Wendell Wallace, locked and loaded before the start of the CCSDS event at Riverside. (Woody Hampton)

CCSDS: Wallace Makes Triumphant Return to West Memphis For Series Curtain Closer

Ben Shelton, series p.r.

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. – Oct. 8. Wendell Wallace became the first two-time winner of the Bartlett Hardwood Floor Service Midsouth Dirt Track Championship by topping the COMP Cams Super Dirt Series (CCSDS) event at Riverside International Speedway on Saturday night.

With 35 Late Model teams, representing six states, entering the $2,000-to-win finale for the CCSDS, and it was Wallace who, despite not competing at the oval in over 20 years, started the night by setting fast time around the 1/4 mile oval with a 14.612 second lap.

Before breaking a valve in his engine, Tanner English (right) was the only real challenge to Wendell wallace (left). English beat Wallace in his heat race, but was forced to pull of the track in the feature after making a lap. (Woody Hampton)

Shane Harris (top) put in the strongest showing of the season with a second place to Wallace at Riverside. Polesitter Dewayne Kiefer (inside) dropped back to fourth at the finish. (Woody Hampton)

Heat race action would see Dewaine Kiefer and Tanner English earn front row starting spots for the 35-lap feature. However, before the green flag could ever drop English would retire pit side with a broken rocker arm, which moved Jon Kirby up to the outside front row.

As the field took the green and went into turn one, Kirby got sideways in front of the field, resulting in a six car pileup, which caused blocked track and a red flag. Curtis Cook and Mike Carr got the worst of the damage, seeing their nights come to an early end.

Jamie Dacus knows his way around the Memphis area track, and he showed it with a third place finish after getting under Dewayne Kiefer. (Woody Hampton)

Justin Glover's night ended during preliminariy action when he got into the fence and created an almost two-hour red flag period. (Woody Hampton)

The next attempt at a start would be successful as Kiefer jumped to the top spot with Wallace and Hall in pursuit. Kiefer led the first three laps before Hall made a strong move exiting turn two to take the lead on the fourth circuit, but the caution flag would wave before a lap could be completed, and Kiefer was reinstated as the leader.

The ensuing double file restart saw Wallace charge the high-side of the track in turns one and two as he rocketed to the lead as the field completed lap four. Once out front Wallace began to creep away from the field while behind him, drivers were on the move. As Kiefer and Hall continued to run second and third, respectively, Shane Harris had advanced from 13th to fourth and Kyle Beard had advanced from 14th to fifth by lap 10.

Corinth, Mississippi's Dean Carpenter races CCSDS regular Kyle Beard after dropping in on the Arkansas based tour. (Woody Hampton)

Lap 11 saw bad luck strike for the third-running Hall as he spun entering turn one to bring out the caution. As the race went green again, Wallace continued to drive away from the pack as the race enjoyed a long, green flag run. The caution wouldn't wave again until lap 28, when championship contender, Kyle Beard, saw his season of bad luck continue as a blown motor forced him to relinquish his third running position.

The green flag waved for the final time after the Beard caution, and from that point, it would be Wallace running away from the field to claim the $2,000 win over Shane Harris, Jamie Dacus (started 11th), Dewayne Kiefer, and Clay Fisher.

Terry Henson's car made it's final circuit around one of the Arkansas driver's favorite race tracks. The veteran driver passed after a massive heart attack on Sept. 22nd. (Woody Hampton)

Brandon Smith overcame having to utilize a provisional to advance from the 19th starting spot to an eighth place finish. The performance secured him as the 2011 COMP Cams Super Dirt Series Champion. Kyle Beard, Jon MItchell, Jon Kirby, and Curtis Cook rounded out the top five in the final series' standings.

Harris was the recipient of the Larry Shaw Race Cars Hard Charger Award after charging from his 13th starting spot to an second place finish.

The Quarter Master Hard Luck Award went to Kyle Beard.

Mike Bilbro received a $600 bonus for being the top finishing Crate Late Model. The bonus money was posted by Huffman Motorsports, Matt Martin, Bobby Martin, and Tri State Truck & Trailer Repair. 

New CCSDS champion Brandon Smith is joined by his entourage at Riverside. Despite having to take a provisional start at the West Memphis, Ark. track, the title was his. (Woody Hampton)

Oct. 8 - CCSDS at Riverside Int'l Speedway 1) Wendell Wallace, 2) Shane Harris, 3) Jamie Dacus, 4) Dewayne Kiefer, 5) Clay Fisher, 6) Jon Kirby, 7) Todd Hall, 8) Brandon Smith (prov.), 9) Keith Lawson, 10) Ian Samuel, 11) Larry Potter, 12) Nathan Brown, 13) Mike Bilbro, 14) Kyle Beard, 15) Dean Carpenter, 16) Richie Kirkman, 17) Jeff Sloan, 18) Curtis Cook, 19) Mike Carr, 20) Tanner English Fast Time (39 entries): Wallace (14.612); Heat winners: Kiefer, Hall, English, Kirby; B-Main winners: Harris, Beard, Bilbro.
Woody Hampton photo