head to close the gap. When Gant got blocked in, Head and Sparks moved ahead into first and second place. Lap 26 saw Sam Simmons break and come to a stop in the groove to bring the yellow out again. Every double file restart shuffled the leaders and now we had Head in first followed by Sparks, Gant, Ronnie "the Chattanooga Flash" Johnson, Jake Knowles, Terrance Nowell, Ricky Williams, Shane Fulcher, James Cline, Clint Smith, Dana Eiland, and Brandon Rose rounding out the top twelve. On this restart Gant went high off his line in turn two which allowed Ronnie Johnson to pass into third position. Jake Knowles and Gant were now involved in a serious battle as Smith was working on Williams for sixth place. Glenn Brewer was running wide- open keeping up with the pace when his power plant gave out. He coasted to a stop on the front wall bringing out the yellow. When he got a push to the pits he left a thick trail of oil in the clay and took a DNF for the evening. As the green was about to come back out, Sparks dove into the pits with a flat tire relinquishing second place to the Chattanooga Flash. Head hammered down and taking a commanding lead as the Cat Daddy was working over Ricky Williams. Shane Fulcher pushed in turn two and Eiland swiftly moved the K-9 into seventh place. Cat Daddy moved inside Johnson in turns three and four and made a clean powerful pass in turns one and two to take over third. He immediately move alongside Gant and was knocking on the second place door. Craig Scott twisted his driveshaft in half in turn four to bring out the yellow. On the double file restart Clint Smith rocketed past Gant to move into second place. As Smith and Head sparred over the lead the fans really got their money's worth as everyone witnessed the epitome of exciting dirt track racing. Finally, on lap 48, the Cat Daddy made his way from last to first as he passed Mike Head for the lead. However, before the lap was counted, Fulcher, Hemphill and Nowell crashed into each other coming to a stop in turn four to bring out the caution. The field was reset to the previous lap, which put the Head Man back in the lead for the ensuing green flag. The Head Man drives hard and fast to maintain the lead with Cat Daddy and the Chattanooga Flash in tow. These front three pull away from Jake Knowles in third and seem to have their own private race for the lead. When Smith tries to pass Head on the inside, Head would move to the inside groove forcing Smith to try the outside groove. It was a high- speed chess match with moves and counter moves happening in split seconds. Dana Eiland's K-9 suffered a flat right rear as Rose and Knowles pass by. Eiland went to the pits and Scotty Knowles brought out the yellow and went to the pits suffering the same malady. They both made speedy tire changes and rejoined the hunt before the green came back out. Head got a good start and pulled out 10 car lengths from Smith, who had ten car lengths on Ronnie Johnson in third, who had ten car lengths on Gant and the rest of the pack. On lap 68 Smith finally ran down Mike Head and was challenging again for the lead. Smith tried to pass on the upper groove but there was nothing doing and Smith dropped back behind Head looking for a weakness. Then it was Jake Knowles' turn to lose a right rear tire as it went flat causing him to spin in turn one bringing out the caution. Laddie Fulcher also had a flat right rear and went to the pits to get a new Hoosier. Back to green flag racing and Mike Head leads the way as Dana Eiland is in sixth and looking for a way past Ricky Williams. At lap 80 Cat Daddy finally got the lead and made a remarkable run from last to first. Eiland made a move on Williams in turn two but drifted high and allowed Jake Knowles to sneak by and take his position. On lap 82 Nowell made a clean pass on Rose going into turn one and the K-9 went by Knowles to reclaim the fifth position. Suddenly, the Chattanooga Flash, Ronnie Johnson, lost his speed, as it was his turn to get a flat right rear tire. He stayed on the track since we were already at lap 96 and circulated slowly on the inside. Then the right rear epidemic struck Mike Head and caused him to do a 360 in turn three for a caution. Unbelievably, Ricky Williams caught the right flat fever and succumbed to the pits during this caution. When the green came back there was one lap to the white and the Cat Daddy, Clint Smith sprinted to the checkers to claim the prestigious accolade of 2005 Alabama State Champion. Robert Gant came in second, Dana Eiland came from 14th to finish third, Jake Knowles finished fourth, K. Westmoreland fifth, Terrance Nowell sixth, Mike Head seventh, Ricky Williams eighth, Ronnie Johnson ninth, and Brandon Rose rounded out the top ten in tenth. ECKERT WINS EAST ALABAMA NATIONAL 100 By Jay Vaquer Phenix City, ALA – November 6, 2005 - In spite of the horrendous weather patterns this year, East Alabama Motor Speedway held its 31st Annual National 100 in absolutely beautiful weather. The three- day event gave the thousands of race fans, and hundreds of racing teams, mild sunny afternoons and a hard blacked over clay racing surface. The early fall evenings presented a fast, tacky, and perfectly prepared moist clay surface. The challenges were many as the participants were constantly searching solutions for speed in the varying conditions of the 3/8ths mile high -banked oval. Incumbent Super Late Model Champion Rick Eckert, of York, Pennsylvania made all the correct calculations for the second year in a row and punctuated his presence into the history books of great American dirt track racing heroes, with a solid dominating victory. After winning the inside pole position for the culminating feature event, Eckert took the green blasting his Rocket chassis into orbit to lead the 100- lap battle to the 30 thousand dollars to win checkers. Dale McDowell, who was extremely fast all weekend, starting from the outside pole position, watched Jack Pennington slide under him to move into second place. Pennington, hooked up and running like he did five years ago, immediately challenged Eckert for the lead. Pennington would go door to door with Eckert through the corners but Eckert had a stronger bite coming out and would retain the lead down the straight-aways. As the beginning laps unfolded, Don O’Neal, of Martinsville, Indiana starting in the thirteenth position was turning faster times than the leaders and worked his way up passing Dennis Erb, Jr. of Carpentersville, Illinois on lap five. Six proved to be O’Neal’s unlucky number as he passed the number six car of two-time National 100 Champion Randle Chupp, of Troutman, North Carolina to take over the sixth position on lap six. Suddenly O’Neal spun out, unassisted, in turn two to bring out the caution flag and was sent to the rear of the field for the restart. During this caution, judging by the number of fans wearing his racing apparel, thousands of fans held their breath in disbelief as the legendary 8-time National 100 Champion, Scott Bloomquist, pulled into the pits. After inspecting the engine, one of Bloomquist’s crew gave him the cutthroat kill sign and to the dismay of everyone, Bloomquist exited his historical # 0 to take an early and unfortunate DNF. Bloomquist apologized after the race for the mechanical failure but did not blame his Chevrolet power plant, citing the over $140,000 in wins that engine had provided in the past few races as justification to not label it a "Weak Link". Brandon Rose of Columbus, Georgia also ducked into the pits on this caution but returned to the track for the double file restart. They resumed green flag racing and suddenly another crowd favorite and legendary local Champion Dana Eiland, who had worked his way from the back up to sixteenth, had his # K9 lay down on him and he rolled into the pits with a mechanical failure. Clint Smith, of Senoia, Georgia, started sixth and was running sixth when Erb moved around him to take his spot. Eckert was running away from the field except Pennington was relentless in his close attacks for the lead and Eckert had his hands full. Randle Chupp, running his signature groove above the cushion boldly going where others fear to tread, held the third position and formed a trio with the leaders as they gained ground on the pack. Battling hard over eighth spot were speedsters Shane Clanton and Tom Maddox. On lap 14 the leaders began lapping the tail end of the field. Eckert and Pennington put Brandon Rose a lap down on lap 17 and at lap 18 Randle Chupp sailed around Rose. John Blankenship had some handling problems and on lap 20 hit the outside wall coming out of turn 4 to bring out a caution. The first seven on the restart were, Eckert, Pennington, Chupp, McDowell, Jake Knowles, Erb and Clint Smith. Blankenship went to the pits with a flat right rear and rejoined the field in time for the green flag. Mike "The Head Man" Head took this green from thirteenth as he was on a run starting from dead last in 25th. Lights out, green flag, Eckert blasts into the lead while Pennington and Chupp drag race into turn one side by side. As they fire in the corner of turn two they collide and lose speed allowing Jake Knowles to go under them and take over the second place. Chupp gets control fast and jumps back into third while Pennington was shuffled back to fourth. Pennington and Knowles collide briefly allowing Chupp to move into second. Pennington is still a major threat to the leaders and on lap 30 passed Knowles in turn 4 to go into third. Brandon Kinzer lost the pace and began circulating in the preferred line, which brought out the yellow flag. Lavon Sparks of Phenix City, Alabama rolled into the pits along with Don O'Neil during the caution. When they lined back up Eckert was in the lead, in the first row behind him were Pennington inside, Chupp outside. The second row was Knowles inside and Maddox outside, and in the fourth row Cat Daddy Clint Smith was on the inside and Erb was on the outside. When they fired at the green flag it looked like the leaders did not back off the throttle when they hit turn one. Eckert flew through the turns flawlessly as did Pennington and Chupp, but Maddox went over the top of turn two bringing out a caution and was sent from fourth place to last on the lead lap for the restart. At lap 33 Eckert was leading with Pennington in second and Chupp in third. Going into lap 34 Lavon Sparks, Dale McDowell, and Tom Maddox chain- react in turn two for a melee of destruction. Sparks and McDowell go to the pits dropping from contention as the green comes back out. Pennington is back sparring with Eckert for the lead. Eckert was in the middle groove and Pennington was charging from the inside groove and they still managed to pull away from Chupp running the cushion at the very top. The only other place on the track where no one was running was the apron. Cat Daddy Smith found a unique line mixing the apron and the inside groove to make a clean pass around Knowles at lap 54 and zoom through the lap traffic and leaders. When it looked like Smith had taken the lead, the yellow flag reared its ugly head to reset the field to the previous lap for the next restart. The order was Eckert, Pennington, Chupp, Smith, Knowles, Erb, and Ricky Williams rounding out the first seven. Chupp went right to his groove and passed Pennington in turn two to take over second place. While he went after Eckert, who was still running his preferred line just above the middle groove, Cat Daddy Smith went to the inside line and got door to door with Pennington, who was in the middle groove. When Pennington moved down to close off Smith’s line, he found some extra speed, which allowed him to run even with Chupp through the turns. On lap 69 Eckert put Blankenship a lap down. At lap 71 Chupp, Pennington, and Smith put the lap on Blankenship. At lap 74 Pennington was trying to make the apron line work him past Chupp running in second. Smith stayed just behind the two waiting for the smallest error from either one. As they came up on more lap traffic Pennington checked up ahead of Chupp and was in second again. Eckert was 10 carlengths ahead of the field as he put Terrance Nowell a lap down. The traffic got heavy again at lap 93 and Eckert, Pennington, Chupp, and Smith picked their way around the less competitive teams. Chupp suddenly moved back into second and Smith went around Pennington to take over third. In a crowd- thrilling move, on the white flag lap, Smith pulled up beside Chupp and was able to out power him to the checkers. Rick Eckert claimed the victory and title of 2005 National 100 Super Late Model champion. Clint Smith finished second, Randle Chupp third, Jack Pennington fourth, Jake Knowles fifth, Dennis Erb, Jr. sixth, Shane Clanton seventh, Don O’Neal eighth, Ricky Williams ninth, and Terrance Nowell rounded out the top ten in tenth.