Blacker Finds Way Back to Victory Lane

By Mark Chisum

Lance Blacker hasn’t forgotten how to get to South Alabama Speedway’s Victory Lane after all. Although Blacker is always near the top of the Modified finishing order, he hadn’t visited Victory Lane since 2008. Saturday night, he took the lead on lap 12 and went on to win the feature race.

Mario Lupi grabbed the early lead from the pole and led the first two laps. Todd Blackburn moved to the front to lead the next four laps. Two time defending Modified Champion Heath Mills worked his way past Blackburn to take the lead on lap eight. While the lead was changing hands up front, Blacker was making his way through the field from his eighth starting spot. Blacker followed Mills past Blackburn, and four laps later took control of the race. Once out front, Blacker eased away from Mills to take the win. Blackburn followed in third, with Lupi fourth and Terry Davis fifth.

In the Street Stock Feature, Chris Lucas and Brandon Odom battled all race for the win. In the end, Lucas was able to hold Odom of to take the win. Odom grabbed the early lead from the pole, and led the first nine laps before Lucas got to the inside to take the lead. Odom wouldn’t go away and pressured Lucas the remainder of the race, pulling alongside a couple of times. Lucas held his ground and beat Odom to the line to win his second feature of the year. Johnny Otto challenged for most of the race but slid back in the end, finishing third. Chris Salter was fourth with Billy Maxie fifth.

Mike Wolfe led flag to flag to collect his first Roadrunner Feature win of the season. Wolfe eased out to a comfortable lead early in the race but Ricky Strickland came on during the middle portion of the 25 lap feature to challenge Wolfe. As the laps wound down, Strickland slipped in turn one allowing Wolfe to ease away. David Daniels was third at the end. Kim Bishop was fourth and Nick Petrie fifth.

Rusty Locklar took the lead on lap ten and sped away with the Coyote Feature win. Lee Rogers took the lead from the outside pole and led the first nine laps. Locklar, starting eighth, quickly moved through the field and raced past Rogers to take the lead on the tenth circuit. Once out front, Locklar built a commanding lead over the field. His large lead was erased with a caution on lap 19. However, when the race went back green, Locklar again sped away from his competition. Joseph Chandler came from the tenth starting spot to second, but was no match for Locklar on this night. Danny Thompson finished third, followed by Ricky Harris and Dylan Wolfe.

Lon Howell led all 20 laps to take the win in the Mini Sportsman Feature. Donnie Howell was able to keep Lon Howeel close but settled for second. Adam Salter was third, Keith Hutchinson fourth, and Dale McLendon fifth.

Action continues at the Kinston oval June 30 with the first of the track’s Five Buck Doubleheader. The Pro Late Model Viper Series Timber 100 headlines the schedule. Also on the night’s schedule are features for the Modified, Street Stock, Roadrunner, Coyote, and CupLite classes. In addition to the four wheel action, the Southern Motorcycle Asphalt Racing Series will provide plenty of two wheel action. Admission is only $5.00 for ages 6-60, everybody else is free. The second half of the doubleheader is scheduled for July 7, and will again feature the Pro Late Model Viper Series. For more information, contact the track at (334) 565-3539, or visit the track’s web site at www.southalabamaspeedway.com.

Results

Modified

1. Lance Blacker

2. Heath Mills

3. Todd Blackburn

4. Mario Lupi

5. Terry Davis

6. David Beale

7. Ricky McCarson

8. Brandon Howell

Street Stock

1. Chris Lucas

2. Brandon Odom

3. Johnny Otto

4. Chris Salter

5. Billy Maxie

6. Darrell Cawley

7. Dennis Thomas

8. Bruce Naylor

Roadrunner

1. Mike Wolfe

2. Ricky Strickland

3. David Daniels

4. Kim Bishop

5. Nick Petrie

6. Rick Thompson

7. Devin Allen

8. Danny Monaghan

9. Bobby Rhodes

10. Joseph Wyrosdick

Coyote

1. Rusty Locklar

2. Joseph Chandler

3. Danny Thompson

4. Ricky Harris

5. Dylan Wolfe

6. Michael Stokes

7. Chris Johnson

8. Tony Tidwell

9. Wade Burgans

10. Michael Piland

11. Ralph Sanders

12. Lee Rogers

Mini Sportsman

1. Lon Howell

2. Donnie Howell

3. Adam Salter

4. Keith Hutchinson

5. Dale McLendon