Steve Hayes, shaking down his wife’s SportMod, got the lead early in the 20-car, 20 lap IMCA Southern SportMod Main. Hayes was then able to lengthen his advantage after halfway in a race that went green to checkers, in the blink of an eye and without a hitch.
Mike Lay Jr, was first out into turn 1, but was quickly passed on the back stretch by young hotshoe, Dillon Smith. Hayes got around Lay and was side by side with Smith for the lead on lap 2. Hayes eased out into the lead on lap 3 as the top six sorted out, while the rest of the pack battled 2-3 wide.
On lap 7 Allen Colyer and Lay were side by side for third, with Jerry Graves and Chad Wilson wheel to wheel for fifth. At halfway the top five showed Hayes, Smith, Colyer, J. Graves and Wilson, with Hayes running away. Smith took an excursion through the infield on lap 12 with second through sixth now nose to tail.
In the meantime Jeff Turner was on the charge catching and passing Lay for sixth on lap 16, then got around Wilson for fifth on lap 18. With Hayes cruising out front on the final lap, Turner contined on his tear using the high line. From the time Turner took the white, he motored past Colyer, J. Graves, and finally Smith as he came to the checkers but well behind Hayes driving the Braka Operating, R&B Energy, Pflugerville Machine, Big Tex Pipe, Larson Chassis. “It was mainly just luck, †replied Hayes. “I got to start up front, the car handled good and I stayed smooth on the bottom. This is my first race in a SportMod. I’ll probably talk to my wife into giving me the SportMod, it’s actually her car. We may have to do some talking. †“We raced at several tracks last year. I may focus on trying to win a championship here this year. We’ll be at the IMCA Texas Nationals at Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track with both cars, too. â€
| 
|