Payne, Brooks Split Concord Features
CONCORD, N.C. - Jay Payne and Kenny Brooks split the victories in twin 35-lap feature races that no one could have anticipated at Wilburn Auto Body Night at the Races at Concord Speedway.
Charles Hutto, Sonny Schoffen, Eric Harrington, Bob Hapeman and David Miller also scored victories in tonights feature events at Concord Speedway.
Payne, a first-time winner this season, proved the saying its not over until its over true in the first of the Wilburn Auto Body Late Model Stock Car division Twin 35-Lap feature races. Jeff Melton controlled the lead for most of the first half of the race with heavy pressure from Jerry Miracle and pole sitter, Andrew Thomas.
However, when the caution flag came out for a spin by Justin Parry Thomas took his car to the pits with apparent mechanical trouble. On the restart, Melton jumped back out front of the field, while Brooks lingered behind in third. Brooks, the current points leader, completed a motor change which caused him to miss qualifying and start shot gun on the field.
The top three of Melton, Miracle and Brooks ran nose-to-tail before Miracle took a drastic spin around in turn three which collected Brooks in the caution sending the two to the tail. However, the leader, Melton, was unable to get his car restarted after the caution and went to the pits for repairs. In a green, white, checkered finish, Payne stole the win with Miracle following behind in second and Bryan Dauzat in third.
In the second of Twin 35-Lap feature races for the Wilburn Auto Body Late Model Stock Car division, Brooks proved his team could overcome any setback thrown their way by taking home the victory. Dauzat led the field for the first five laps before Brooks made his way past him with Thomas following behind in second. Brooks checked out to a 10-car length lead on the field before taking the checkered while Thomas and Dauzat rounded out the top three.
Hutto won his first feature race of the 2012 season in the first of the Twin 20-Lap feature events for the Pepsi Street Stocks division. Hutto took the early lead on the field, while Schoffen tried everything, including a cross-over move, to hold off the heavy pressure from Todd Bradburry for the third position. Randy McAnulty rode along in second until Bradburry made his way to his bumper on lap 13.
Bradburry overtook McAnulty for second position which allowed Schoffen to sneak by as well. The field finished in that order by the end of the 20 laps; Hutto, Bradburry, Schoffen.
Schoffen took the checkered flag for the sixth time this season in the second of Twin 20-Lap feature races for the Pepsi Street Stocks division. McAnulty jumped to an early lead on the field, but Schoffen and Bryan Thomas were hot on his tail. By lap five, Schoffen overtook McAnulty for the lead. This move allowed Thomas and Hutto to eventually overtake McAnulty as well for the second and third positions, respectively.
Eric Harrington took home his third victory of the season in the Town and Country Ford Fast and Furious Fours division 25-lap feature event. However, the battle on the track was between Wayne Harrington and Adam Morgan for the second position. They battled for the majority of the race. However, Morgan had to settle for third position, while brothers Eric and Wayne Harrington finished one-two.
Hapeman earned his third feature win against a tough 10-car field of Vintage Sportsman division cars. Hapeman led the entirety of the 25-Lap race that was interrupted twice for cautions. When the field went back green shortly after halfway, the battle on the track was between Bradburry and Steve Davis for third position. Davis held off Bradburry to take third place, while Tommy Nichols finished in second.
Miller took the checkered flag for the second time this season in the Heintz Performance Sportsman division 25-lap feature event, while Davis finished in second and Alvin Thomas in third.
Posted by NSSN Staff
on Jul 15 2012 Filed under Racing Nation, SOUTHEAST.
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