Russell Erwin of Beaver Dam, VA won Saturday nights I-95 Late Model Challenge Series 30 lap main event sweeping both main events for the weekend to pocket $5,000 in race winnings.
Saturday night had the fans cheering with all the great racing action on the 3/10 Ring Of Fire in Brinkleyville, NC to close out the 2017 racing season at the Halifax County dirt oval. With 4 divisions of racing on the program, the evening was packed with action and excitement.
Littleton, NC's Buddy Isles Jr set his 11jr Late Model in the pole position, 14.643 seconds, to lead a field of 21 Late Models to green. To the outside of Isles sat the previous nights winner Russell Erwin to take the green in the 30 lap main event. Isles powered into the lead pulling a two car length lead over Erwin on the first lap when a caution slowed the field. Back under green it was Isles out front maintaining a 2 car length lead over Erwin until lap 5 when closed in on the inside of Isles through the turns, this continued for another 3 laps until Erwin pulled into the lead coming into turn 3 and never looked back. Behind the leaders, the entire field was racing hard and fast, often two wide for position throughout the entire 30 lap race. Up front, Isles would loose two more positions as Daulton Wilson and Willie Milliken worked underneath him through the turns. Isles and Christian Joyner settled in for a highly contested race for fourth. Up front, Erwin and Wilson raced side by side through the turns on several laps, Milliken set his ride on the rear of Wilsons car looking for a opening down low that never materialized. Wilson edged ahead of Erwin slightly down low on a couple of occasions only to be denied by Erwin who held him off on the outside racing through the turns. A yellow slowed the field in the closing laps to set up a 3 lap dash to the checkers. With Erwin out front for the restart, he fired into the lead and built a six car length lead over Wilson going unchallenged to the checkered flag, scoring back to back wins in two nights to add a additional $2,500 to his weekend winnings!
I-95 Late Model Challenge Series-30 lap main event finishing order/car number:
1) Russell Erwin 22
2) Daulton Wilson 32
3) Willie Milliken 1
4) Christian Joyner C9
5) Buddy Isles Jr 11jr
6) Hunter Bailey 19
7) Robbie Emory 9E
8) Dean Bowen 15
9) Brent Robinson 44
10) Dustin Mitchell D8
11) Mason Price 8
12) Danny Hudson 1
13) Billy Tucker B1
14) Brad Rigdon 09
15) Carder Miller 69
16) William Carroll C8
17) Justin Williams 18
18) Brandon Hux 76
19) Cy Nelms Jr 5
20) Joey Cascell 10
21) DJ Tyndall DJ4
22) JC Clary 89 DNS
In Pure Stock V8 qualifying, previous nights winner Michael Morris set fast time over 12 other competitors with a 17.594 second fast lap with Joey Seward to his outsidee starting the 15 lap feature race. Morris and Seward raced side by side for the first lap with Morris taking the lead. Behind the front two was a all out battle through the field with two and three wide challenges for several positions until a caution stopped the action with the leader Morris coasting to a stop and retiring with mechanical issues. Back under green with 7 laps to go it would be a great race for the lead between Seward and Greg Munn with Josh Letson, Paul Elder and Justin Barlow all racing door to door just behind Munns rear bumper. Munn challenged Seward down low through the turns on several laps with Seward holding him off for the win by a car length at the checkered flag. Seward was rewarded in victory lane with $500 as the fans cheered for him and all the drivers to show their appreciation for all the clean, hard and exciting racing action!
Pure Stock V8-15 lap race finishing order/car number:
1) Joey Seward 27
2) Greg Munn 2
3) Josh Letson 17L
4) Paul Elder 41E
5) Justin Barlow 18
6) John McClellan 23
7) Ryan Hutchens 14
8) Randy Hutchens 4
9) Dylan Cooke 2
10) Michael Morris 12
11) Travis Wells 56
12) Joey Lambert 33
13) Brandon Fitzpatrick 16
Blake House set a fast time of 18.58 seconds in Pure Stock 4 Cylinder qualifying to lead the field to start the 15 lap feature with Jason Adams to his outside. House set sail and lead the distance leaving the field to battle it out behind him. Fourth starter Van Bryant worked his way into second only to spin out with ten laps to go, he tagged the rear of the field and raced his way through the field to challenge for second at the finish. Hard and highly competitive racing throughout the entire race, but it would be all Blake House earning $350 for the win!
Pure Stock 4 Cylinder-15 lap feature finishing order/car number:
1) Blake House 8
2) Jason Adams 34
3) Van Bryant B2
4) Brian Medlin 19
5) Ron Hill 71
6) Eric Hill 61
7) Chris Wood 3
8) Pee Wee Hill
9) Travis Harp 22
10) Bobby Crawford K11
Shane Loving qualified 19.31for the pole in the 15 lap U-Car season ending event and lead every lap to take home $300 for the win!
U-Car-15 lap finishing order/car number:
1) Shane Loving 13
2) David Schwarm 88
3) Tommy Weese 11W
4) Ryan Pearson 42
5) Rafael Brown 03
6) Michaella Wallace 00
7) Macie Price 8
8) Michael Wallace 0
9) Geoff Carey X
10) Mitch Pearson 00M
11) Corey Cooke 22 DNS
12) Billy Wallace 0