Donna Solesbee/Clarendon Citizen
Clarondon locals heat up Sumter Speedway action
Terry Caples made the most of his 2010 debut at Sumter Speedway by taking the pole and the win in the GM Crate Late Model division.
With Caples on the pole, and Manning drivers Gibb Gibbons starting second and Banjo Duke third, things got crowded as the field hit the first turn. Caples was able to hold his line, enabling Duke to get under Gibbon’s as their cars exited turn two. With the event caution-free and the flawless handing of his car, Caples won the event by just a little under a half a lap over Duke. Gibb Gibbons was third, Tony Ayers fourth and David Rourk fourth.
Gibbons also took home a Danny’s Trophy Shop “Hard Charger Award” for his efforts.
Jody Truett muscled his Nissan around pole sitter Kiri Way’s Honda on lap one and led the rest of the way to take the win in Stock Four. Way took second, William Hill, the lone Ford in the field, third, Rickie Dennis fourth and Sissy Duke fifth.
In Ridge Runner action, Cody Truett made a pass on pole sitter Craig Hall as Hall slid high on the opening lap of the race. On lap two, Hall was able to retake the lead from Truett and lead the rest of the way. Mark Horne made his way through the field to bring his Chevy second, Truett was third and Curt Lee was fourth.
Horne’s performance earned him a Danny’s Trophy Shop “Hard Charger Award.”
Johnny O’Neal made his first visit of the year to the Rourk Plumbing Winners Circle by taking the Street Stock feature. After being placed to the back of the field after jumping twice on the start, O’Neal quickly took his Camaro back to the front taking the lead from Pat Davis. Davis held on to second with newcomers Jason Potts taking third and Garry Taff fourth.
Attrition played a big role in the outcome of the Young Guns race.
Leader D. J. Welch crashed on the back stretch setting up a green-white-checkered finish. The finish was anti climatic as D. J. Carraway took the win by a one lap margin over Terry Caples Jr. Welch was scored third and a broken tie rod relegated Mikey Driggers to fourth. Heather Welch made hard contact with the turn one wall during the Young Guns heat race. Welch complained of pain in her rib cage and was transported to Tuomey Regional Medical Center for further examination.
Buzzie Johnson made a big splash in his first Bomber Four start leading flag to flag to take the win. Chris Scott took second, Landon Jefferies was third, Adam Hill fourth and Andy Driggers fifth.
Kirk Way of Manning held off repeated challenges from Adam Hill to take the win in Bomber Six. Hill, who started last, had to settle for second place. Daniel Morris was third, L. E. Mooneyham fourth and Ricky Atkinson fifth.
The Speedway will be closed this coming weekend in observance of Mother’s Day with the next race scheduled for May 15.
Gates will open at 5 p.m. with racing action starting at 7.
