Odom Beats Stout Field for Alabama Pro 200 Win

By Mark Chisum

Although not as big as expected, the field for South Alabama Speedway’s season ending Alabama Pro 200 was one of the stoutest fields this season. Brandon Odom took the lead just ten laps from the end to win the biggest race of his career.

For the sixth time this season, Justin South set the fast time in qualifying, turning a lap of 15.247. South led the field to the green flag, but outside pole sitter Logan Boyett, driving Ronnie Sanders’ #18, got a good start and took the lead on the first lap. Korey Ruble got past South on lap two and went to work on Boyett. On lap seven, Ruble pulled to the inside of the leader to take the top spot. South followed Ruble a couple of laps later as Boyett began to slip back through the field.

Augie Grill started twelfth, but was quickly moving through the field. By lap thirteen, Grill was in third, and got past South on lap 20 to take over second. The race’s first caution flew on lap 24 for Boyett’s spin. Two laps after the restart, on lap 31, Grill swept under Ruble to take the lead. The field settled in and got some laps in with Grill leading Ruble, South, Odom, and Bubba Pollard the top five. Grill didn’t begin lapping the field until lap 81, evidence of the strength of the field.

On lap 84, Ruble flexed his muscle and worked his way around Grill to retake the lead. Ruble led Grill, South, Odom, and Zak Hausler to the planned caution period at the halfway point. Drivers had five laps to change tires and make adjustments to their cars. Pollard stayed on the track to take the point, but when the green flew, Ruble quickly moved past Pollard to regain the lead. Ruble led for five laps before Grill pulled to the inside to grab the lead on lap 106.

Several of the drivers didn’t take on their tires at the halfway point, and when the caution came out on lap 135, they hit pit road for service. Grill was still out front, but Spencer Davis was second. Odom, South, and Hausler followed. Odom got past Davis for second on lap 137. Meanwhile, Ruble, South, and Pollard were coming through the field.

On lap 156, South and Davis got together as South moved under the Georgia teenager in turn three. Chase Elliott and Mason Massey were collected and all four were done for the night. Several other cars were involved but were able to continue. Grill came to the pits for adjustments, giving the lead to Odom.

Ruble got a good restart and took the lead from Odom with Odom putting little resistance. Grill quickly moved back through the field, moving back to third by lap 164. With 25 laps to go, Ruble led Odom, Grill, Pollard, and Dwayne Buggay. Odom stayed on Ruble’s bumper and the pair pulled away from the field.

With ten laps to go, Odom turned inside of Ruble exiting turn four and eased around the leader. Odom led the last ten laps, beating Ruble to the line by .729 seconds to take the win. Grill was third, followed by Pollard and R.S. Senter.

Donald Crocker led flag to flag to win the Modified feature. Heath Mills chased Crocker all race, but couldn’t match Crocker’s pace. Donnie Hamrac closed to Mills’ bumper in the late running, but had to settle for third. Scooter Grice was fourth and Dustin Knowles fifth.

Chris Lucas completed his domination of the Street Stock class, winning the 25-lap Feature. Chris Salter ran second all race, but was several car lengths behind the winner. Dennis Thomas was third with Johnny Otto fourth and Billy Maxie fifth.

In the Roadrunner feature, David Daniels led all 25 laps to take the win. Ricky Strickland pressured Daniels the whole distance, but couldn’t find a way around the leader. Kim Bishop finished third, just behind Strickland. Nick Petrie was fourth as the top four ran nose to tail at the checkers. Jody Davis was fifth.

In Friday night’s 50-lap Coyote feature, Joseph Chandler took the lead on lap 13 and led the rest of the way to take the win. Joshua Wood grabbed the early lead and led until contact with a lapped car on lap 13 sent him to the pits with a flat tire. Chandler took over the point and led the rest of the way to take the win. Danny Thompson was second, followed by John Musgrove, David Williams, and Rusty Locklar.

On Saturday night, Chandler, Thompson, and Lee Rogers put on a great show for the crowd. Thompson led the first 20 laps with Chandler and Rogers close behind. On lap 21, Chandler grabbed the lead. Two laps later, Rogers moved inside of Chandler to grab the top spot. Rogers led the last three laps to take the win. Chandler was second with Thompson third. Williams was fourth and Ricky Strickland fifth.

Shep Lucas led all 25 laps to take home the Cuplite winner’s trophy. Rick Northey came from the fifth starting spot to finish second. Waylon Spivey followed Northey through the field to finish third. Jack Whittle and Gordon Reece rounded out the top five.

In the Mini Sportsman Feature, Paul Gay led all 20 laps to take the win. Dale McClendon was second, followed by Donnie Howell, Adam Salter, and Keith Hutchinson.

The weekend closed out the 2012 season at South Alabama Speedway. The track will reopen with the 37^th Annual Rattler Weekend, scheduled for March 15-17. More information on the Rattler Weekend will be posted on the track’s web site, www.southalabamaspeedway.com, in the near future.

Results

Pro Late Model

Alabama Pro 200

1. Brandon Odom

2. Korey Ruble

3. Augie Grill

4. Bubba Pollard

5. RS Senter

6. Kyle Bryant

7. Logan Boyett

8. Shanky Smith

9. Josh Adkins

10. Dwayne Buggay

11. Zak Hausler

12. Mason Massey

13. Chase Elliott

14. Justin South

15. Spencer Davis

16. Will Mack

Modified

1. Donald Crocker

2. Heath Mills

3. Donnie Hamrac

4. Brandon Howell

5. Scooter Grice

6. Dustin Knowles

7. Terry Malone

8. Rick McCarson

9. Chris Cotto

10. Kip Whitehead

11. Terry Davis

12. Thumper Grice

Street Stock

1. Chris Lucas

2. Chris Salter

3. Dennis Thomas

4. Johnny Otto

5. Billy Maxie

6. Darrell Cawley

Roadrunner

1. David Daniels

2. Ricky Strickland

3. Kim Bishop

4. Nick Petrie

5. Jody Davis

6. Mike Wolfe

7. Devin Allen

8. Bobby Rhodes

9. Joseph Chandler

10. Matt Culbertson

DNS Joseph Wyrosdick

Coyote (Friday)

1. Joseph Chandler

2. Danny Thompson

3. John Musgrove

4. David Williams

5. Rusty Locklar

6. Joshua Wood

7. Lee Rogers

8. Dylan Wolfe

9. Brian Missildine

10. Ralph Sanders

11. Michael Piland

12. James Harris

13. Adam Missildine

14. Tony Tidwell

15. Cameron Grissett

16. Michael Smith

17. Chris Till

18. Perry Patino

Coyote (Saturday)

1. Lee Rogers

2. Joseph Chandler

3. Danny Thompson

4. David Williams

5. Michael Smith

6. Ricky Strickland

7. Michael Piland

8. Brian Missildine

9. Wade Burgans

10. Adam Missildine

11. Cameron Grissett

CupLite

1. Shep Lucas

2. Rick Northey

3. Waylon Spivey

4. Jack Whittle

5. Lance Blacker

6. Karl Williams

7. Kevin Sherwood

8. Carroll Williams

9. Cory Tillman

DNS Jason Fowler

Mini Sportsman

1. Paul Gay

2. Dale McClendon

3. Donnie Howell

4. Adam Salter

5. Keith Hutchinson

6. Bob Jones

7. Weston Spivey

8. Todd Prescott

9. Melvin Cooper

Motorcycle (Friday)

1. Roc McLendon

2. John Cohorn

3. Davo Majzun

4. Shannon Norris

5. James Hinkle

6. Chris Graze

7. Skylar Gauvin

8. Austin O’Conner

9. Patrick Wurst

10. Randy Randall

11. Mary Liz

12. Van Rayburn

DNS Cameron Joyce

Motorcycle (Saturday)

1. Rob McLendon

2. John Cohorn

3. Davo Majzun

4. Chris Glaze

5. James Hinkle

6. Sam Joyce

7. Skylar Gauvin

8. Austin O’Conner

9. Brian Smetana

10. Josh Baxley

11. Patrick Wurst

12. Robert Mc Elroy