The nights racing card set a new Florence Speedway record, as six different divisions competed for their spot in Florence Speedways victory lane. Along with our regular weekly schedule divisions, The Ohio Valley Roofers Legend Car Series made their 1st ever appearance at Florence Speedway. This was also the third ever visit of the legend style cars competing at Florence Speedway (’06 & ’08). Promoters Jerry, Mona & Josh King welcomed 91 competitors to compete on “The South’s Fastest ½ mile High-Banked Dirt Oval” and home of the “North/South 100” and “National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame”.
In the 30 lap Late Model feature event, “The Big Show” Robby Hensley of Walton, Kentucky made the most out of his front row outside starting position as he took the lead on lap (1) over pole sitter John Whitney, Jr. and after the only caution of the event coming out on lap (2) for the spinning #7p of Graylin Prince and #98 of Mason Combs. The ensuing Delaware double file restart would have Hensley out front with Ethan Burgess and Bill Blair, Jr. in row two and Whitney, Jr. and Steve Landrum in row three. Hensley would set the pace for the remaining (28) caution free circuits and was able to hold off the charging #84 of Blair, Jr. at the line. Hensley captured his 1st “A” main here in 2015 and his 5th career at the speedway.
The 28 year old 2nd generation Hensley was driving the Robert Hensley owned Rocket by James/Pro Power/Monte Carlo and sponsored by Classic Car Wash, Snappy Tomato Pizza and Hardcore Decals.
Finishing 2nd was Bill Blair, Jr, 3rd Tripp Gerald, 4th Jesse Lay and 5th Ethan Burgess. The “Hard Charger” of the race was the #4 of Tripp Gerald of Nicholsville, Kentucky who started 7th and hustled his way up to 3rd.
Time Auto Sales Modifieds 20 lap feature “The Small Cool One” Billy Vaughan of Union, KY started 3rd on the grid and passed both front row starters Andrew Corbin and Ryan Morton on lap (1). Last week’s winner Morton moved into 2nd on lap (2) with Corbin settling in third. The first of 5 cautions flew on lap (7) for the stopped #17 of Brandon Ramsey. On the restart Vaughan was on the point with Morton, Corbin, Rick Gibson and Larry Pickelheimer, Jr. rounding out the top 5. Lap (8) Gibson passed Corbin for 3rd, lap (9) Pickelheimer passed Corbin for 4th. Lap (10) Pickelheimer got by Gibson for 3rd. Lap (12) Shawn Brown cracked the top five by passing Corbin for 5th. Brown would get by Gibson for 4th on the next lap. Lap (14) the second yellow would fly as the #93 of Travis Woodyard would spin. It was Vaughan, Morton, Pickelheimer, Brown and Gibson leading the pack back to the green flag. Lap (16) Colin Green made his presents known as he would get by Gibson for 5th. Lap (17) Brown gets by Pickelheimer for 3rd only to give it back on lap later. Lap (18) the 3rd yellow waved as the #55 of Matt Watson would come to a stop. Before another lap could be scored the #19 of Corbin stops on track for the 4th caution. One lap later (19) the final stoppage occurred as the 4th running Brown would spin and retire from the event. The final restart would have Vaughan leading the way with Morton, Pickelheimer, Michael Gemmer and Gibson in tow. The one lap dash to the checkers would only see one change in the top five as Green would get by Gibson for 5th. Vaughan a 4 time Modified track Champion here at Florence Speedway took his first win of 2015 and 53rd “A” main in the Modified division in his career since 2001.
Ryan Morton was piloting the Bill Ashley owned Pierce/Cropper sporting the sponsorship of Patterson Trucking, Beef O’Brady’s, Reed Academy of Mixed Martial Arts, Brewer Autobody, Bill’s Carpet, RSI Refrigeration, Leaf Guardian Systems, Venting Solutions, McCall Funeral Home and De-Cal Designs.
Finishing 2nd was Morton, 3rd Pickelheimer, Jr, 4th Gemmer and 5th Green. The “Hard Charger” of the race was #47 Larry Pickelheimer, Jr. of Bethel, OH who started 14th and powered his way to 3rd.
In 2014 Florence Speedway introduced our newest division of competition with introduction of the Crate Late Model class, 2015 would be their sophomore season. Tony Roland while making his Crate debut at Florence Speedway would start alongside 2014 Champion Trevor Landrum with last week’s winner Grant Garrison starting in the third spot. Garrison would pass Landrum in lap (1) then took the point one lap later from Roland. Lap (5) the #38c of Chris Thomas would spin and cause the first of three cautions. Thomas would spin again one lap later and be disqualified from the event. The lap (6) restart showed Garrison out front with Landrum now in 2nd, Roland 3rd, Jeff Alsip 4th, and Stan Freeman 5th. Not long after lap (7) was scored a multi car incident would stop the action as the final yellow waved for 4th running Roland, 5th running Freeman, 9th running Eschmann, Jr, 11th running Jeff Leeke and 13th running Jordan Hedger. Eschmann Jr. was the only car to retire from the event. The final restart had Garrison showing the way with Landrum, Alsip, Steve Pyles and Sean Thomas in the top five. The rest of the race would go caution free. Garrison maintained a comfortably , as the top five would stay the same until the white flag waved as Greg Bauer would get by Sean Thomas for 5th. Garrison would make it two in a row in 2015 and his 4th career feature win at Florence Speedway.
Garrison was driving the Mark Garrison own Club 29/Chevy Camaro, sponsored by Darrell Lanigan Racing, Gotta-Go Rentals and Septic Services, Slick Rollers and Nickerson & Trantor Appraisal Services
Finishing 2nd was Landrum, 3rd Alsip, 4th Pyles and 5th Bauer. The “Hard Charger” of the race was the #6 of Greg Bauer of Erlanger, KY who started 13th and finished 5th.
In the Pure Stock 15 lap feature, 2014 Pure Stock Champion Brandon Gibson of Dry Ridge, KY started in the 10th row inside and passed early race leaded Roy Beach, Jr on lap (6). Gibson led the final (10) laps to capture his second “A” main of 2015 and with it the top spot in the season long battle for the track championship. With this win Brandon notched his 51st career “A” main win in the Pure Stock class since 2003.
Gibson was wheeling the Busse Racing owned Chevy Monte Carlo sponsored by Florence Winnelson, Burch Sheet Metal, Kim’s Pilot Car Service, D & Z Plumbing, Brewer Autobody, Webb’s Excavating, Bill’s Auto Service and Pine’s Mobile Home Park.
Finishing 2nd was Beach. Jr, 3rd Tim Brearton, 4th Randall Lee Dooley and 5th Ronnie Helton. The “Hard Charger” of the race was the #37 of Gibson of Dry Ridge, KY who started 9th and won.
Florence Speedway’s kicked off the 4th season of our rendition of the up and coming 4 Cylinder front wheel drive class, that we call the Hornets. Ryan Eversole inherited the lead on lap (6) after the top three running TJ Dalton, Otis Gibson and Justin Dalton tangled entering turn one and came to a stop in the bottom of the turn. All three were unable to continue. Eversole held off the field over the final (5) laps to take his 1st “A” main of the season here at Florence Speedway in 2015 and his career 2nd.
Eversole was driving the Dalton Gang Motorsports owned Chevy Cavalier, sponsored by Humble Home Repair, Buffalo Bob’s Restaurant, Dalton Property Management and TJ’s Mobile Computer Service.
Finishing 2nd was Brandon Gibson, Jr, 3rd Tony Reed, 4th Brett Abbott and 5th Willie Butler. The “Hard Charger” of the race was the #A66 of Abbott of Florence, KY who started 13th and fought his way to 4th.
Opening the 2015 Ohio Valley Roofers Legend Car Series schedule, Florence Speedway welcomed (16) fierce competitors to battle on the high banks of the Northern Kentucky speed plant. The scheduled 15 lap feature event started with the 2014 Series Champion of Josh Francis and Steven Partin the son of series founder Steven on the outside. Lap (1) was just the start of things to come as 3rd starting Toby Alfrey shot to the front, but behind him was all of the action as Steven Partin would spin on lap (1) and have to restart from the tail. The ensuing restart had Alfrey out front with Francis, Derek Minshew, Thomas Partin and Jerren Perdue in tow, Lap (3) Thomas Partin would take 3rd from Minshew. Lap (6) Cole Demint moved into the top five overtaking Minshew. Lap (7) Thomas Partin passed Francis for 2nd. Meanwhile the one to watch was Steven Partin (who had spun on lap (1)) sliced and diced the field lap after lap, he went from 14th on lap (2) then 11th on lap (3), 9th on lap (4), 8th on lap (6), 6th on lap (7), then after a lap (7) restart he captured a spot in the top 5 as he passed Demint and Minshew. The assault did not stop there as he passed Francis for 3rd on lap (9). Then the final caution of the event flew for the slowing #00 of Tommy Stout, Jr. and #13 of Scott McMahan, with four laps to go the leader was Alfrey with Tomas Partin, Steven Partin, Perdue and Minshew still with a chance to win. On the restart Thomas Partin would get by Alfrey for the lead and one lap later Steven Partin would get by Alfrey for 2nd. Now it turned into a two car battle as father (Darth Vader) versus son (Luke Skywalker) would decide the victor. It looked like the Vader (Dad) would prevail but Skywalker (Son) would make a last lap pass and hold off his Dad for the Victory. Steven would comment during his victory lane interview that he had been looking forward to this event since it was scheduled, and he placed it right up there with Daytona 500 for the young 3rd year series.
Steven Partin was wheeling his owned 132 HP 1250 cc Yamaha Legend car sponsored by Hidden Gem Web Designs.
Finishing 2nd was Thomas Partin, 3rd Minshew, 4th John Gutman and 5th Josh Francis. The “Hard Charger” of the race was the #4 of Thomas Partin of Peebles, OH who started 7th and wound up 2nd.
Official Summary of Results
OVR Legend Car Series
April 18th, 2015
