JEFFERSON, Ga. — Through three Sears Auto Center Northern Division Hooters Pro Cup events this season, two winners have come out of the Southern Division. Clay Rogers carried the Northern flag down to the Aaron’s Southern Division for the running of the Aaron’s 199 at Peach State Speedway on Sunday and returned the favor.
Rogers, driver of the No. 29n Bowen Family Homes Chevrolet, took the lead from Bill Plemons, Jr. on lap 118 and held off a hard-charging Michael Ritch to capture his first victory of the season.
On the final lap, Ritch got a great run on Rogers going down the backstretch and tucked underneath coming off turn four, but Ritch was unable to keep the momentum off the corner and fell .267 second shy of taking the victory. But his second-place finish was a great run, considering he had to start shotgun on the field after working on his car after qualifying.
Rogers, a two-time series champion, was happy to return to victory lane, despite making contact with Jody Lavender and forcing Lavender into the wall as Rogers tried to stay ahead of Ritch.
“I’m just happy to get a win for everybody on this Bowen team,” said Rogers, who pushed his career earnings to $1,115,750 with the victory. “Their corporate office is right down the road, and they had a lot of people here today.
“Keith (Hinkein) made a great call for us to come in to get fuel early. The car was little tight in the center of the corner, once the fuel burnt off, but we also had a few cautions toward the end of the race that could have had a little effect on the car.”
The race was slowed seven times for 47 laps of caution and featured four lead changes among four drivers.
After leading 110 of the first 111 laps, Bobby Gill, driver of the No. 06 USG Sheetrock Brand Ford, found trouble with lapped traffic, spun and ended up finishing in 18th place.
While Gill, who was second in points, and point- leader Woody Howard faltered, Chase Pistone drove the No. 54 C&C Boiler Chevrolet to a solid third-place finish and took over the Southern Division point lead.
The finish:
Showing driver, car, laps completed, money won: 1. Clay Rogers, Chevrolet, 199, $10,000; 2. Michael Ritch, Ford, 199, $6,500; 3. Chase Pistone, Chevrolet, 199, $5,000; 4. Mark McFarland, Chevrolet, 199, $4,500; 5. Matt Hawkins, Ford, 199, $4,000; 6. Shelby Howard, Chevrolet, 199, $3,100; 7. Caleb Holman, Chevrolet, 199, $2,600; 8. Wade Day, Ford, 199, $2,400; 9. Frank Deiny, Jr., Ford, 199, $2,300; 10. Kirk Leone, Ford, 199, $2,400; 11. Dange Hanniford, Chevrolet, 199, $2,600; 12. James Buescher, Chevrolet, 199, $2,000; 13. Dusty Williams, Ford, 199, $2,900; 14. Justin Wakefield, Ford, 199, $1,800; 15. Clay Jones, Ford, 199, $1,700; 16. Billy Bigley, Jr., Ford, 199, $1,600; 17. Bill Plemons, Jr., Ford, 199, $1,600; 18. Bobby Gill, Ford, 198, $3,600; 19. Randy Gentry, Chevrolet, 198, $1,600; 20. Woody Howard, Chevrolet, 197, $1,600; 21. Trevor Bayne, Chevrolet, 197, $2,000; 22. Don Satterfield, Chevrolet, 196, $1,400; 23. Mart Nesbitt, Ford, 196, $1,400; 24. Richard Boswell, Chevrolet, 195; $2,900; 25. Brian Scott, Ford, 194, $1,400; 26. Gary Helton, Chevrolet, 186, $1,200; 27. Jody Lavender, Ford, 161, $1,200; 28. Mike Garvey, Ford, 153, $1,200; 29. Carl Long, Ford, 125, $1,200; 30. Mike Herman, Jr., Chevrolet, 90, $1,400; 31. Daniel Johnson, Chevrolet, 47, $1,400; 32. Buckshot Jones, Ford, 29, $1,200.