Congratulations to the Winners at Montgomery Motorsports Park
Shay Loveday out Louisville, Tennessee has seen his second Winner's Circle running under the ODRA Banner at Montgomery with his 1963 Nitrous Assisted Corvette after starting in the eighth qualifying position. Loveday clocked a 4.09 at 169 in the first round of eliminations against Bil Clanton, who had earlier in the event laid down a 3.82 E.T. and sent Big Money to the trailer. Second round produced a 4.10 at 178 over Keith Baker and finished his night against Robert Mathis with another consistent 4.10 pass. Congratulations to a hard working crew that have apparently found what it takes to go the rounds.
The Bad Boy himself showed up at Montgomery Motorsports Park in his flamed 1967 Camaro to take the win in TT5 Radial back to Carrollton, Georgia. Tommy Rainer is not new to the TT5 ranks and is noted for eliminating the word "lift" in his vocabulary. Rainer qualified third in the field with a 5.05 at 160 mph, then took out Alan Halbert in the first round with a 4.90 pass at 163. He went on to the second round against John Iannuzzi and pulled the lower end win light with a 4.87 to Iannuzzi's 4.97. Third round landed Rainer against Glen Jones out of Daphene, Alabama, but the Mustang did not bring enough for the hard charging 694 CI Chevy as Rainer captured the win with a 4.85 pass at 162 to take the money and his first crystal cup trophy back home.
Jody Voyles, spokesperson and coordinator for the Ultimate Street class at Montgomery managed to pull in 18 race cars over of a five state area to provide some exciting competition for the fans. Voyles qualified number 4 in the field, took out Tommy Verble in his 1989 Mustang with a 5.30 pass over Verble's 5.95 effort. Third round landed Voyles against Ty Chaney from Tallahassee, Florida only to send him back home as Voyles ran a 5.28 at 135 to Chaney's 5.59 at 125. In the final pass of the night against Robet Hollingsworth out of Paris, Tennesse, Voyles met his match for his closest run of the night. The finish line boards showed a 5.26 at 135.33 to Hollingsworth's quicker 5.24 at 135.54 stating that one was one on the starting line.
Lester Pitts took the home track advantage in 4.70 Index after qualifying number 11 in a field of 19 cars. First round put him up with Randy Price in his 1963 Corvette only to load it up and go home as Pitts pulled a 4.73 over Price's 4.87. Second round Pitts took on Randy Griswald out of Phenix City, Alabama and over took him at the finish line with a 4.80 to Griswald's quicker 4.76 but that slower reaction time of .410 to Lester's .031 cost him the trip back home. Round 3 put Pitts against Evan Hall, local to Montgomery in his 2003 Cavalier. Hall red-lighted out the gate while Pitts made his best pass of the night on that run with a 4.702 at 147.42. round 4 put Pitts agains Richard Weems and there again another red bulb on the Weems machine and Pitts sailed through the lights with a 4.72. Final round against a very tough contender, Scott Underwood was an extremely close run for the money. There again reaction time pulled that one out for Pitts running a 4.71 with a RT of .011 to Underwood's 4.73 with a RT of .019. A very close run for the money.
Eric Gullett out of Chattanooga, Tennessee managed to put his 1969 Camaro in Winner's Circle after taking down Tommy Vedros with a 5.304 to Vedros' 5.32 - Next John Scelsi with a 5.313 to Scelsi's 5.28 breakout - Third round Gullett took out Casey Prince of the STP team with a 5.29 winning breakout to Casey's 5.28. In the finals Randy Alexander gave him a run for the money at the lower end but Gullett pulled it out with a 5.33 to Alexander's 5.37. Some very intense numbers across the boart in 5.30 Index at Montgomery.
Kevin Pruett was the man to beat at Montgomery in 6.00 Index. Pruett qualified 13th in a 32 car field and put Cocoa Alexander, Ricky Pennington and Jason Rowland on the trailer before landing in the final against William Carraway. Carraway broke out at the finish line and Pruett just sailed that 1967 Chevy II wagon on in for the win with a 6.06 at 109.78 and loaded the grocery getter up with a paycheck.
Rumor has it that Ricky Pennington has quit his daytime job and starting racing full time in 7.00 Index. Needless to say if anyone is making money at racing this year - Ricky Pennington is on that list. Ricky qualified number one with a perfect 7.000 and remained consistent the rest of the weekend. After having a first round bye, Pennington sat in for business taking out Rickey Rasnick in round 2, Mike Harris in round 3, Cole Cousins in round 4 and landed the final against Jeremy Minor. Pennington pulled the win light with a 7.034 to Minor's breakout of 6.96 sending him to Winner's Circle at Montgomery. A very close field of cars in 7.00 Index creating some exciting racing for the fans.
The ODRA would like to thank each race team and every spectator that supported the event at Montgomery Motorsports Park - July 23rd - 24th. The heat was rough on everyone and we sincerely appreciate you sticking it out with us to the end.
