By Ronald L. Jerger, Jr.
Saturday Night Larry and Michelle Pickelheimer of L & M Performance in Bethel, OH stepped up and handed out a total of $1450 in bonus gift certificates for each of our feature winners. The Late Models received $650, Modifieds $350, Crates $200, Pure Stocks $150 and Hornet division enjoyed their own $100 bonuses during their victory lane celebrations.
Promoters Jerry, Mona & Josh King welcomed 98 entries to compete on “The South’s Most Exciting ½ mile high-banked Dirt Track” home of the “North/South 100” and The National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame” at the famed ½ mile high-banked dirt oval known as Florence Speedway.
In the Late Model 30 lap feature “The Last Outlaw” Jesse “James” Lay of Verona, KY took his 1st late model feature at Florence Speedway in 2015.
The 44 year old Lay was driving the Outlaw Racing, LLC owned Pierce/Dodge Charger powered by a Dargie racing engine and sponsored by Joe Lay & Sons Plumbing, Delta Faucet Company, J. Palmer Construction, Valvoline, Blue Beacon Truck Wash, Winnelson, Poske’s Performance Parts, Hoosier by Smash and Slicker Graphics.
”The Big Show” Robby Hensley and “The Silver Shark” Scott James covered the front row with Steve Landrum and Josh Rice making up row two. James outgunned inside pole sitter Hensley as the two exited turn two at the drop of the green flag, Rice grabbed 3rd while Landrum settled into 4th and Ted Nobbe jumped up to 5th. Lap (2) Lay passes Nobbe for 5th. Lap (4) Nobbe squeezes by Lay to reclaim 5th. Before lap (5) could be scored #98 of Mason Combs stops on track to bring out the races first caution. James would now lead the pack for the “Delaware’ double file restart with Hensley and Rice in row two and Landrum and Nobbe in row three. James would lead lap (5) with Rice now hot on his tail. Lap (7) Nobbe would take 4th from Landrum. Lap (10) Lay would once again crack the top five as he gets by Landrum. Lap (13) Lay continues his charge to the front as he takes 4th from Nobbe. Lap (14) the races 2nd caution flew for a multi car incident. Again the field would be reset with James leading the “Delaware” double file restart, now with Rice and Hensley in row two and Lay and 7th starting Joe Janowski in row three. On the restart Janowski takes 4th from Lay. Lap (16) Janowski wrangles 3rd from Hensley. With the action heating up for 3rd – 5th the top two spots of James and Rice were setting a pace that the rest of the pack could only wish they were a part of. Lap (18) Hensley regains 3rd from Janowski. Lap (19) Lay gets 4th from Janowski. Lap (20) Janowski retakes 4th from Lay. Lap (22) provided the move of the race as Lay powered by Janowski and Hensley on the highside off turn four for 3rd. Lap (23) brought the field under yellow as race long leader James would blow a right rear tire and instantly slow down in turn four and in doing so collected 2nd running Josh Rice in the process. Rice could not recover from the damage while James ducted into the pits for new rubber and rejoined the field from the tail. Lay would be the benefactor as he was out front of the final “Delaware” double file restart with Janowski and Hensley in row two and Wayne Chinn and James Rice in row three. Lay would hold off the charging Janowski over the final (7) laps as Chinn improved his finishing position by moving into 3rd on lap (28).
Finishing 2nd was Janowski, 3rd Chinn, 4th Hensley and 5th James Rice.
The “Hard Charger” of the race was the #11r James Rice of Verona, KY who started 16th and managed his way up to 5th.
In the Modified 20 lap feature Brandon “The Closer” Green of Walton, KY captured his 3rd “A” main at Florence Speedway in 2015. Green took command of the race on lap (10) from early race leader Pete Holt. He was able to maintained his advantage over the ever present Holt and charging Broc Burton to once again roll in Florence Speedway’s victory lane for his 12th career Modified “A” victory at Florence.
Green was driving his own Nemisis/Dargie and sponsored by Complete Auto Care & Towing, Angelo’s Pizza in Verona and Oak Creek Pavilion in Walton.
Finishing 2nd was Holt, 3rd Burton, 4th Andrew Corbin and 5th Don Adams.
The “Hard Charger” of the race was #1Hjr of John Holt, Jr. of Florence, KY who started 23rd and powered his way to 9th.
Time Auto Sales UMP Modifieds
32 entries
Passing Point Heat Race Winners: Dave Mcwilliams, Jimmy Lennox, Jr. and Broc Burton.
Consi Winner: Graylin Prince
Feature Winner: Brandon Green
2015 has brought on the sophomore season of our newest division of competition with our popular Crate Late Model class. A season high 18 competitors signed in to get their chance on the top prize. The 15 lap feature saw 2015 season points leader Grant Garrison take the lead on lap (1) and stave off all challengers during caution free event. Garrison captured his 5th win in 2015 and his career 7th @ Florence in the Crate division.
The 17 year old Walton, Kentucky native was driving the Mark Garrision owned Club 29/Hendron/Chevy Camaro, sponsored by Darrell Lanigan Racing, Gotta-Go Rentals and Septic Services, Slick Rollers and Nickerson & Trantor Apprasial Services.
Finishing 2nd was Conner Meade, 3rd Jeff Alsip, 4th John Gill and 5th Trevor Landrum.
The “Hard Charger” of the race was the #49 Jerry Gibson, Jr. of Crittenden, KY who started 17th and finish in 6th place.
Crate Late Models
18 entries (Season High)
Passing Point Heat Race Winners: Grant Garrison and Shawn Snelling
Feature Winner: Grant Garrison
In the Pure Stock 15 lap feature Brandon Gibson of Dry Ridge, KY grabbed the lead on lap (8) over fifth starting Jason Miller and cruised to his 8th feature win of 2015, the win keeps his streak alive as he has won all eight “A” main features competed for here at Florence Speedway.
The 33 year old Gibson piloted the Busse Racing owned Chevy Monte Carlo with a House Racing Engine under the hood and sponsored by Florence Winnelson, Burch Sheet Metal, Kims Pilot Car Service, D & Z Plumbing, Brewer Autobody, Webb’s Excavating, Bill’s Auto Service and Pine’s Mobile Home Park.
Finishing 2nd was Dana Moore, 3rd Randall Lee Dooley, 4th Ronnie Helton, and 5th Tim Brearton
The “Hard Charger” of the race was #37 of Gibson from Dry Ridge, KY who started 11th and carved up the field for the victory.
Pure Stocks
15 entries
Passing Point Heat Race Winners: Brandon Gibson and Dana Moore
Feature Winner: Brandon Gibson
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. The 12 lap feature event would see TJ Dalton of Burlington, KY while making his 4th appearance at the speedway in 2015 captured his 2nd “A” main here at Florence. Dalton would take the lead on lap (1) and hold off Blake Gibson for the entire distance to the checkered flag.
Dalton was driving the Dalton Gang Motorsports owned Chevy/Cavalier, sponsored by Metro Special Patrol, Slicker Graphics, TJ’s Mobile Computer Services, Dirt Star and the DRC.
Finishing 2nd was Blake Gibson, 3rd Brandon Gibson, Jr., 4th Billy Gibson, Sr., and 5th Jerry Gibson, III.
The “Hard Charger” of the race was the #132 of Brandon Gibson, Jr. of Dry Ridge, KY who started 11th and finished 3rd.
Hornets
15 entries
Passing Point Heat Race Winners: Nick Delaney and Blake Gibson
Feature Winner: TJ Dalton
