On a night that featured three Late Model races at the 411 Motor Speedway, there was also plenty of competition in the support class ranks as well. The Sportsman, Street Stocks and Mini Stocks took to the Mitch and Tanya McCarter owned facility in Seymour, Tenn. to entertain the large crowd that had gathered.
Young Brandon Gardner was the Sportsman winner on Saturday night at 411.
In the Sportsman class, a first time winner would have to hold off one of the track’s top veteran drivers to get the win.
Wayne Rader earned the pole for the feature when he set fast time in qualifying with a lap of 15.071 seconds. That bettered the times set by Brandon Gardner, Kip Sawyer, Adam Mitchell and Eric Hux.
At the start of the 20-lap feature, Rader and Gardner ran side-by-side for the better part of two laps as they battled for the lead. Just behind the lead duo, Sawyer, Mitchell, Dalton King and Terry Poore fought for positions in the early going.
Ultimately, Gardner would win the battle for the top spot as he and Rader pulled away from the rest of the pack during the middle stages of the event. However, a couple of late cautions would tighten the pack for a five lap dash to the checkered flag.
In the end, Gardner held Rader off to collect his first ever feature win. Terry Poore was the biggest mover in the race having started outside the top-5 but moving up to challenge for the runner-up spot at the finish. Sawyer and Mitchell rounded out the top-5.
Ronnie Roberts and crew celebrate his Street Stock win at 411.
A total of 14 Street Stocks signed in for competition on the 3/8 mile track which allowed track officials to break the field into two halves for heat races.
Ronnie Roberts beat out Jerry Hux and Dave Smith to win the first heat while Jeff McLemore took the second preliminary over Chris Rickett and Shannon Emery.
McLemore took the early lead in the 20-lap feature from his outside front row starting spot with Roberts, Rickett, Hux and Emery left to battle for position within the top-5.
Roberts pressured McLemore for the top spot throughout the entire race distance until he was finally able to make his move on lap 18. The final two laps saw multiple spins take place which brought about a bit of a chaotic ending.
At the finish, it was Roberts scoring the win over McLemore, Dale Watson, Dave Smith and Chad McLemore.
Michael Courtney won yet again in the Mini Stock class at 411.
The Mini Stock division came down to a family feud as the Courtneys continue to make this class their personal playground at 411.
Michael Courtney won the lone heat race for the group of nine cars as he beat out Kyle Courtney and Tommy Metler.
At the start of the 20-lap feature, the Courtneys battled side-by-side during the early going until Michael pulled ahead of Kyle. Metler fought with Jason Gregory throughout much of the race for the 3rd spot.
Kyle Courtney tried valiantly to keep pace but in the end it was Michael Courtney who would score his 11th Mini Stock feature win of the season at 411 and his 12th win overall.
