Hughes claims 5th modified victory

By Cheryl Licklider, Staff Writer

June 29, 2008 11:14 pm

— Kip Hughes displayed his winning ways as he drove his Precision Wireline-sponsored modified to his fifth win of the year in racing action at Enid Speedway Park Saturday night.
“Colby and Gary are the best pit crew ever, they keep everything going and it keeps us out of trouble’’ said Hughes. “Jim Fournier is the best sponsor a guy could have, I really appreciate his support.’’
Pacesetter Billy Turner rushed away from the field and had a strong advantage when Greg Burt spun in turn two and brought out a yellow flag. Turner skillfully maneuvered into a commanding lead and looked to be the man to beat.
The track came back under caution in lap nine when Dusty Robbins spun in turn two. Turner showed the way on the restart, but was unable to hold off the hard-charging Hughes.
Hughes battled into the lead on the front straight and, despite one more caution, took a straight-away lead to the finish.
Joe Adams posted second, followed by Curtis Allen, Brendon Gemmill and Troy Gemmill.
Persistence paid off for Greg Deterding as he put his Deterding Aerial-sponsored Gould Racing limited modified in victory lane for the first time this season.
“The track got good and really fast tonight, the car was moving,’’ said Deterding. “I had fun.’’
Tommy Morgan Jr. raced off the outside pole of the 20-lap race and led the early laps. A yellow flag waved when three cars crashed and blocked the groove in turn four. Morgan led the restart only to see another caution come out in lap eight as Hesston Shaw flew off the track.
Morgan held onto the lead through two more cautions, but the man on the move was Deterding. Deterding charged to the front and, in spite of two yellow flags, raced to the line uncontested.
Ross McCartney captured second with Morgan, Randy Miller and Kenny Adams trailing at the finish.
Cliff Morrow posted his second straight win in street stock.
Dustin Allen exploded off the outside pole and had a commanding lead when Jon Herring Sr. spun to a halt in lap five and put the race under caution. Allen showed the way on the restart, but crashed onto the wall in turn one and brought out a second yellow flag.
Morrow took the lead when the green flag waved and, despite a challenge at the finish, held onto the win. Bill Beebe settled for second, followed by Ryan Bohnstedt, Phil Pearson and Wesley Krukenberg.
Determination paid off for Dustin Choate as he put his Royal Supply/L&K Upholstery/ C&C Racing Camero in the winner’s circle for the first time this season in the factory stock main.
“The car finally worked,’’ said Choate. “We worked on it for three weeks and got it where we want it.’’
Brandon Gibson sped off the third row to take the early lead. His run was cut short as Choate used a daring outside challenge to take the point in lap five.
With a clear track in front of him, Choate was unstoppable and sported over a straight-away lead when a three-car pile-up brought out a yellow flag in lap eight. Choate picked up where he left off when the race went green and never looked back.
Ronnie Ramer posted second, trailed by James Mayhugh, Landon Maddox and Joe Orozco, who was disqualified in the post race tech inspection.
Tim Smart crossed the finish line with an enthusiastic “thumbs-up’’ as he posted his first career win in the pure stock A feature.
Smart took command on the start of the 12-lap race and boasted a straight-away advantage at the mid-point. Undaunted by a late race caution, Smart took half-a-lap lead to the line.
Lonnie Willson, Harold Willson Jr., Keisha Whitfield and Terry Gerhard rounded out the top five.
Heat winners in modified were Troy Gemmill and Hughes.
Shaw, Miller and Walter O’Dell, III won their heats in limited modified. Street stock heat winners were Allen and Morrow. Brad Costello and Choate won the factory stock heats. Smart and James Goldman Jr. took the honors in pure stock.
Enid Speedway Park will feature the National Championship Racing Association late models at 7 p.m. Saturday in the annual Fire-cracker Nationals. All five the track’s regular divisions will round out the card..