The 411 Motor Speedway offered a full slate of action to start off the 2014 racing season in the track’s 4th Annual Hangover race. aside from the Late Models, also competing were drivers in the Sportsman, Thunder & Lightning, Street Stock and Mini Stock classes.
Wayne Rader celebrates his Sportsman win with family and crew members.
Wayne Rader emerged as the victor of the Sportsman class feature in what proved to be a bit of a rough and tumble event.
Heath Alvey, who had edged Rader in the division’s lone heat race, got out to an early lead and looked as if he might drive away for the win. However, Alvey found himself mired in lapped traffic in a race that had only one incident in its first half.
Rader closed in on the rear of Alvey’s racer as they worked around slower cars just after the halfway point of the 20-lap contest. Suddenly, Alvey slowed dramatically and Rader sped by to claim the lead. But there was more drama to come.
During a late race restart, Jimmy York made a move to get around the car of Kip Sawyer before the field had taken the green flag. Sawyer then got into the rear of York’s car as they hit turn one, turning the #Y3 machine around to bring out another yellow flag.
York then tangled with the cars of Tony Lindsey and Colt Deverell on the ensuing restart. At that point, track officials waved the checkered flag as the time limit for the class had been reached.
At the finish, it was Wayne Rader, Kip Sawyer, James Parrott, Rex Coffey and Tony Lindsey.
Robbie Comer was the winner in the Thunder & Lightning class.
The Thunder & Lightning class saw a slim turnout as only four cars were signed in for competition. Multiple time 411 Motor Speedway track champion Robbie Comer proved to be the class of the field as he led all the way for the win despite smoke pouring from under his hood due to a leaking valve cover.
At the finish, it was Robbie Comer, Tony Wilson, Jonathan Sims and Tommy Huston.
Jeff McLemore and his crew in victory lane after the Street Stock feature.
Jeff McLemore won out in a Street Stock race that featured the day’s scariest incident.
After winning the division’s only heat race, Jerry Hux started from the pole position. However, his car slammed hard into the turn one wall on the first lap. The driver was able to walk away from the crash, but the car was badly damaged.
Once the track was cleared, Charlie Bates took the lead for several laps. A wave of yellow fever again affected the race as a number of drivers spun to bring out cautions. Ultimately, even the leader himself would fall victim as Bates lost control at the exit of turn two in the closing laps.
Track officials called for a final green/white/checker restart as the time limit had been exceeded. McLemore outran Michael Boyd, Austin Byrd, Austin Atkins and Charlie Bates to the finish line.
Michael Courtney scored the win in the Mini Stock feature.
The day’s first feature was controlled by Michael Courtney as he led all the way in a caution filled Mini Stock main event. In the end, the race was settled with a green/white/checker finish in which Courtney held off Mike Townsend, Jason Gregory, Lee Merritt and Robert Burris to take the top prize.
