Harrod Holds Them Off Again
By: Justin Rickett

Phenix City, AL 6-27-2009 - For the second week in a row Larry Harrod rolled into victory lane Saturday night at East Alabama Motor Speedway but not without some tough competition from Dana Eiland. Harrod started the night off right by setting fast time in Extreme Power Sports pole qualifying with a lap of 15.42 seconds. Dana Eiland looking stronger than ever posted the second fastest time with a lap of 15.55 seconds with Scott Knowles timing in third. Thirteen cars lined up for the Alabama Rock Late Model feature and when the green waved Harrod wasted no time taking the lead. Eiland followed in second with Knowles third and Pat Wall riding in forth. With just six laps in Kevin Bennett made contact with the outside wall to bring out the caution. Bennett would retire to the pits and racing would resume. Harrod again keeping his lead running the high line with Dana Eiland close on his bumper running the extreme low line in the turns and gaining ground. With the front two pulling away Knowles was left to fend off the advances of Randy Hester who started sixth and had quickly worked his way into the forth position and looking for more. Unfortantlly the caution would wave for the spinning car of Russ Ogletree and keep Hester from passing Knowles. Then Hester pulled into the pits with what seemed to be over heating issues. Once aging the green was waving and Harrod and Eiland started to pull away. With Hester at the back of the pack Knowles had a new challenger for the third position, Chase Edge. Edge started the feature seventh and slowly worked his way to the front like a seasoned veteran and was now challenging Knowles for the third position. Then on lap 18 Edge completed the pass on the high side of turn two and set his sights on the two front running cars of Harrod and Eiland. Every lap since lap 15 Eiland would dive to the inside of Harrod in three and four but just couldn't pull off the pass. Lap after lap Eiland kept trying and coming to take the white it looked as if he just might do it. It was the last lap, Eilands last chance. In one and two he dove low but couldn't make it stick. Down low in three and four the same and coming to the checkers it was Harrod holding off Eiland for an impressive win. Dana Eiland finished second with Chase Edge coming home in third. Scott Knowles held on to forth with Marvin Cook rounding out the top five.

In the Limited Sportsman division it was Joey Eiland picking up another win but not in dominating fashion as last week. Thomas Lewis and Chris Arnett made up your front row for the feature with Eiland and Steven Gaines Jr. in row number two. The green was out and the action started early. Eiland wasted no time getting around Lewis to take the lead on lap one. Lewis would ride in second until lap three when Gaines made his way past to take the second spot. Gaines now in second set his sights on the lead with Lewis in tow. As the laps started to wind down Gaines and Lewis started to make ground on Eiland and on the last lap they were there. With the white flag in the air it was now a three-car battle for the lead. Coming out of turn four they were three wide Eiland up high Gaines in the middle and Lewis down low. Eiland was able to get the run off the corner he needed and crossed the line first. Steven Gaines Jr. was second with Thomas Lewis third, Chris Arnett forth, and Dustin Elliott rounding out the top five.

The Hobby division at East Alabama Motor Speedway had Jason Craft leading every lap in route to another win this season. Jason Anthony started on the pole with Craft to his outside. When the green waved Anthony got loose and spun in turn one and two collecting points leader John Michael and Allen McConnell. Michael and McConnell would continue Anthony however would not. Craft now inherited the lead with Don Otto in second. Craft would go on to lead every lap without much challenge from Otto. Don Otto would finish second with Randy Allen third, Robert Jackson forth, and Allen McConnell battling back to finish in fifth.

Saturday night was another rerun of the Thomas and Thomas show with your lead actor once again being Joey Thomas for the second week in a row picking up the win. Joey and Jimmy started the feature on the front row with Billy Duell JR. and Shelby Amos in the second row. When the green waved Joey jumped out front with Jimmy in second Duell followed in third with Cody Scrimpshire moving pass Amos to take forth. This would be the running order for the remainder of the race. Joey Thomas was your winner with Jimmy Thomas second, Billy Duell Jr. third, Cody Scrimpshire forth and Shelby Amos fifth.

In the Pony Stock division Bill Taylor lead all ten laps in route to another win. The race was slowed once when Larry Hodnett who was running second spun in turn four and made hard contact with the inside wall. When racing resumed Jana Renfroe moved into second with Patty Ann Hoell running in third. Bill Taylor would hold off Renfroe and take the win. After a post race inspection of race winner Bill Taylor he was found to have parts not allowed and was disqualified. Jana Renfroe inherited the win Patty Ann Heoll second, Larry Hodnett third and Tim Goins coming home fourth.

In the Modified division it was Nick Briddle taking home the win over Gordy Scarbrough in the eight-lap feature.

Be sure to come out this Tuesday night for Tuesday Night Thunder with five dollar admissions and one dollar hot dogs. Also if you can't make it Tuesday be sure to make it out Friday night for the Independence Day Celebration with Fireworks, Demo Derby, Mini Sprints and Stock Car Racing. Pit Gates open at 4:00pm with the grandstands opening at 6:00pm and racing starting at 8:00pm EST.