Local driver Bradley Poor was in the right spot at the right time to pick up the IMCA Southern SportMod win. Poor capitalized on the misfortune of race long leader Philip Houston to lead the most important lap, the last one. Houston, who had led since the start had his car give up on lap 18. Poor, the 2006 IMCA SportMod track champion, worked his way into second, then jumped on the chance to grab the victory.
Polesitter, Philip Houston was the first into turn 1 at the start of the IMCA Southern SportMod 21-car A-main. After running lap 1 with the rest of the field nearly in parade formation, the top four finally sorted out with Houston, Tyler Young, Allen Colyer and Poor single file.
Michael Darby tried the high side of Poor for fourth, but Ronnie Johnson ducked inside and ran side by side with Darby for fifth, while David McKay and Dillon Smith were wheel to wheel for seventh. Smith took seventh, then got by Darby for sixth on lap 5. Young was pressuring Houston for the lead when he slipped high. This gave Colyer and Poor the chance to get by for second and third.
At halfway it was Houston, Colyer, Poor, Young and Johnson in the top five. Back in the pack, Kenneth Graves, Matt Meuller and Darby ran three wide for eighth. On lap 14 Colyer got tagged by a four car bumper to bumper train and spun in turn 2 to bring out the races only yellow. On the restart, Houston got a jump on Poor, while Smith worked his way inside Young for third.
Poor caught back up to Houston with five to go, with Young, hung on th high side, falling back to eighth. Just when it looked like Houston would hold off Poor for the win, his car slowed on lap 18. As the field scattered to avoid Houston, Poor snuck into the lead with the rest of the top ten getting shuffled around. At the finish it was Poor in the Coors Light, Pflugerville Machine, Abilene Powder Coating, Braka Operating, Smileys, Larson Chassis getting the win. “I just kind of stayed in line and waited, †said Poor. “It was one lane and you had to hang in there. One guy broke, another spun out, I just had to stay there and wait for them to move. If they didn’t you’d pretty much going to get wherever you’re running at. I don’t get near as much practice as people think I do because my dad runs the track. They think I do, but I only come out on regular practice day. †“I’d like to try to run for the Southern Region title this year, but the guys that contend for that run two times a week. Here I only race once a week and I’m lucky to get 30 races in the book. â€
IMCA Southern SportMods
1. 48 Bradley Poor, Abilene, Tx.
2. 172 David McKay, Van Alstyne, Tx.
3. 38 Matt Meuller, Stamford, Tx.
4. 951 Steve Hayes, Eastland, Tx.
5. 41 Kenneth Graves, Tahoka, Tx.
6. 03 Dillon Smith, Waco, Tx.
7. 12 Jerry Graves, Lubbock, Tx.
8. 89 Michael Darby, Wylie, Tx.
9. 9 Gary Underwood, Abilene, Tx.
10. 122 Tyler Young, Midland, Tx.
11. 19 Michael Sheen, Midland, Tx.
12. 121 Travis Graves, Lubbock, Tx.
13. 16 David Riley, Wolfforth, Tx.
14. 2 Allen Colyer, Abilene, Tx.
15. 63 Donny Miller, Tom Bean, Tx.
16. 28 Gabe Tucker, Carbon, Tx.
17. 3 Philip Houston, Odessa, Tx.
18. 17 Scotty Wallace, Lorenzo, Tx.
19. 8 Ronnie Johnson, Abilene, Tx.
20. 26 Jr Robertson, Midland, Tx.
21. 90 Todd Poor, Abilene, Tx.
IMCA Southern SportMod heat races(top 2 transfer to A-main)
Heat 1.
1. 172 David McKay, Van Alstyne, Tx.
2. Gary Underwood, Abilene, Tx.
Heat 2
1. Tyler Young, Midland, Tx.
2. 63 Donny Miller, Tom Bean, Tx.
Heat 3
1. 38 Matt Mueller, Stamford, Tx.
2. 2 Allen Colyer, Abilene, Tx.
Heat 4
1. 89 Michael Darby, Wylie, Tx.
2. 17 Scotty Wallace, Lorenzo, Tx.
Heat 5
1. 48 Bradley Poor, Abilene, Tx.
2. 03 Dillon Smith, Waco, Tx.
Heat 6
1. 8 Ronnie Johnson, Abilene, Tx.
2. 3 Philip Houston, Odessa, Tx.
IMCA Southern SportMod B- mains(top 3 transfer to A-main)
1. 26 Jr. Robertson, Midland, Tx.
2. 41 Kenneth Graves, Tahoka, Tx.
3. 121 Travis Graves, Lubbock, Tx.
B-main 2
1. 19 Michael Sheen, Midland, Tx.
2. 90 Todd Poor, Abilene, Tx.
3. 16 David Riley, Wolfforth, Tx.
B-main 3
1. 28 Gabe Tucker, Carbon, Tx.
2. 951 Steve Hayes, Eastland, Tx.
3. 12 Jerry Graves, Lubbock, Tx.
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