Date: Sunday May 10, 2009 4:00 AM
Further Info: Larry Thomas: lthomas@concordspeedway.net  (704) 782 4221
Story by Holli Frazier

Bobby Measmer, Jr. wins May 9th Hutch BSR Po Late Model feature

CONCORD, N.C. – Rain may have delayed the drop of the green flag, but it couldn’t keep the fans out of the stands for a great night of racing at the best keep secret in the south - Saturday night short-track racing at Concord Speedway.

Bobby Measmer, Jr. wins the Hutch BSR Pro Late Model Feature Saturday night at Concord Speedway.  Other winners include Steve Ackerly  in the Town & Country Ford Late Models, Hunter Bledsoe in the Wilburn Auto Body INEX Thunder Cars, Jeff Melton in the Coca Cola Pure Stocks and Wayne Harrington in the Tim Marburger Honda Fast and Furious Fours division. 

Daniel Johnson started in the first spot in the Hutch BSR Pro Late Model Feature, jumping out to an early lead over second place starter Cooper Faassen.  Bobby Measmer, Jr. passed Faassen for the second spot in turn three coming to the line to complete the fourth lap, setting his sights on the leader.  Measmer caught Johnson on lap fourteen in Turn Three, but wasn’t quite able to make it door-to-door by the time they reached the start/finish line.  The two raced within just a car-length of each other going into turn three on lap twenty-five, when Measmer made a bold move to the inside of Johnson and the two tangled in front of the lapped car of Clinton Baker, causing all three to spin in the middle of Turn Three allowing Faassen to move from the third spot to the lead. Fans were on their feet as Faassen lead the field to the green with Faassen and Johnson side by side for the lead and Measmer almost making it three wide but backing off before entering Turn One.  Johnson moved back into the first spot on lap 26, with Measmer in second, and Faasen following in third. Measmer closed back in within three car-lengths of Johnson by lap fifty-five, making a run to the inside and blowing by Johnson for the lead. Johnson peeked to the inside on lap fifty-seven, but fell back entering Turn Three.  Bobby Measmer, Jr. of Concord, NC took the checkered flag, followed by Johnson of Concord, NC, and Faasen of Monroe, NC rounding out the top three.

Jerry Miracle led the Town & Country Ford Late Models across the line to start the race, but it was Larry Huneycutt who jumped out to an early lead after taking the green.  Bobby Measmer, Jr took second from Jerry Miracle on lap seven, and Steve Ackerly took third from Miracle on lap eight.  Measmer took the lead on lap thirteen when Huneycutt got loose coming out of Turn One, letting Measmer slide by him for the lead.  Ackerly and Measmer were side by side on lap sixteen as they crossed the start/finish line with Ackerly taking the lead as the two cars entered Turn One.  Ackerly’s car was on rails as he pulled away by about fifteen car lengths over second place Measmer by lap twenty-three.  Debris on the track brought out the first yellow flag on lap twenty-six. Huneycutt and Miracle tangled on the restart going into turn one, cutting Huneycutt’s night short as his car was towed back to the pits on the hook.  Ackerly lead the field across the line for the restart, with Measmer in second. Terry Hoggard fell off the pace on lap thirty-two, spilling fluid over the track and bringing out the second caution of the feature. Ackerly pulled out to a four car-length lead as Miracle and Reggie Carroll battled for the fourth spot.  Ackerly in his Town & Country Ford Taurus crossed the finish line first, with Measmer second, Miller third, Miracle fourth and Carroll rounding out the top five.

Jim Fluharty and Dustin Allmon made contact in Turn Two while racing for the lead on the first lap in the Wilburn Auto Body INEX Thunder Car Feature, but Fluharty shut the door on Allmon.  Adam Welch, the defending race winner, moved from last to fifth on the first lap, taking third place on lap four, but his night ended on lap five when a mechanical failure took him off the pace and off the track. Hunter Bledsoe took the lead on lap six, and by lap ten he had a five car-length lead over second place Fluharty.  Rick Fleming and Duke Furr put on a show for fans racing for the sixth position side-by-side starting with lap fifteen until Furr took the position on lap eighteen.  The two Thunder Cars collided on lap twenty-one in Turn Three, bringing out the first caution.  Bledsoe lead the field to the restart in his Dave Sondles Builders – Bledsoe Construction Thunder Car, with Fluharty sliding up the track in Turn Three, allowing Allmon to close in exiting the turn.  Hunter Bledsoe of Saluda, SC celebrated the win in the Capital Bank Victory Lane, as Jim Fluharty finished second, Justin Allmon finished third, Tony Wachter finished fourth and Duke Furr in fifth.

Jeff Melton lead the Coca-Cola Pure Stocks across the line to take the green flag to start the thirty lap race, pulling out to a quick lead over David Earnhardt, Jr. in second by lap two.  Charles Hutto and David Earnhardt, Jr. had the fans cheering as they raced for second before Hutto took the position on lap ten. Rusty Blackford and John Schaak collided between the start/finish line and Turn One, sending Blackford hard into the inside retaining wall and bringing out the first caution, and red flag, of the race on lap fifteen. Melton pulled away again after the restart, and Randy McAnulty took second from Earnhardt as the field completed the lap.  Jeff Melton took the win after dominating the race in his Freeman’s Car Stereo / Wilburn Auto Body Ford Thunderbird, with Randy McAnulty finishing second, David Earnhardt, Jr. third, Brian Thomas fourth and Evan Cupples crossing the line in the fifth position.

The Tim Marburger Honda Fast & Furious Fours race got off to a thrilling start, with three-wide racing starting on lap one of the race.  The first caution came out on lap two when Chris Sawyer spun in Turn One.  Ben Smith and Josh Grimes tangled on the restart, causing Grimes to scrape the wall just after crossing the start finish line, bringing out the second caution.  Ben Smith took the lead on lap three from Speedy Kinser, with Wayne Harrington, Eric Harrington and Ben Smith bumping noses and fenders through all three turns.  Speedy Kinser and Mike Loomis both fell off the pace on lap eight, to bring out the third caution of the event.  By lap eight, Eric Harrington had worked his way from the fifteenth starting spot to third.  Ben Smith lead the field across the start/finish line at the restart, followed by a challenge for the lead from Wayne Harrington through Turn Three, but Wayne Harrington fell back to third, allowing brother Eric Harrington to move into second place on lap nine.  On lap eleven Speedy Kinser slammed hard into the wall exiting Turn Three, bringing out the red flag.  Ben Smith lead the field across the line for the restart, but lost the lead to Eric Harrington as they went side- by- side through Turn One on lap thirteen, shuffling Smith back to third. Ben Smith took the lead on lap eighteen, running nose to tail with Eric Harrington, almost crashing as they crossed the start / finish line.  They crashed in Turn Three after taking the white flag, with Ben Smith coming to a stop between Turn Three and the start-finish line.  Eric Harrington was sent to the rear for his involvement as the field took the green-white-checker with his brother Wayne Harrington in the lead.  Wayne Harrington of Landis, NC won, followed by Chad Miller, Jake Simpson, Steve Grimes and Barry Canter rounding out the top 5.

Saturday's Results>>

Friday night’s winner in the quarter-mile INEX races included: RPM ProFormance Legends Divisions:
Pros- Steven Ross Stanfield, NC #48 Hurricane Racing - Brock Rentals Inc. 1934 Ford Coupe
Masters- Hoyt Demis Archdale, NC #1 Demis Paint - DSR 1934 Ford Coupe
Semi Pros- Dennis Kiser II Concord, NC #0 Hurricane Racing 1934 Ford Coupe
Young Lions- Harrison Rhodes High Point, NC #36 Chick Fila - All Fresh Produce - Laser Refrigeration '34 Ford Coupe
Bandoleros
Outlaws- Chris Trivette Advance, NC #01 Piedmont Oral & Plastic Surgery Center - Williams Companies, Inc. Bandolero
Young Guns- Justin Carroll Pembroke Pines, FL #57 Industrial Battery and Charger/Rusher Tire and Auto Bandolero
Bandits- 4 John Holleman Winston Salem, NC MAACO of Winston Salem - Cuer Vilo Morado Bandolero
Beginner Bandits- Kodie Conner Kannapolis, NC #45 ConnerFab/CWRR Bandolero

Friday's Results>>

The half-mile TriOval will be silent Saturday May 16th in deference to the NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, but action continues Friday evening May 15th and Sunday afternoon May 17th on the quarter-mile.  Exciting Legends and Bandoleros racing both days with the pit gates opening at 5:30 PM Friday and 2:00 PM Sunday.  Racing gets underway Friday at 7:45 and Sunday at 4:45.

Looking for economical, family-friendly fun next weekend? Fans can bring their ticket stub from Saturday night’s half-mile races and be admitted for free into either Friday or Sunday’s events at the quarter- mile.  Don’t have a ticket stub?  General admission is only $7.00 at the gate!

 Concord Speedway is located on Highway 601 South of Concord.  For information call 704-782-4221.