Jefferson, GA – July 20: In spite of the rain showers and threats of storms, Gresham Motorsports Park was able to see an exciting evening of racing at the JEGS Pro Late Model 100. Pro Late Models started the night off with 100 green-flag laps and Mini Stock, Sportsman, Renegade, Truck and Outlaw Late Model races followed.
Hunter Robbins had a strong start to the evening’s race event as the Pole Winner for the JEGS Pro Late Model 100. Justin South took the lead as soon as the green flag dropped and Robbins was pushed back to third by South and Garrett Jones. While a battle was taking place for the lead, Kyle Plott and Colt James were side by side trying to gain the 7th place position.
The first caution of the night was called on lap 29 when Fredrick Moore got up under Dalton Grindle from behind and Grindle lost control and crashed in the outside of turn four. Grindle was not able to return to the race, but Moore returned after having some work done to the car in the pits. South and Robbins were side by side off of the restart, but South broke out to the front with Robbins, Jones, Russell Fleeman and Plott close behind.
The second caution was called when Jones lost control of the car in turn four. Jones almost recovered, but could not hold on to it and hit the passenger side on the inside barriers. Once again, South was the fastest off of the restart with Robbins, Plott, Fleeman and Moore rounding out the top five.
The last caution of the JEGS Pro Late Model 100 was called when Moore went into the pits because of loss of power steering. While Moore was trying to get off of the track, James hit a spot of power steering fluid from Moore’s car and spun out coming out of turn 4. South took the lead off of the restart with Robbins behind him and Fleeman fighting hard from third.
On lap 68, Tyler Audie went into the garage and two laps later Rodney Benefield went to the garage. South, Robbins, Fleeman and Plott stayed in the front until the checkered flag fell while Moore passed James to finish fifth place with no power steering.
The Mini Stocks followed the Pro Late Models with Spanky Hicks jumping to the lead as soon as the green flag was waved. The first caution was called on lap 6 when Brandon Segars spun out on the front straight and as he was trying to turn around, Steve Hill tried to avoid hitting Segars and spun out. Aaron Calvert took the lead off of the caution restart but Hicks soon pushed past him to lead the field. Calvert, Avery Burgess, Dion Ciccarelli and Segars made up the top five.
On lap 19, Segars spun out and caused another caution. Calvert took the lead again off of the restart while Hicks and Burgess fought for 2nd and Segars, Greg Swink and Ciccarelli fought for 5th.The final caution was called on lap 23 when Hicks Spun out in turn 2 and crashed into the inside wall. Aaron Calvert took the lead off of the restart and stayed in the front for the remainder of the race with Burgess, Segars, Ciccarelli and Allen Cantrell finishing in the top five.
The Sportsman and Renegade race didn’t lack any excitement. Jeff Chadwick and Bryan Beckner started in the lead and remained there for the entire race for the win, even through a caution being called for water on the track. Rob Hubbard and Jessie Thomas finished in third and fourth place. Beckner had a crowd of fans waiting to greet him in victory lane.
Jami Weimer led the trucks off of the green flag with Kevin Vassar, Emilee Riley, Matt Vassar and Ronnie Wehunt behind her. The first six trucks stayed in a head to head battle until Kevin Vassar took the lead and Weimer, Matt Vassar, Riley and Wehunt settled into the top five spots. By lap 15, Kevin Vassar was still leading with Matt Vassar, Riley, Kristen Wallace and Wehunt behind him. The trucks spaced out and ran strong, fast laps for the remainder of the race. Matt Vassar worked his way to the front to win the race and Kevin Vassar, Riley, Wallace and Wehunt rounded out the top five.
The Outlaw Late Models got started with Russell Fleeman breaking out to the front after the green flag dropped and Matthew Wragg, Hoyt Stephens, David Murphy and Brian Hardman followed behind him. Fleeman stayed strong in the lead for the entire race and Stephens, Murphy, Jason Bates and Wragg finished in the top five.
The JEGS Pro Late Model 100 unofficial race results have been posted on GMP’s website. Follow GMP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to see pictures and videos from the JEGS Pro Late Model 100.
The next race will be the Slack Auto Parts World Crown 300 Presented by Peach State Freightliner and Ford Power Stroke Diesel and Fireworks Sponsored by Royal Oak. For more information about the next race, please visit www.RaceGMP.com.