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AKRA Kicks off Big Eight
By Bruce C. Walls
AKRA Media Director
JASPER, FL-With a million dollar season payout up for grabs racers in the new eight race AKRA Unilli/Uniron Tires National Dirt Series competed in round 1Saturday January 31st at CrossRoads Motorplex in Jasper, FL. $32,000 was paid out that day. Charlotte, N.C. competitor Jesse Riggins ruled the day with a hat trick. He started with a narrow 0.506-seconds win over Lancaster; S.C. based Jamie Knopf in the day’s first feature Clone Lite. The win earned Riggins $2,000 of the $8,000 he would earn that day.
Riggins turned in the best qualifying lap with a 14.508-seconds rounding of the 0.2500-mile dirt oval reaching 61.711-MPH. Just 0.052-seoconds separated him from top qualifier Jerry Mullis who turned in a 14.456-seconds spin for the top starting position. Riggins started seventh with Knopf ahead of him in fourth. Knopf turned a 14.509-seconds lap for a fourth place start.
When the initial green flag waved Riggins mounted his charge for the front. Before long both were both near the front. Their battle continued down to Riggins’ narrow win over Knopf. Knopf collected $750
“We had a lot of good racing and a lot of close finishes,” AKRA President/CEO Bill McCutcheon commented. “The Unilli Tires worked good here there were a lot of fast record laps turned here today which says a lot about how they will perform this season.”
Brittany Pirolla powered her way from a 12th place start to a third place finish just 0.928-seconds behind Knopf as the top three roared across the stripe nose-to-tail. Further back Daniel Simmons and Bryce Fawntleroy finished fourth and fifth. Pirola pocketed $500, Daniel Simmons earned $175 and Bryce Fawntleroy collected $125.
Knopf captured Clone Medium with Mullis just 0.196-seconds behind him. Riggins struggled to a 13th place finish dropping from the outside pole next to Knopf. Knopf was the fastest of fifteen qualifiers turning a 14.304-seconds lap that was 0.044-seconds slower than Riggins best time.
Knopf quickly shot out front as Riggins dropped into the field after several initial challenges. Crossing behind Mullis for the top five were Nick Scott, Chad Haithcock and Pirolla. Knopf collected $2,000 for the win, Mullis made $750, Bryce Fawntleroy earned $500, ‘Wild Cat’ Mallory was fourth across the strip for a $250 payout and finishing fifth earned Pirola $125.
A 14.364-seconds lap put Riggins on Pro Clone Warm Up 375’s pole. Mullis (14.378-seconds) started next to him. Sharing row two were Knopf (14.469-seconds) and Haithcock (14.378-seconds). Another competitive class got underway when the green flag flew. Riggins’ held a narrow lead as Haithcock, Daniel Simmons and Mullis battled for second. The heated battle was settled at the stripe where Haithcock trailed Riggins by just 0.155-seconds. Simmons showed third, Mullis fourth and Chip Brindle followed in fifth. Riggins pocketed $1,000 for the win. Payouts for second through fifth were; $400, $250, $125 and $75.
Riggins finished the day the way he started. This time in Pro-Clone 375 where he battled his way from a fourth place start to first across the stripe for the day’s largest payout $5,000. Fawntleroy was the fastest qualifier turning in a 14.415-seconds fast time rounding. Haithcock started on front row with him with a 14.461-seconds rounding.
In the final laps Scott was right there behind Riggins trying to take the lead but he fell short by just 0.509-seconds. Haithcock was third across the stripe followed by Fawntleroy and Preston Sparks. Scott scored a grand for his second place finish. Haithcock, Fawntleroy and Preston Sparks each earned $500 and sixth through tenth received a set of Unilli Tires.
Three racers were double winners. Brady Penny topped the third feature, Non-Pro Clone with a 0.139-seconds edge over Nick Ruby. Brady earned the pole with a 14.440-seconds run. Michael Smith was second fastest qualifier at 14.537-seconds. Penny pulled out early then had Ruby close in at the finish. Chip Brindle, Brice Boatright and Lindsey Hughes rounded out the top five.
Penny also produced Non-Pro Clone 375’s top qualifying lap with a 14.336-seconds lap. Ruby shared front row this time but trailed a distant 1.958 seconds at the stripe. This time Drew Hammonds, Sparks, Smith finished out the top five.
From third and fourth place starts Eli Beets bested fields of 11 and 7 in Junior 2 and Pro Junior 1. Top qualifying times of 14.686-seconds and 14.940-seconds earned Boo McDonald and Kole Platt the Junior 1’s front row. The excitement began at the drop of the green flag. Beets charged through the field for the front. Behind him JoJo Wilkinson and ‘Wild Child’ Landen Cloud were fighting hard for second. When they reached the striped for the final time Wilkinson trailed Beets by 0.569-seconds. Cloud followed in third. Ethan Endicott and Cody Stevens showed fourth and fifth.
McDonald was also Pro-Junior 2’s fastest qualifier spinning a 14.629-seconds lap for the top starting spot. Wilkinson was second fastest qualifier with a 14.746-seconds lap. Beets best qualifying time of 15.210-seconds earned him a fourth place starting spot. From there Beets battled his way to the front in time to beat McDonald by 0.150-seconds. This time Wilkinson, Cameron Saunders and Gator Mattice completed the top five.
Junior class winners received $1,000, second place pocketed $400, third earned $250, fourth $125 and fifth $75.
A 14.924-seconds top-qualifying lap earned Adam Bedenbaugh Super Heavy Clone’s pole. Bedenbaugh blasted away from the pole virtually unchallenged ending a perfect run comfortably 3.713-seconds ahead of Josh Haskins. Further back Robert Ledford, Tommy Bagott and Jordan Richards completed the top five.
Haskins was Clone Super Heavy’s pole winner with a 15.026-seconds lap. Richards was second fastest at 15.145-seconds. Bedenbaugh struggled in qualifying turning in a 15.506-seconds rounding for a fourth place start. When the initial green flag waved Bedenbaugh began his march to the front. He quickly passed his competition leaving them to their own battles. His decisive rule ended 20-laps later when he comfortably crossed the strip with a 3.545-seconds advantage over Ledford. Bagott was third, Richards fourth and Haskins fifth.
Nick Scott showed 19-competitors across Clone Heavy’s stripe with Haithcock glued to his tailpipe just 0.204-seconds later. Sparks, pole winner Mullis and Knopf, who finished where he started, rounded out the top five.
Scott pocketed $2,000 for his effort, Haithcock claimed $$750, Sparks earned $500, Mullis made $250 and Knopf earned $125
Single winners also included Boo McDonald scoring Junior 1’s win over JoJo Wilkinson with a comfortable 4.003-seconds advantage. Beets was third across the stripe followed by Mattice and Cameron Saunders.
Ace Grey took the Rookie Feature turning 15-laps in a total time of 5.06.109-minutes. He was presented with a set of Unilli Tires. Cindy Johnson produced Predator Heavy’s win. She turned an impressive 16.036-seconds lap the second time around. Johnson also received a set of Unilli Tires.
Clay Harris capped Junior 3’s field. After producing the pole winning lap in 14.765-seconds Harris out ran Daniel Larrimore finishing with a whopping 4.7672-seconds cushion. Outside pole winner Andy Ward crossed third followed by Ethan Endicott in fourth for the field.
Wayne Howe posted Pro Open’s win from outside of front row. Pole winner Brad Nicosia produced the day’s fastest lap time in 13.794-seconds reaching 65.246-MPH. Howe’s fast time was 14.144. Howe roared away from the outside pole putting the field down a lap before it was done.
A full list of payouts can be found at www.4cycle.com under the southeast section. Results are posted on www.mylaps.com.
Round 2 of the eight race series will be held at Laurens County Speedway in Dexter, GA February 20-21.
By Bruce C. Walls
AKRA Media Director
JASPER, FL-With a million dollar season payout up for grabs racers in the new eight race AKRA Unilli/Uniron Tires National Dirt Series competed in round 1Saturday January 31st at CrossRoads Motorplex in Jasper, FL. $32,000 was paid out that day. Charlotte, N.C. competitor Jesse Riggins ruled the day with a hat trick. He started with a narrow 0.506-seconds win over Lancaster; S.C. based Jamie Knopf in the day’s first feature Clone Lite. The win earned Riggins $2,000 of the $8,000 he would earn that day.
Riggins turned in the best qualifying lap with a 14.508-seconds rounding of the 0.2500-mile dirt oval reaching 61.711-MPH. Just 0.052-seoconds separated him from top qualifier Jerry Mullis who turned in a 14.456-seconds spin for the top starting position. Riggins started seventh with Knopf ahead of him in fourth. Knopf turned a 14.509-seconds lap for a fourth place start.
When the initial green flag waved Riggins mounted his charge for the front. Before long both were both near the front. Their battle continued down to Riggins’ narrow win over Knopf. Knopf collected $750
“We had a lot of good racing and a lot of close finishes,” AKRA President/CEO Bill McCutcheon commented. “The Unilli Tires worked good here there were a lot of fast record laps turned here today which says a lot about how they will perform this season.”
Brittany Pirolla powered her way from a 12th place start to a third place finish just 0.928-seconds behind Knopf as the top three roared across the stripe nose-to-tail. Further back Daniel Simmons and Bryce Fawntleroy finished fourth and fifth. Pirola pocketed $500, Daniel Simmons earned $175 and Bryce Fawntleroy collected $125.
Knopf captured Clone Medium with Mullis just 0.196-seconds behind him. Riggins struggled to a 13th place finish dropping from the outside pole next to Knopf. Knopf was the fastest of fifteen qualifiers turning a 14.304-seconds lap that was 0.044-seconds slower than Riggins best time.
Knopf quickly shot out front as Riggins dropped into the field after several initial challenges. Crossing behind Mullis for the top five were Nick Scott, Chad Haithcock and Pirolla. Knopf collected $2,000 for the win, Mullis made $750, Bryce Fawntleroy earned $500, ‘Wild Cat’ Mallory was fourth across the strip for a $250 payout and finishing fifth earned Pirola $125.
A 14.364-seconds lap put Riggins on Pro Clone Warm Up 375’s pole. Mullis (14.378-seconds) started next to him. Sharing row two were Knopf (14.469-seconds) and Haithcock (14.378-seconds). Another competitive class got underway when the green flag flew. Riggins’ held a narrow lead as Haithcock, Daniel Simmons and Mullis battled for second. The heated battle was settled at the stripe where Haithcock trailed Riggins by just 0.155-seconds. Simmons showed third, Mullis fourth and Chip Brindle followed in fifth. Riggins pocketed $1,000 for the win. Payouts for second through fifth were; $400, $250, $125 and $75.
Riggins finished the day the way he started. This time in Pro-Clone 375 where he battled his way from a fourth place start to first across the stripe for the day’s largest payout $5,000. Fawntleroy was the fastest qualifier turning in a 14.415-seconds fast time rounding. Haithcock started on front row with him with a 14.461-seconds rounding.
In the final laps Scott was right there behind Riggins trying to take the lead but he fell short by just 0.509-seconds. Haithcock was third across the stripe followed by Fawntleroy and Preston Sparks. Scott scored a grand for his second place finish. Haithcock, Fawntleroy and Preston Sparks each earned $500 and sixth through tenth received a set of Unilli Tires.
Three racers were double winners. Brady Penny topped the third feature, Non-Pro Clone with a 0.139-seconds edge over Nick Ruby. Brady earned the pole with a 14.440-seconds run. Michael Smith was second fastest qualifier at 14.537-seconds. Penny pulled out early then had Ruby close in at the finish. Chip Brindle, Brice Boatright and Lindsey Hughes rounded out the top five.
Penny also produced Non-Pro Clone 375’s top qualifying lap with a 14.336-seconds lap. Ruby shared front row this time but trailed a distant 1.958 seconds at the stripe. This time Drew Hammonds, Sparks, Smith finished out the top five.
From third and fourth place starts Eli Beets bested fields of 11 and 7 in Junior 2 and Pro Junior 1. Top qualifying times of 14.686-seconds and 14.940-seconds earned Boo McDonald and Kole Platt the Junior 1’s front row. The excitement began at the drop of the green flag. Beets charged through the field for the front. Behind him JoJo Wilkinson and ‘Wild Child’ Landen Cloud were fighting hard for second. When they reached the striped for the final time Wilkinson trailed Beets by 0.569-seconds. Cloud followed in third. Ethan Endicott and Cody Stevens showed fourth and fifth.
McDonald was also Pro-Junior 2’s fastest qualifier spinning a 14.629-seconds lap for the top starting spot. Wilkinson was second fastest qualifier with a 14.746-seconds lap. Beets best qualifying time of 15.210-seconds earned him a fourth place starting spot. From there Beets battled his way to the front in time to beat McDonald by 0.150-seconds. This time Wilkinson, Cameron Saunders and Gator Mattice completed the top five.
Junior class winners received $1,000, second place pocketed $400, third earned $250, fourth $125 and fifth $75.
A 14.924-seconds top-qualifying lap earned Adam Bedenbaugh Super Heavy Clone’s pole. Bedenbaugh blasted away from the pole virtually unchallenged ending a perfect run comfortably 3.713-seconds ahead of Josh Haskins. Further back Robert Ledford, Tommy Bagott and Jordan Richards completed the top five.
Haskins was Clone Super Heavy’s pole winner with a 15.026-seconds lap. Richards was second fastest at 15.145-seconds. Bedenbaugh struggled in qualifying turning in a 15.506-seconds rounding for a fourth place start. When the initial green flag waved Bedenbaugh began his march to the front. He quickly passed his competition leaving them to their own battles. His decisive rule ended 20-laps later when he comfortably crossed the strip with a 3.545-seconds advantage over Ledford. Bagott was third, Richards fourth and Haskins fifth.
Nick Scott showed 19-competitors across Clone Heavy’s stripe with Haithcock glued to his tailpipe just 0.204-seconds later. Sparks, pole winner Mullis and Knopf, who finished where he started, rounded out the top five.
Scott pocketed $2,000 for his effort, Haithcock claimed $$750, Sparks earned $500, Mullis made $250 and Knopf earned $125
Single winners also included Boo McDonald scoring Junior 1’s win over JoJo Wilkinson with a comfortable 4.003-seconds advantage. Beets was third across the stripe followed by Mattice and Cameron Saunders.
Ace Grey took the Rookie Feature turning 15-laps in a total time of 5.06.109-minutes. He was presented with a set of Unilli Tires. Cindy Johnson produced Predator Heavy’s win. She turned an impressive 16.036-seconds lap the second time around. Johnson also received a set of Unilli Tires.
Clay Harris capped Junior 3’s field. After producing the pole winning lap in 14.765-seconds Harris out ran Daniel Larrimore finishing with a whopping 4.7672-seconds cushion. Outside pole winner Andy Ward crossed third followed by Ethan Endicott in fourth for the field.
Wayne Howe posted Pro Open’s win from outside of front row. Pole winner Brad Nicosia produced the day’s fastest lap time in 13.794-seconds reaching 65.246-MPH. Howe’s fast time was 14.144. Howe roared away from the outside pole putting the field down a lap before it was done.
A full list of payouts can be found at www.4cycle.com under the southeast section. Results are posted on www.mylaps.com.
Round 2 of the eight race series will be held at Laurens County Speedway in Dexter, GA February 20-21.