JAMES@CLR
05-19-2008, 01:30 PM
KOTKE TAKES FIRST LATE MODEL VICTORY
Damon Kotke takes a popular victory with the fans to headline Saturday evening’s racing program at County Line Raceway. This was the "Wild Child’s" first victory in the Late Model division and first at County Line Raceway. Other newcomers to victory lane were Junior Johnson in Pure Stock Four Cylinder, James Meredith in Pure Stock V-8, Andrew Parker in Cadet, and Andy Ross in Super Stock Four Cylinder. The only repeat winner for the 2008 season was Britches Liles in Thunder & Lightning.
The evening started off with the Super Stock Four Cylinder division hitting the 3/8th mile clay surface. Gary Theide and Victor May had a stunning battle going for the majority of the 20 lap feature, until an accident with three laps to go relegated them both to the pits. This handed the lead over to Wake Forest’s Andy Ross in his #72 Toyota. Ross was able to fend off the challenges of hard charging Wayne Potter, of Saratoga in his #1 Mustang. Wilson’s Jim Massengill was able to charge from his rear starting position in his #88 machine. Bailey’s Bill Winstead drove his #97 Mustang home to a fourth place finish. Rounding out the top five was Creedmore’s Clint Oakley in his #31 Mustang. Heat winners were Victor May and Gary Theide.
Next out on the track were the action packed Late Model’s. Louisburg’s Kotke jumped out to the early lead from his pole starting position after setting fast time through qualifying. Elm City’s Ronnie Boykin stayed glued to his bumper making several challenges for the lead. The #02 Pontiac GTO of Kotke used the high side of the track to lead for the entire 30 lap feature. Holly Spring’s Neal Sykes made a pass on the final lap to wrestle second spot away from the #36 Pontiac of Boykin. Sykes #11 Impala diced his way from a sixth starting position to battle for the lead. Boykin had to settle for third. Bailey’s Britches Liles brought his #07 Chevy home to a fourth place finish. Welcome’s Spencer Liggon battled his way to the fifth position in his #V1 Viper chassis.
The Pure Stock V-8 division saw 12 cars take to the track for 15 laps with James Merideth of Sharpsburg driving the #20 Chevy to victory. Merideth survived four cautions during the last eight laps to capture his first win of 2008. Ben James driving the #67 Chevy from Battleboro finished second. Gary Whitley, behind the wheel of the #21 Chevy garnered third. Ray Beaman, of Lucama and Edwin Pike of Fremont rounded out the top five finishers.
The Pure Stock Four Cylinder class toured the clay oval for 15 laps slowed by only four cautions. At the fall of the checkered flag it was Junior Johnson from Louisburg taking his # 44 Pinto across the line for the win. It was two Mustangs battling for the next two positions as Chis Ellington of Wake Forset claimed second and James Manning of Wilson third. Jimmy Holcombe of Elm City took his Mustang to a fourth place finish. Michael Ross of Wake Forest driving the #32 Toyota took fifth.
Thunder & Lightning drivers survived five cautions in 25 laps. However, Bailey’s Britches Liles lead every lap from start to finish. The most serious caution resulted on lap eleven sending several cars to the pits. At the wave of the green once again it was Buddy Isles Jr. of Littleton, in hot pursuit of Liles, but to no avail as Isles was forced to settle for second. Chris Ray from Zebulon took his # R5 Camaro and battled to a third place finish. It was then Wade Ferrell of Rocky Mount taking his Monte Carlo across the line ahead of Tim Coley from Wilson to finish fourth and fifth.
In the 11-15 year old division - Cadets, the night belonged to local driver Andrew Parker of Nashville. Paker starting last in the six car field moved to the lead with two laps remaining to claim his first win. Joshua Bryant of Wilson behind the wheel of his Nissan followed Parker across the line for second. It was then local favorite Austin Holcombe from Elm City taking his Mustang in for a third place finish. Brandon Edmondson of Rocky Mount was credited with a fourth place finish and Stillman Heath of Wilson fifth.
County Line Raceway takes this weekend off for Memorial Day. Racing will return on Saturday May 31 with racing in all classes, including Late Models.
Damon Kotke takes a popular victory with the fans to headline Saturday evening’s racing program at County Line Raceway. This was the "Wild Child’s" first victory in the Late Model division and first at County Line Raceway. Other newcomers to victory lane were Junior Johnson in Pure Stock Four Cylinder, James Meredith in Pure Stock V-8, Andrew Parker in Cadet, and Andy Ross in Super Stock Four Cylinder. The only repeat winner for the 2008 season was Britches Liles in Thunder & Lightning.
The evening started off with the Super Stock Four Cylinder division hitting the 3/8th mile clay surface. Gary Theide and Victor May had a stunning battle going for the majority of the 20 lap feature, until an accident with three laps to go relegated them both to the pits. This handed the lead over to Wake Forest’s Andy Ross in his #72 Toyota. Ross was able to fend off the challenges of hard charging Wayne Potter, of Saratoga in his #1 Mustang. Wilson’s Jim Massengill was able to charge from his rear starting position in his #88 machine. Bailey’s Bill Winstead drove his #97 Mustang home to a fourth place finish. Rounding out the top five was Creedmore’s Clint Oakley in his #31 Mustang. Heat winners were Victor May and Gary Theide.
Next out on the track were the action packed Late Model’s. Louisburg’s Kotke jumped out to the early lead from his pole starting position after setting fast time through qualifying. Elm City’s Ronnie Boykin stayed glued to his bumper making several challenges for the lead. The #02 Pontiac GTO of Kotke used the high side of the track to lead for the entire 30 lap feature. Holly Spring’s Neal Sykes made a pass on the final lap to wrestle second spot away from the #36 Pontiac of Boykin. Sykes #11 Impala diced his way from a sixth starting position to battle for the lead. Boykin had to settle for third. Bailey’s Britches Liles brought his #07 Chevy home to a fourth place finish. Welcome’s Spencer Liggon battled his way to the fifth position in his #V1 Viper chassis.
The Pure Stock V-8 division saw 12 cars take to the track for 15 laps with James Merideth of Sharpsburg driving the #20 Chevy to victory. Merideth survived four cautions during the last eight laps to capture his first win of 2008. Ben James driving the #67 Chevy from Battleboro finished second. Gary Whitley, behind the wheel of the #21 Chevy garnered third. Ray Beaman, of Lucama and Edwin Pike of Fremont rounded out the top five finishers.
The Pure Stock Four Cylinder class toured the clay oval for 15 laps slowed by only four cautions. At the fall of the checkered flag it was Junior Johnson from Louisburg taking his # 44 Pinto across the line for the win. It was two Mustangs battling for the next two positions as Chis Ellington of Wake Forset claimed second and James Manning of Wilson third. Jimmy Holcombe of Elm City took his Mustang to a fourth place finish. Michael Ross of Wake Forest driving the #32 Toyota took fifth.
Thunder & Lightning drivers survived five cautions in 25 laps. However, Bailey’s Britches Liles lead every lap from start to finish. The most serious caution resulted on lap eleven sending several cars to the pits. At the wave of the green once again it was Buddy Isles Jr. of Littleton, in hot pursuit of Liles, but to no avail as Isles was forced to settle for second. Chris Ray from Zebulon took his # R5 Camaro and battled to a third place finish. It was then Wade Ferrell of Rocky Mount taking his Monte Carlo across the line ahead of Tim Coley from Wilson to finish fourth and fifth.
In the 11-15 year old division - Cadets, the night belonged to local driver Andrew Parker of Nashville. Paker starting last in the six car field moved to the lead with two laps remaining to claim his first win. Joshua Bryant of Wilson behind the wheel of his Nissan followed Parker across the line for second. It was then local favorite Austin Holcombe from Elm City taking his Mustang in for a third place finish. Brandon Edmondson of Rocky Mount was credited with a fourth place finish and Stillman Heath of Wilson fifth.
County Line Raceway takes this weekend off for Memorial Day. Racing will return on Saturday May 31 with racing in all classes, including Late Models.