Coastal Plains Speedway Results

UARA STARS Results
Jun 19th, 2006
Web posted by Wink Bodenhamer

-- Rookie Lucas Ransone takes second

On a warm sunny day at Coastal Plains raceway Chad Mullis inched his way forward thru the field after a 27th place qualifying effort on what started out looking like another Jamie Yelton show. Jamie jumped out front from the pole to lead the first 61 circuits of the race. At that time returning UARA driver Tony took over the lead for the next 37 circuits. Kyle Grissom was our third leader of the night with leading 56 laps then Tony Grady regained the lead for one more lap and the final lead change came to Mulliis with Mullis taking the checker in his first race with the UARA in 2006.

Kyle Gregson of South Carolina was the first casualty of the night falling off the pace with engine trouble on lap 15.

Caution number one came on lap 24 with the Clay Jones car spinning in turn three after contact with the car of Mark Setzer. At this point of the race Kyle Grissom has moved from 9th starting position up to 6th and seems to be a strong contender. Eventual race winner Chad Mullis is running 21st at this time and on the move up through the field.

Caution number two falls when the lapped car of Carl Horton slides up the track collection Jason York in the process, however Jason manages to continue for a while finishing 80 laps on the track.

The third caution on lap 48 came after the spin of Kirk Leone in turn 2 that involved the cars of KC Cunningham and Mark Setzer. Cunningham will be the only car to continue in the race from this mishap. Setzer suffered a steering box problem during this caution. The cars of Kenneth Mercer also goes out on the 41st lap.

Lap 74 finds Mark King spinning in turn 2. On the restart several cars piling up in turn 4 on lap 79. Yelton and Yontz have a hard racing accident which unfortunately collects several other cars including the 25 car of Ross Furr which took wing going up and over the hood of Yelton’s car. Also involved in this accident were the cars of Jason York, Lucas Ransone, Matt Lassiter and eventual winner Chad Mullis. Most of these cars will continue on with much battered looks to them.

Scooter Hillis has a run in with the wall and ends his night on lap 99 going to the pits.

The caution flies again as the Brandon Ward car spins on lap 101 collecting the already battered cars of Jamie Yelton and Ross Furr.

Caution number 7 falls on lap 113 with debris on the track.

On a caution filled night the 8th caution falls on lap 127 when the cars of Matt Lassiter and Mike Giessen get together in turn four. After a few laps of caution Race Director Scott Walker called for the red flag when it was determined that the Lassiter and Giessen cars were hooked together and the track crew would need extra time to separate them.

At this point of the race Kyle Grissom is in the lead and we plan on a green white checker finish. Grissom spins on the restart bringing out the 9th and final caution of the night. From this incident Tony Grady is penalized for rough driving which in turn hands the lead over to eventual race winner Chad Mullis who all through this night has been sneaking up to the front waiting for opportunity to open it’s door for him and veteran crew chief Gary Hargett.

The UARA staff started the day with the resignation via a racing forum of race director Brian Vance. The UARA staff jumped into action and pulled a shorthanded staff together. Scott Walker has been assigned as the new race director. Brian always had a backup crew in the tower to help him and they were not present for Scott’s first night out so we commend him for a job well done with a limited tower staff and tech crew.

We were missing our regular scoring staff. Chip our chief scorer was under the weather but he is on the mend. Ms. Pat was tending to her father whom with much regret we have to say passed away Sunday from difficulties after he suffered a second heart attack Wednesday night. We express our deepest sympathy to Pat and her family.

Our technical staff of Robert Leonard, Bobby Helton, Wayne Burke, Gregg Walker and Roger Goforth did a great job of getting things together with Harold Crook and Kerry Bodenhamer assisting. Wink and Scott took over the helm for qualifying and had it posted quickly after completion of time trials. Special thanks go out to Kimberly, Taylor and Tracy Dean for their assistance during the day in various areas where needed.

We also express much gratitude to the Coastal Plains scoring staff of June, Sue and their assistants for coming on board to score for us during the race. As always Chip will overview the score sheets & score cards Monday night before posting the official finish.
 

Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you will land among the STARS