Post by Dirt Master on Mar 26, 2007 13:36:47 GMT -5
Allen Sparks Tribute at East Alabama
By Jay Vaquer
Phenix City, ALA - March 24, 2007 - The grandstands were filled at East Alabama Motor Speedway on an unseasonably warm spring night for the second race this season. Missing from the regular Saturday night line-up was the Late Model number 34 of Allen Sparks. Last year during a post season race at Cochran Speedway Allen suffered a fatal heart attack while on the track. Because he was in a race car his insurance company would not pay the beneficiaries. Condolences were fine but what Allen's family really needed was cash. During the intermission a special tribute was held with Allen's car on the track and all the drivers went through the grandstands taking up a collection which was given to Allen's wife. When the Late Model feature lined up to take the green flag, the number 34 led the field for a few laps then pulled off the back straight just before the green flag came out. Terrance Nowell was on the pole and track Champion Tod Darda was on the outside. They powered wide open into turn one and Nowell came out of turn two with the lead while Darda had his hands full of a charging Dana Eiland in third. Larry Harrod and JR Moseley were battling hard over fourth when Ricky Culpepper came up to get into the mix. On lap 5 Joey Miles spun in turn four to bring out the lap 5 caution. Suddenly Darda began smoking and rolled into the pits with a mechanical failure. He said one of his fan belts broke and the smoke was steam so he called it quits and took an early DNF. When the green came back Nowell blasted back out to the lead but this time he had an unrelenting K9 on his heels. Eiland took the inside groove and got a fender on Nowell in the turns but Nowell had more momentum in the upper preferred line and was able to escape on the straights. JR Moseley was looking like he finally found his lost Championship form, maybe its his new Barry Wright chassis, but he was fast and challenging Harrod for third. Chad Marchman was also looking sporty as he was trying to take seventh away from Ricky Culpepper, who had just won the Modified feature. Culpepper was strong and had all the blocks and parries to keep Marchman at bay. Parrish Duncan suddenly lost power and coasted to the pits on lap 11 for a DNF. Lap 13 proved lucky for Marchman as he made a pass on Culpepper but proved unlucky for our leader as Nowell came to a stop on the back straight to bring out the caution. When he fired up and drove into the pits to the watering hole it was obvious he was running hot and brought out the caution to buy time to cool off but the field went green before he could get back on the track. The fat lady was warming her vocal cords as the Master of Faster, Dana Eiland took the lead. The K9 picked up the scent of the checkers and took a full straightaway lead from second place Harrod who was struggling with a persistent JR Moseley. On lap 17 Culpepper ran over some debris which not only flew into his cockpit but also cut down his tire bringing out a caution. When the green came back out Dana Eiland put the whip to his K9 and again stretched out to a comfortable lead. Surprisingly Harrod went off the backside, let Moseley take second place, then came back on the track and went to the pits for a DNF. Dana Eiland shot by the white flag and demonstrated to the large crowd why he is the legend, taking the checkers for the second week in a row. Eiland also showed that not only is he a great champion but he is also a great humanitarian as he donated his entire first place prize money to Allen Spark's family. Following this kind gesture, another great champion, Rodgerick Dykes, after winning the Super Street division feature, also donated his first place prize money to the Sparks family. Such altruistic compassion speaks volumes for the quality and character of the East Alabama dirt track racing family. Dana Eiland finished first with JR Moseley taking second place. Jerry Summers came in third, Chad Marchman fourth, Marc Gooden fifth, Ricky Culpepper sixth, Joey Miles seventh, Larry Harrod eighth, Leon Watson, JR ninth, and rounding out the top ten in tenth was Gordy Scarborough.
March 24, 2007 - By Tim George
All classes entertained the crowd with Deep South dirt track racing this Saturday night. The second championship season event showed that 2007 will be a year to remember! Taking a comfortable position in the annals of the EAMS was Richard Stephens Jr. The "RocketMan" claimed a second victory in the Hobby division, defeating an impressive sixteen car starting field. Andrew Barber finished in the second position behind Stephens for the second week in a row. 2006 Bomber track champion Montana Dudley finished third in his second Hobby event of 2007. The run of the Ponies brought victory to Scott Prins Jr. and the #55 Ford Mustang. Jake Jacobs finished second, and Bill Taylor collected third. With the field strung out in the 15 lap Pony Stock main event, several competitors went a lap down by the finish. Brandy Stephens, the lone "lady driver" in the field finished in the top 5. This Saturday night was her second stock car race ever. Rodgerick Dykes was unstoppable in the McDonald's Super Street Division. Dykes lead from pole to pole, finishing well ahead of Sam Moore. Steve Gaines Jr was awarded third, as Roger Arnet was found light in post race inspection. Freddie Slaughter was awarded fourth, and the Columbus Cottonmouths #72 of Chad Scrimpshire rounded out the top 5. Much of the rest of the Super Street field was affected in an early race pile-up. Danny Stroud's "Double Deuce" #22 finished 6th despite sheet metal damage to almost the entire car. Mikey Burt's team celebrates a runaway win the the Bomber Division. His #25 car was unstoppable througout the feature. John Micheal did his best to catch Burt; however, his #294 couldn't get within striking distance. Grady Holmes' #71 and Robbie Luke's #89 were disqualified in post race inspection, giving third place honors to Chris Storey. Christy Noles, the only "lady driver" in the Bomber class, brought her #16 Camaro home to a Top Ten finish. Seven seems to be the number to beat in the 2007 EAMS Modified division. A total of three competitors arrived Saturday with the #7 on the side of the car. The Racing Zone GRT of Ricky Culpepper proved to be the winning ride, as his #7 finished well ahead of the rest. Culpepper's car proudly displayed the new nickname "Mr.Smoother", a reference to the #22 Modified driver "Mr. Smooth" William Thomas. Behind the leader, Stacy Mashburn's #M33 took home second honors with the the #55, #B1, and #7 bringing up the tail. The #07 of Calvin Pike was unable to start the feature. Pike comes back to EAMS racing after a few years in the grandstands.
Late Model
K9 - Dana Eiland
99 - JR Moseley
21 - Jerry Summers
25 - Chad Marchman
52 - Marc Gooden
110 - Ricky Culpepper
21 - Joey Miles
27 - Larry Harrod
60 - Leon Watson, Jr
27 - Gordy Scarbrough
7 - Terrance Nowell
55 - Parrish Duncan
M21 - Mark Patterson
91 - Tod Darda
Super Street
5 - Rodgerick Dykes
1 - Sam Moore
50jr - Steven Gaines, Jr
26 - Freddie Slaughter
72 - Chad Scrimpshire
22 - Danny Stroud
52 - Shelby Amos
88 - Russ Ogletree
7 - Roger Arnett
47 - Thomas Phillips
14 - Pat Wall
87 - CharlieGushue
16 - JW Noles
V54 - Timbo Gouker
Hobby
00 - Richie Stephens
5 - Andrew Barber
55 - Montana Dudley
99 - Randy Renfroe
7 - Chris Arnett
24 - Allen McConnell
44 - Jeremy Nevels
12 - Robert Jackson
47 - Jerry Luke
15 - Dana Brittingham
30 - Randy Allen
27 - Don Whitehead
9 - Jeremy Fetner
55 - Kenny Mathis
1 - Jamie Mills
06 - Miles Holton
Bomber
25 - Mikey Burt
294 - John Michael
38 - Chris Storey
18 - Chase Edge
00 - Philip Gibby
15 - Joshua Maguire
07 - Trevor Elliott
58 - Jason Patrick
89 - Jason Howell
16 - Christy Noles
7 - Jeff Elliott
Pony Stock
55 - Scott Prins, Jr
1 - Jake Jacobs
T55 - Bill Taylor
17 - Bryan Price
00 - Brandy Stephens
99 - Chance Renfroe
Modified
7 - Ricky Culpepper
M33 - Stacy Mashburn
55 - Nick Biddle
B1 - BJ Freeman
12 - Rusty Harmon
By Jay Vaquer
Phenix City, ALA - March 24, 2007 - The grandstands were filled at East Alabama Motor Speedway on an unseasonably warm spring night for the second race this season. Missing from the regular Saturday night line-up was the Late Model number 34 of Allen Sparks. Last year during a post season race at Cochran Speedway Allen suffered a fatal heart attack while on the track. Because he was in a race car his insurance company would not pay the beneficiaries. Condolences were fine but what Allen's family really needed was cash. During the intermission a special tribute was held with Allen's car on the track and all the drivers went through the grandstands taking up a collection which was given to Allen's wife. When the Late Model feature lined up to take the green flag, the number 34 led the field for a few laps then pulled off the back straight just before the green flag came out. Terrance Nowell was on the pole and track Champion Tod Darda was on the outside. They powered wide open into turn one and Nowell came out of turn two with the lead while Darda had his hands full of a charging Dana Eiland in third. Larry Harrod and JR Moseley were battling hard over fourth when Ricky Culpepper came up to get into the mix. On lap 5 Joey Miles spun in turn four to bring out the lap 5 caution. Suddenly Darda began smoking and rolled into the pits with a mechanical failure. He said one of his fan belts broke and the smoke was steam so he called it quits and took an early DNF. When the green came back Nowell blasted back out to the lead but this time he had an unrelenting K9 on his heels. Eiland took the inside groove and got a fender on Nowell in the turns but Nowell had more momentum in the upper preferred line and was able to escape on the straights. JR Moseley was looking like he finally found his lost Championship form, maybe its his new Barry Wright chassis, but he was fast and challenging Harrod for third. Chad Marchman was also looking sporty as he was trying to take seventh away from Ricky Culpepper, who had just won the Modified feature. Culpepper was strong and had all the blocks and parries to keep Marchman at bay. Parrish Duncan suddenly lost power and coasted to the pits on lap 11 for a DNF. Lap 13 proved lucky for Marchman as he made a pass on Culpepper but proved unlucky for our leader as Nowell came to a stop on the back straight to bring out the caution. When he fired up and drove into the pits to the watering hole it was obvious he was running hot and brought out the caution to buy time to cool off but the field went green before he could get back on the track. The fat lady was warming her vocal cords as the Master of Faster, Dana Eiland took the lead. The K9 picked up the scent of the checkers and took a full straightaway lead from second place Harrod who was struggling with a persistent JR Moseley. On lap 17 Culpepper ran over some debris which not only flew into his cockpit but also cut down his tire bringing out a caution. When the green came back out Dana Eiland put the whip to his K9 and again stretched out to a comfortable lead. Surprisingly Harrod went off the backside, let Moseley take second place, then came back on the track and went to the pits for a DNF. Dana Eiland shot by the white flag and demonstrated to the large crowd why he is the legend, taking the checkers for the second week in a row. Eiland also showed that not only is he a great champion but he is also a great humanitarian as he donated his entire first place prize money to Allen Spark's family. Following this kind gesture, another great champion, Rodgerick Dykes, after winning the Super Street division feature, also donated his first place prize money to the Sparks family. Such altruistic compassion speaks volumes for the quality and character of the East Alabama dirt track racing family. Dana Eiland finished first with JR Moseley taking second place. Jerry Summers came in third, Chad Marchman fourth, Marc Gooden fifth, Ricky Culpepper sixth, Joey Miles seventh, Larry Harrod eighth, Leon Watson, JR ninth, and rounding out the top ten in tenth was Gordy Scarborough.
March 24, 2007 - By Tim George
All classes entertained the crowd with Deep South dirt track racing this Saturday night. The second championship season event showed that 2007 will be a year to remember! Taking a comfortable position in the annals of the EAMS was Richard Stephens Jr. The "RocketMan" claimed a second victory in the Hobby division, defeating an impressive sixteen car starting field. Andrew Barber finished in the second position behind Stephens for the second week in a row. 2006 Bomber track champion Montana Dudley finished third in his second Hobby event of 2007. The run of the Ponies brought victory to Scott Prins Jr. and the #55 Ford Mustang. Jake Jacobs finished second, and Bill Taylor collected third. With the field strung out in the 15 lap Pony Stock main event, several competitors went a lap down by the finish. Brandy Stephens, the lone "lady driver" in the field finished in the top 5. This Saturday night was her second stock car race ever. Rodgerick Dykes was unstoppable in the McDonald's Super Street Division. Dykes lead from pole to pole, finishing well ahead of Sam Moore. Steve Gaines Jr was awarded third, as Roger Arnet was found light in post race inspection. Freddie Slaughter was awarded fourth, and the Columbus Cottonmouths #72 of Chad Scrimpshire rounded out the top 5. Much of the rest of the Super Street field was affected in an early race pile-up. Danny Stroud's "Double Deuce" #22 finished 6th despite sheet metal damage to almost the entire car. Mikey Burt's team celebrates a runaway win the the Bomber Division. His #25 car was unstoppable througout the feature. John Micheal did his best to catch Burt; however, his #294 couldn't get within striking distance. Grady Holmes' #71 and Robbie Luke's #89 were disqualified in post race inspection, giving third place honors to Chris Storey. Christy Noles, the only "lady driver" in the Bomber class, brought her #16 Camaro home to a Top Ten finish. Seven seems to be the number to beat in the 2007 EAMS Modified division. A total of three competitors arrived Saturday with the #7 on the side of the car. The Racing Zone GRT of Ricky Culpepper proved to be the winning ride, as his #7 finished well ahead of the rest. Culpepper's car proudly displayed the new nickname "Mr.Smoother", a reference to the #22 Modified driver "Mr. Smooth" William Thomas. Behind the leader, Stacy Mashburn's #M33 took home second honors with the the #55, #B1, and #7 bringing up the tail. The #07 of Calvin Pike was unable to start the feature. Pike comes back to EAMS racing after a few years in the grandstands.
Late Model
K9 - Dana Eiland
99 - JR Moseley
21 - Jerry Summers
25 - Chad Marchman
52 - Marc Gooden
110 - Ricky Culpepper
21 - Joey Miles
27 - Larry Harrod
60 - Leon Watson, Jr
27 - Gordy Scarbrough
7 - Terrance Nowell
55 - Parrish Duncan
M21 - Mark Patterson
91 - Tod Darda
Super Street
5 - Rodgerick Dykes
1 - Sam Moore
50jr - Steven Gaines, Jr
26 - Freddie Slaughter
72 - Chad Scrimpshire
22 - Danny Stroud
52 - Shelby Amos
88 - Russ Ogletree
7 - Roger Arnett
47 - Thomas Phillips
14 - Pat Wall
87 - CharlieGushue
16 - JW Noles
V54 - Timbo Gouker
Hobby
00 - Richie Stephens
5 - Andrew Barber
55 - Montana Dudley
99 - Randy Renfroe
7 - Chris Arnett
24 - Allen McConnell
44 - Jeremy Nevels
12 - Robert Jackson
47 - Jerry Luke
15 - Dana Brittingham
30 - Randy Allen
27 - Don Whitehead
9 - Jeremy Fetner
55 - Kenny Mathis
1 - Jamie Mills
06 - Miles Holton
Bomber
25 - Mikey Burt
294 - John Michael
38 - Chris Storey
18 - Chase Edge
00 - Philip Gibby
15 - Joshua Maguire
07 - Trevor Elliott
58 - Jason Patrick
89 - Jason Howell
16 - Christy Noles
7 - Jeff Elliott
Pony Stock
55 - Scott Prins, Jr
1 - Jake Jacobs
T55 - Bill Taylor
17 - Bryan Price
00 - Brandy Stephens
99 - Chance Renfroe
Modified
7 - Ricky Culpepper
M33 - Stacy Mashburn
55 - Nick Biddle
B1 - BJ Freeman
12 - Rusty Harmon