Donna Solesbee/Clarendon Citizen
Sumter Speedway action outweighs low car count
SUMTER – What was lacking in car count at Sumter Speedway was far outweighed by the action the drivers provided the fans Saturday night.
In Bomber Four action, pole sitter Adam Hill led the field to the green and led the opening lap. On lap two, Andy Driggers got past Hill only to lose the lead to Chris Scott on lap three. Scott could not open up much of a lead even as the rest of the field fought back and forth for track position and a chance to make a run on Scott.
Lapped traffic came into play after a multi-car incident set the race up for a green-white-checkered finish. Scott was able to hold off a challenge from Adam Hill to take the win. Hill had to settle for second, with Andy Driggers third. Fourth was Cody McAllister and Landon Jefferies took fifth. Paul Driggers, Bobby Bennett, Marty Horne, Ashley Driggers and Tanner Rodanas rounded out the finishing order.
Bomber Six got off to a rough start as Adam Hill, Grant Hill and Billy Ray Watford got tangled up together in turn one on the opening lap.
The damage to the Grant Hill and Adam Hill cars was too severe for either driver to line up for the restart.
On the restart, Angie Logan made a power move in turn one to take the lead from Justin Hurst. Logan’s stint at the front didn’t last long as she slid high and went over the banking in turn three handing the lead back to Hurst for the restart.
Hurst held the lead until lap eight until Daniel Morris wrested the lead from Hurst on lap eight bringing Manning’s Kirk Way with him past Hurst as well.
Morris went on to take the win. Hurst was able to retake second from Way on the last lap dropping Way to third, Angie Logan recovered to post a fourth place finish, and Watford took fifth.
Manning High School student Keri Way got off to a great start in Stock Four as she was able to fight off Jody Truett at the start of the race only to see her night go south after cutting a tire on lap two.
Truett led the field to the restart on lap three and led the rest of the event William Hill was second, Rickie Dennis brought his Nissan home third, and Kiri Way was credited with a fourth place finish after her Honda powered machine detonated an engine on lap 8 of the event.
Young Guns was a two-car race with Daniel Welch taking the win over Mikey Driggers.
Tony Ayers scored his first pole and trip to the Rourke Plumbing Winners Circle in the GM Crate Late Model Class. David Rourke was second.
Manning driver Gibb Gibbons did not compete to be with family after his grandfather Ed “Slick” Gibbons was airlifted to Palmetto Health Richland after suffering a brutal attack at his home Saturday morning.
With the rest of the field eliminated by crashes, Timmy Kimsey’s Chevrolet bested Tim Cooper’s Ford for the win in Street Stock.
Cooper’s performance in his former taxicab turned racecar earned a Danny’s Trophy Shop Hard Charger Award for his efforts. Garry Taff was scored third, Dylan Driggers fourth and Pat Davis fifth.
Ridge Runner was a hotly contested affair with Marke Horne taking the lead from polesitter Craig Hall on lap five.
After a spin on the opening lap, Cody Truett made a quick sprint back towards the front contesting Horne for the win the entire way.
Truett’s last lap attempt looked as if it would be successful, only to come up a car length short at the line. Hall held on to take third, Johnny O’Neal was fourth with Joey Ayers fifth.
Truett’s tenacious performance earned him a Danny’s Trophy Shop Hard Charger Award.
Action resumes Saturday night with kids’ bicycle races at intermission. Gates open at 5 p.m. with racing beginning at 7.
