Davidson Takes First Viper Race of 2012
By Mark Chisum
South Alabama Speedway’s 2012 Viper Series got under way Saturday night, with Chris Davidson taking the win. It was Davidson’s first Viper Series win.
Korey Ruble set the pace in qualifying with a time of 15.385. Inversion put Josh Hamner on the pole. Hamner, driving for Ronnie Sanders, led the field to the green flag, but Spencer Davis got a good start on the outside and grabbed the early lead. Ruble followed Davis past Hamner on the second lap. Zak Hausler moved past Hamner into third on lap five. The races first caution came out on lap seven when Brandon Odom and Justin South got together and turn three, cutting down Odom’s right front tire.
When racing resumed Davis led the field to the green flag, followed by Ruble, Hausler, Hamner, and Davidson. Davidson quickly moved past Hamner to move into fourth. On lap ten Ruble made the move past Davis to take the lead. The races second and final caution flew on lap thirteen when Chris Serio and RS Senter got together in turn three. Serio got the worst of the contact as he ended up in the tire barrier. Serio displayed his displeasure to Senter under caution and received a one lap penalty. Under caution, Davis fell off the pace when an axle came out, effectively ending his race.
It was hammer down after that as the race went green the rest of the way. As soon as the race went back green, Davidson moved past Hausler and Davis to move into second. Ruble stretched his lead to four car lengths over Davidson. Hamner worked his way around Hausler to take third on lap fourteen. The field settled down with Ruble leading Davidson, Hamner, Hausler, and South. South moved past Hausler on lap 34. Odom was making his way back to the front, and followed South past Hausler one lap later. At the halfway point, Ruble led Davidson, Hamner, South, and Odom.
Davidson had erased Ruble’s lead and on lap 57 moved inside to take the lead. At the same time, Odom moved past South to take over the fourth spot. Odom moved into the top three on lap 79. With the race continuing under green conditions, Davidson pulled away from Ruble.
Davidson was several car lengths ahead of Ruble when the checkers flew. Odom crossed the line third. On the final turn, Hamner’s right front tire went down and he went up the track, allowing South to get by for fourth. Hamner gathered up his car and finished fifth.
The local classes made up their Rattler Features which were rained out March 2. In the Street Stock Feature, Brandon Odom led all 35 laps to win. Odom grabbed the lead from the pole and strolled away from the field to take an easy win. With the race going green from lap 7 to the end, Odom stretched his lead over Dennis Thomas each lap. Thomas took over second place when Chris Salter had a flat on lap six. Thomas was no match for Odom, however, and crossed the stripe nearly half a lap behind. Billy Maxie finished third, several car lengths behind Thomas. Salter fought his way back to a fourth place finish. Darryl Blanton finished fifth.
Last year, the only race Kim Bishop didn’t win in Roadrunner was the Rattler Feature. He spun out while leading, but then reeled off 14 straight wins. Bishop continued his streak by winning the Roadrunner Feature. Bobby Rhodes led the first lap before giving way to David Daniels. Daniels led until Billy Maxie took over on lap 20. Maxie led only one lap before Bishop took over for good on lap 21. Maxie was able to keep Bishop in sight, but never made another serious challenge for the lead. His last shot came after a lap 34 caution, but Bishop was able to get away on the restart and take the win. Maxie followed Bishop with Daniels third. Nick Petrie and Ricky Strickland finished fourth and fifth.
In the Coyote Feature, Joseph Chandler took the win in an exciting race that featured several lead changes. Perry Patino grabbed the early lead from the pole and led the first two laps before Floyd Brown took over. Brown pulled out to a four car length lead, but Chandler was on his way through the field. Chandler started seventh, but gained three positions after a lap four restart, moving into second. On a lap 12 restart, Chandler got a good jump and raced Brown into turn one and took the lead. 2011 Coyote Champion Rusty Locklar came from the eleventh starting spot to challenge Chandler late. Locklar even beat Chandler to the stripe to lead lap 31, just before the caution flew for the final time. Once again, Chandler got a good start, and regained the lead after the restart. Chandler led the final four laps to take the win. Locklar and Patino battled for the runner up spot with the 13 year old Patino grabbing the position. Brown was fourth in the final run down. Tony Tidwell was fifth.
Will Mack took the lead on lap two and went on to win the CupLite Feature. Jack Whittle came from the sixth starting spot to finish second. Rick Northey led the first lap but slid back to third at the finish. Karl Williams and Gordon Reese rounded out the top five.
Dustin Monday took the lead on lap 10 and went on to win the Mini Sportsman Feature. Paul Gay led the first nine laps before falling to Monday. Donnie Howell was third, followed by Lon Howell and Mara Andrew.
The next scheduled races at South Alabama Speedway are April 28. A full schedule of local racing is scheduled. For more information, contact the track at (334) 565-3539, or visit the track’s web site at www.southalabamaspeedway.com.
Results
Pro Late Model
Viper Series
1. Chris Davidson
2. Korey Ruble
3. Brandon Odom
4. Justin South
5. Josh Hamner
6. RS Senter
7. Josh Adkins
8. Sam Smith
9. Chris Serio
10. Zak Hausler
11. Lance Blacker
12. Spencer Davis
Street Stock
1. Brandon Odom
2. Dennis Thomas
3. Billy Maxie
4. Chris Salter
5. Darryl Blanton
6. Todd Valdez
7. Barry Shiver
8. Lee McManus
9. Johnny Otto
10. Gary Davis
DNS Chris Lucas
Roadrunner
1. Kim Bishop
2. Billy Maxie
3. David Daniels
4. Nick Petrie
5. Ricky Strickland
6. Mike Wolfe
7. Rick Thompson
8. Robert Berry
9. Matt Culbertson
10. Travis Slawson
11. Bobby Rhodes
12. DJ Jones
13. Jason Monaghan
DNS Wayne Burkett
Coyote
1. Joseph Chandler
2. Perry Patino
3. Rusty Locklar
4. Floyd Brown
5. Tony Tidwell
6. Dylan Wolfe
7. Lee Rogers
8. James Harris
9. Michael Piland
10. Ralph Sanders
11. Wade Burgess
12. Chris Johnson
13. Joshua Wood
CupLite
1. Will Mack
2. Jack Whittle
3. Rick Northey
4. Karl Williams
5. Gordon Reese
6. Carroll Williams
7. Lon Howell
8. Shep Lucas
Mini Sportsman
1. Dustin Monday
2. Paul Day
3. Donnie Howell
4. Lon Howell
5. Mara Andrews
6. Chris Salter
7. Adam Salter