DirtRippers - Sykes Takes Victory Over Stellar Field@ "The Line"

County Line Raceway, Elm City NC. May 3, 2008

The first full night of competition kicks off at County Line Raceway with trophies being presented to the ‘Best Appearing Cars’ from the previous weeks car show. Receiving the award were James Batten in Late Model, Britches Liles in Thunder & Lightning, Glenn Bottoms in Super Stock Four Cylinder, James Manning in Pure Stock Four Cylinder, Austin Holcombe in Cadet, and Jamie Meredith in Pure Stock V-8.

The evening began with Zebulon’s Victor May taking the victory leading flag to flag in dominating fashion over a stout field of competitors. The #35 Toyota was able to maneuver anywhere on the track dicing thru lapped traffic. The #81 Mustang of Middlesex’s Jason Horne was able to work his way thru the competition to take second place. Horne had to hold off the hard charging #72 Toyota of Andy Ross, making the trip from Wake Forest. Rounding out the top five were Saratoga’s #1 Wayne Potter and Bailey’s #97 Bill Winstead, both driving Mustang’s .

The evenings main event featured the 17 car strong Late Model division. Holly Spring’s Neal Sykes takes the lead on the 12th circuit around the 3/8ths mile clay surface. Sykes in the #11 Rocket Chevy Impala used a great re-start to take the lead spot from eventual runner-up ‘Wild Child’ Damon Kotke. Louisburg’s Kotke in the #02 Lazer PotiacGTO used the same maneuver over early race leader James Batten. ‘Kid Rocket’ Dustin Mitchell was the evenings pole sitter and fast qualifier with a time of 15.43 seconds, besting the previous weeks mark of 15.77 seconds. According to all files, this should be a new track record. Princeton’s Mitchell in the #D8 Rocket Chevrolet had to settle for the third finishing position. Rocky Mount’s Batten was able to cross the finish stripe fourth in his #21 Warrior Grand Prix. Morehead City’s veteran racer Earl Arnold rounded out the top five in his famous yellow #1.

The Cadet division saw Elm City’s Austin Holcombe return to form taking the top spot just past mid-way point of the race. Holcombe came from the rear to earn his first victory of the season in his #8 Mustang. Wilson’s Joshua Bryant was the early race leader in his #24 Nissan, but had to settle for second after losing handling due to contacte with the outside retaining wall. The #43 Mustang of Wilson’s Stillman Heath’s crossed the stripe third ahead of Franklinton’s Cody Keith in his #12 Musatng. Brandon Edmondson made his season debut to round out the top five in his #7 Mustang.

The Thunder & Lightning division saw another dominating performance by Bailey’s Britches Liles in the #L2 Camaro. The real battle was for the second position. Rocky Mount’s Alan Worrells was able to take the spot away from Zebulon’s Chris Ray on the 19th circuit in the 25 lap feature. Worrells #28 Camaro was able to put some distance between he and the #R5 Camaro. Bailey’s Skeeter Liles was able to work his way back to fourth after an early race spin in his #L3 Camaro. Rounding out the top five was Rocky Mount’s Wade Ferrell in the #61 Monte Carlo

One of the evenings most exciting events was the battle in the Pure Stock V-8. Snow Hill’s Jerry Williams was able to fend off constant challenges to take the victory in his #44 Old Cutlass. Battleboro’s Michael Lamm was able to put his #96 Monte Carlo into the second position with five laps to go in the feature. James Meredith crossed to finish line in third was, but was relegated to the rear after being to light at the scales. This moved Stantonsburg’s Gary Whitley into the third spot in his #21 Monte Carlo. Whitley had to come from the rear after a late race pit stop. Battleboro’s Phillip Lamm made his season debut in the #97 Monte Carlo, finishing fourth. Rounding out the top five was Nevin Twiddy in a borrowed Impala.

The final event of the evening saw Wilson’s Gary Dillon take home top honors in his #82 Toyota. Dillon assumed the lead after the #44 Pinto of Junior Johnson spun on the back stretch. Elm City’s Michael Webb drove his #9 Mustang to a second place finish after moving down a division for the 2008 season. Elm City’s Jimmy Holcombe placed third in his #88 Mustang. Rounding out the top five were Louisburg’s Johnson and Wendell’s Carlton Toney in the #2 Toyota.

Racing will resume next Saturday with the first of four trips by the Virginia Sprint Series. The winged sprints will be joined by the Thunder & Lightning, Super Stock Four Cylinder, Pure Stock V-8, Pure Stock Four Cylinder, and Cadet divisions. County Line Raceway will be hosting an ‘Open Practice’ this Thursday night with gates opening at 6p.m. Practice will be from 7-9. Free admission in the main grandstands. $10 in the pits.

See you at ‘The Line’