Allen Murray and crew after a big first win at Beebe Speedway. (Woody Hampton) CCSDS: Murray a Texas Surprise at Series Beebe Speedway Stop Ben Shelton, series P.R. BEEBE, Ark. - April 8. The COMP Cams Super Dirt Series opened its 2011 season on Friday at Beebe Speedway, and holding the big $2,000 check at the end of the 35-lap main event was Allen Murray, of San Antonio. Topping the 26 entries in pole qualifying was Greenbrier, Ark. driver, Jack Sullivan, who earned the most points in heat race action in his #1s GRT House Car. He was joined on the front row by Jon Mitchell of Texarkana, Texas,
Jon Mitchell controlled the pace at Beebe until he jumped the cushion late in the race and left an opening for Allen Murray. Mitchell dropped to third, then climbed the wall after the checkered flag when winner Murray spun. (Woody Hampton) who edged out to the narrow lead over Sullivan, Bill Frye, Murray, and Gary Christian. During the opening laps, Mitchell inched away from the field as Sullivan and Frye began a spirited battle for the second spot. The race would see a series of caution flags during the first half, which kept the leaders close, but Mitchell maintained the top spot as the field continued to battle two and three-wide. All eyes would turn to the battle for second as Sullivan and Frye continued an intense battle for the position. Lap 25
Wendell Wallace moves under #11 Jon Kirby on his way to fourth place in at Beebe Speedway. (Woody Hampton) would saw the culmination of the battle as contact between the two down the backstretch sent Sullivan spinning out of control to the top of turn three. After a few intense moments under caution, Sullivan would ultimately decide to retire. As the field prepared to restart, the top five running order was Mitchell, Frye, Murray, Christian, and Wendell Wallace, who was making his first appearance in the top five. On the restart, Murray shot past Frye for second, and two laps later, Frye brought out the final caution as he slowed with a flat tire.
Teenager Austin Rettig couldn't have asked for a mutch better weekend, with a win in West Memphis and a runner up finish at Beebe, Arkansas. Kyle Beard drove his #86 to sixth place. (Woody Hampton) On the restart, Mitchell continued to battle a treacherous cushion, and on lap 33, the cushion won, allowing Murray and Wallace to move past. Murray went on to lead the last two laps to claim the win. In his excitement, Murray spun in turn one after taking the checkered flag causing several drivers to scatter, including third finishing Mitchell, who climbed the turn one wall with his car to end the chaotic race.
Pennsylvania transplant Allen Murray, of San Antonio, gets under Bill Frye for second before capitalizing on a Jon Mitchell slip to take the win in the Comp Cams Super Dirt Series event at Beebe, Ark. (Woody Hampton)
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%20-%20car%20-%20Woody%20Hampton.jpg "Jon Mitchell - Beebe Speedway CCSDS")
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Big Gains for Hubbard, Pearson, Ogle - The A-Team Has Been Updated 05-15-12
Scott James battles #13 Barry Doss in heat race action at Florence (Ky.) Speedway, but in the $2,000-to-win feature, the only thing anyone saw was the tail end of James' #81 car. (Roy Walker)
After plenty of trash-talking via the electronic media between Jeff Matthews and Ivedent Lloyd last week, it was #21 Lloyd who got the final word as he reeled in #33 Matthews to win Friday's LM feature at Oclala, Fla.'s Bubba Raceway Park. (R.E. Wing)
Fans at Markleysburg, Pa.'s Roaring Knob Motorsports Comlex were treated to dual LM features Saturday - one a makeup from a May 5th rainout. (Above) Tim Senic challenges eventual regular feature winner Chuck Harper, while Jared Hawkins (below) claimed the makeup race. (Tommy Micheals)
Henley, Missouri's Jason Russell leads the way to Victory Lane in the ULMS Late Model feature at Lucas Oil Speedway Saturday. (Chris Bork)
Some fierce racing action at Lucas Oil speedway. (Chris Bork)
Dalton, Ga.'s Craig Reece returned to Dixie Speedway Saturday and led all the way to win the Crate LM victory. (Steve Hixson)
Ray Guss Jr. races last week's Quad City Speedway winner, Mike Murphy, Jr. This time, it was advantage Guss. (Chris Damitz)
With a strong motor back into his mount, Veteran Lamar Scoggins claimed last Friday's Crate LM victory at Boyd's Speedway. (Steve Hixson)
Veteran racer Lance Matthees navigates Spring Lake, Minnesota's Deer Creek Speedway before taking Saturday's WISSOTA Late Model checkers. (Jason Durst)
Racing hard at mid-pack, it's the dueling 55s of Cory Mahder (inside) and Greg Nippoldt at Deer Creek. (Jason Durst)
Ryan King (above and below) swept both the Ltd. Late Model and Crate Late Model features Saturday at 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, Tenn. (Chad Wells)
Still riding his wave in Iowa, Mike Murphy, Jr. in early action before taking the main event win at Davenport last Friday. (Chris Damitz)
Jason Jameson ran a gauntlet to finally capture another win Friday night at Moler
Raceway Park (see main page). (Roy
Walker)
After holding back a charge from Alex Ferree, Chub Frank drove home with a Friday night win at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. (John Stivason)
Bobby Pierce, Brett Sievert, and Mike Glynn race in a tight pack in Kankakee (Ill.) Speedway's "Crosstown Cup", but (below) it was ultimately Shawn Toczek (42) here racing the high side of Mike Provenzano, who sailed to the win. (Dan Simpson)
NALMS Suspends Remaining Season
In a statement released to the racing media Monday, Northern All All Stars Late Model Series (NALMS) owners Shawn Hall and Bob Mooney relased the following statement:
To all NALMS drivers and fans,
Northern Allstars Late Model Series regrets to inform all of our drivers and fans that as of today (May 14, 2012) we will suspend all series races for the remaining 2012 season. The primary reason for the decision to discontinue the series was mainly economics. Tracks, teams and fans are having a hard time these days with the cost of living in general. With the cost of fuel, parts, tires, tickets and lodging, many people just cannot afford to travel to our shows, so we feel it's best to stop for now and try to regroup for the 2013 season.
Our series needs to be able to have at least 18 to 20 shows to cover our cost of putting on these shows and our drivers point funds. With many tracks cutting back on their special events and other tracks just choosing not to have specials at all, it's has really cut our options for race tracks down to a very few unless you are willing to travel several hours away from the Central Illinois area, and that is not cost effective for the racing teams or fans.
In closing we would like to thank all of the drivers and fans whom have supported the series over the years and we hope to be able to come back with a bigger and better season for everyone in 2013.
A-Team Leaders from 1997-2011 (Click on link for complete rundown)
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