The Atwood Outlaw Captures Comp Cams Triple Crown Challenge Race #1 Win At West Tennessee
By: Thomas Montgomery
Sparta,TN (April 19th) - With rain hampering the early stages of the SMP Open Wheel Series schedule, it was great to have a break and finally see some racing action. The series was at West Tennessee Motor Speedway, in Lexington,TN, on Saturday night for race #1 with the "Comp Cams Triple Crown Challenge" after raining out the previous night. There were 23 modified drivers signing in the for the race, and everyone was bracing for a super fast event on the high banks. The evening began with group qualifying, and the "Todd's Body Shop Fast Qualifier Presented by ASi Racewear" would be Atwood,TN driver #1 "The Atwood Outlaw" T.J. Herndon, with a lap of 13.986, to put him on the pole for the feature. The "Etheridge Race Parts Group #2 Fast Qualifier" was Arlington,TN's #15 Shane Stephens with a time of 14.350, putting him on the outside of the first row. Each group locked in the top 2 qualifiers into the feature. Following Herndon in the first group was Jackson,TN's #56 Jonathan Rowan with a lap of 14.158. In group #2 it was Munford,TN's #07 Ben Reed behind Stephens with a 14.576 lap.
The remaining cars in each group ran 10 lap heat races to set up the feature line-up. In the "Star Grafix & Signs Heat Race #1", it was Rogersville'AL's #G1 Tony Simmons taking the win, with #12 Lucas Lee and #11 Mark Stephens rounding out the top three. Sardis,TN's #3 Greg Welch took the "Etheridge Race Parts Heat Race #2" win, with #18 Matthew Cooper and #21 Joel Landers rounding out the top three.
With the field set, it was time for the 25 lap "Comp Cam Triple Crown Challenge Race #1". At the start it was Herndon jumping into the lead, with Shane Stephens and Reed in tow. A caution came out on lap 1, as Shane Stephens lost a drive shaft in turn three. A couple of attempted starts were foiled by cautions and Stephens would get back out on the track before another lap was scored. On the restart Reed put tremendous pressure on Herndon. Reed kept dive bombing the bottom of the track to get under Herndon, but couldn't slip by. #G1 Tony Simmons got loose while running 3rd and lost the position to #12 Lucas Lee. After a lap 2 caution for #12 Junior Lemmings, Reed again applied the pressure on Herndon. A pile-up in turn 3 brought out another caution, as #11 Jake Tucker, #6T Tyler Dutton, #00 Jeff Howell, and Lemming were involved. Lemming, Tucker, and Dutton would retire to the pits. The restart would see Reed pull an awesome power slide on Henrdon in turns 3 & 4 to take the lead, only to see the caution come out as #66 Terry Kerbough stopped on the track. On the restart Herndon made his way to the bottom in the corners to counter Reed's advances. On lap 8 Kerbough brought out the caution once again, as this time he was done for the night. Lucas Lee got by Reed on lap 9 for second. Shane Stephens got by #55 Michael Lee for sixth and was pressuring his uncle #11 Mark Stephens for fifth. Shane Stephens and Michael Lee got by Mark Stephens for fifth and sixth on lap 11. Shane Stephens got by Simmons for fourth on lap 12. Lucas Lee dropped to the infield on lap 15 ending his good run. Shane Stephens began to pressure Reed for second. Shane Stephens, for the second time in the race, lost a drive shaft and went to the pits on lap 20. On the restart, Reed tried to get by Herndon once. Herndon however, in his Shaw by Taylor Chassis/Tucker Automotive Race Engine ride, flew to the checkers and picked up the $1,500 top prize, as well as the point lead in the "Comp Cams Triple Crown Challenge". Reed was 2nd, Simmons 3rd, Michael Lee 4th, and Mark Stephens rounded out the top 5. #76 Randy Zeigler finished 6th, #00 Jeff Howell 7th, #47 Robert Baker 8th, #99 Brandon Poppenheimer 9th, and #21 Joel Landers rounded out the top ten. Herndon is sponsored by Jeff Taylor Motorsports, Xtreme Graphics, Herndon Law Firm, ICI Drywall Contractors, Full Throttle Race Parts, Provence Construction, Rockhard Powdercoating, Fast & Left Race Shop, Tuckers Automotive Machine, Delph Communications, Integra Shocks & Springs, BSB Manufacturing, Brinn Incorporated, Fast Shafts, and Hook’s Dirt Track Review.
The next action for the SMP Open Wheel Series will be Saturday Night May 10th, at Duck River Speedway in Wheel,TN. The race pays $1,500 to win and $125 to start, with a $60 entry fee. For more info check out our site at smpracing.net
April 19th Results (West Tennessee Motor Speedway): 23 Cars
ASi Racewear Group #1 Fast Qualifiers: 1. #1 T.J. Herndon (13.986) 2. #56 Jonathan Rowan (14.158)
Etheridge Race Parts Group #2 Fast Qualifiers: 1. #15 Shane Stephens (14.350) 2. #07 Ben Reed (14.576)
Star Grafix & Signs Heat Race #1 (10 Laps): 1. #G1 Tony Simmons 2. #12 Lucas Lee 3. #11 Mark Stephens 4. #55 Michael Lee 5. #76 Randy Zeigler 6. #12 Junior Lemmings 7. #66 Terry Kerbough 8. #7 Jerod Roller 9. #115 Danny Gentry (DNS: #P3 Mike Powers)
Etheridge Race Parts Heat Race #2 (10 Laps): 1. #3 Greg Welch 2. #18 Matthew Cooper 3. #21 Joel Landers 4. #99 Brandon Poppenheimer 5. #6 Jimmy Halford 6. #11 Jake Tucker 7. #6T Tyler Duncan 8. #47 Robert Baker 9. #00 Jeff Howell
SMP Open Wheel Modified Feature (25 Laps):
1. #1 T.J. Herndon (1) Atwood,TN
2. #07 Ben Reed (4) Munford,TN
3. #G1 Tony Simmons (5) Rogersville,AL
4. #55 Michael Lee (11) Paris,TN
5. #11 Mark Stephens (9) Arlington,TN
6. #76 Randy Zeigler (13) Columbia,TN
7. #00 Jeff Howell (21) Memphis,TN
8. #47 Robert Baker (20) New Market,AL
9. #99 Brandon Poppenheimer (12) Nesbit,MS
10. #21 Joel Landers (10) Shelbyville,TN
11. #7 Jerod Roller (19) South Haven,MS
12. #15 Shane Stephens (2) Arlington,TN
13. #12 Lucas Lee (7) Paris,TN
14. #18 Matthew Cooper (8) McKenzie,TN
15. #6 Jimmy Halford (14) Atwood,TN
16. #66 Terry Kerbough (17) Arlington,TN
17. #12 Junior Lemmings (15) Jackson,TN
18. #11 Jake Tucker (16) Collierville,TN
19. #6T Tyler Duncan (18)
20. #3 Greg Welch (6) Sardis,TN
(DNS)#56 Jonathan Rowan (3) Jackson,TN (Mechanical Problems)
Race Contingency Awards:
"Todd's Body Shop Fast Time Award Presented By ASi Racewear": #1 T.J. Herndon
"Etheridge Race Parts Group #2 Fast Time Award": #15 Shane Stephens
"Star Grafix & Signs Heat Race #1 Winner": #G1 Tony Simmons
"Etheridge Race Parts Heat Race #2 Winner": #3 Greg Welch
"American Racer Hard Charger Award": #00 Jeff Howell
"The Brake Man Tough Brake Award": #115 Danny Gentry
"Out-Pace Racing Products 2nd Place Award": #07 Ben Reed
"Fast Shafts Last Car On The Lead Lap Award": #99 Brandon Poppenheimer
