Story and photos by Phillip Prichard:
Casey Roberts won the Chester Shrine Race at I-77 Speedway on Thursday night, 12 September. The Ultimate Super Late Model Series sanctioned race was held in conjunction with five other classes of racing at the annual race.
Roberts drew the number 1 pill for the qualifying order. Roberts went out in the VP Race Fuels Race for the Pole and set a new track record at I-77, with a quick time of 16.541 seconds. Rambo Franklin was the second fastest qualifier. Jeff Smith and Chris Madden, also locked themselves into the “A” Main.
In the FK Rod Ends “B” Main, Zack Mitchell led the field to the green. Hard charging Chris Ferguson worked his way to second with 3 laps to go. Mitchell was first, Ferguson was second, Anthony Sanders was third.
Roberts chose the outside position on the front row with Rambo Franklin on the inside. Roberts immediately took the lead in his Capital race Cars chassis. Roberts and Franklin battled for the lead in the first few laps. A Caution flag was displayed for Chris Madden whose fuel line came off and finished him for the evening. Under caution Franklin developed some mechanical issues that sidelined him for the night.
On the restart, Chris Ferguson had moved to the second spot, he and Roberts battled for lead. Cautions came out again on Laps 15 & 16 for Kevin Godwin spinning out on Lap 15 and Brian Ledbetter having a flat tire on Lap 16. Roberts and Ferguson continued to battle after the cautions until a red flag was thrown for a medical emergency involving a fan on the back stretch parking area, who suffered a heart attack. During the red flag, all of the medical staff at the track worked on and provided CPR to the fan until another ambulance arrived.
After the red flag, Roberts and Ferguson continued to battle for the lead, distancing themselves from Jeff Smith and Zack Miller who were running 3rdand 4th. The race continued under green for the remainder of the race with Roberts holding off Ferguson for the win.
This was Casey Roberts, 6th win of the Ultimate Super Late Model Series this season. Roberts is, also, the series points leader.
Results from I-77 Speedway
1 – 101 Casey Roberts
2 – 21 Chris Ferguson
3 – 70 Jeff Smith
4 – 57 Zack Mitchell
5 – 17G Mike Gault
6 – 71 Larry Timms
7 – 421 Anthony Sanders
8 – 21C Frank Coates
9 – G2 Kevin Godwin
10 – 5 Ronnie Hoover
11 – 07 Brian Ledbetter
12 – 76 Brandon Overton
13 – 2 Rambo Franklin
14 – 44M Chris Madden
The medical situation that brought out the red flag, Ultimate official, Alton Wilson, a paramedic, was just steps away when Sam Ledbetter, father of Brian Ledbetter the pilot of the #07, began to have chest pains and went in to cardiac arrest . Alton’s years of training put him in autopilot and he began to perform CPR which revived Ledbetter. Ledbetter was transported to the local hospital and it was reported he was awake and talking before fans left the speedway. Please consider Sam in your prayers for a speedy recovery.
