Eric Wells picked up $10,000 for his win.
Eric Wells of Hazard, Kentucky made the short drive to Ponderosa Speedway and collected $10,000 by winning Saturday’s Southern Nationals Bonus Series event. Wells led flag-t0-flag in capturing the win.
Wells started off the night by setting fast time out of 37 qualifiers with a time of 13.346 seconds. Well earned the pole for the first heat race where he cruised to victory over Kent Robinson. Jason Welshan, Dave Hess Jr., and Jackie Boggs were the other heat race winner.
When the green flag waved for the 50-lap feature, Wells showed he was the man to beat by quickly taking the lead over Hess. Welshan got around Hess to take second and Robinson would take third a few laps later.
Kent Robinson (7R) gets by Dave Hess Jr. (44).
Some of the tightest racing in the first part of the race was between Boggs, Donald McIntosh, Corey Conley, and Chris Carpenter. Those drivers continues to swap positions back-and-forth just outside the top 5.
A caution on lap 18 slowed the field. On the restart, Wells had no trouble maintaining his lead as Welshan and Robinson battled for second. Steve Francis, driving a Justin Rattliff backup car, took the fourth spot from Hess.
Steve Francis (16) battles Jackie Boggs (4B).
The second of three cautions of the 50-lap race waved on lap 30. With the field regrouped, a number of spots changed hands on the restart. Robinson was able to use the high line to get around Welshan for second. McIntosh would shoot by Francis to move in 4th. Ray Cook, who won a B-main to get into the race, was making his move toward the front. Cook moved into 7th place before the final caution waved on lap 45. Cook would eventually finished 6th. From there, Wells cruised to victory over the final five laps.
Donald McIntosh (7) passes Jackie Boggs (4B).
McIntosh maintained his series point lead as David Payne was not in attendance for the race.
Southern Nationals Bonus Series Fall Classic finishing order:
- Eric Wells
- Kent Robinson
- Jason Welshan
- Donald McIntosh
- Steve Francis
- Ray Cook
- Jackie Boggs
- Chris Carpenter
- Billy Moyer Jr.
- Tim Dohm
- Chad Stapleton
- Corey Conley
- Dave Hess Jr.
- Michael Chilton
- Tyler Carpenter
- James Rice
- Billy Ogle Jr.
- Jeremy Berwanger
- Ryan King
- Doug Smith
- Jason Jameson
- Chris Ferguson
- Justin Rattliff
