‘The Hammer’ nails another win

From staff reports
Published: August 10, 2008

Joe “The Hammer” Leavell endured a wild Summer Nationals 50-lap Late Model feature Saturday night, coming away with the top $2,000 to win prize.

The Waynesboro winner said, “The track was really hard to drive and you have to have a ton of patience. I’m glad that one’s over…it was hard to see.”

Earlier in the night’s program, Leavell also topped the charts in CINTAS Quick Trip qualifying with a fast time of 18.320, edging Greg Roberson and Dave Bennett.

On the Sportsman side of qualifying, Mike Dudley recorded a 20.429 over Ricky Fox and Daniel Brown Jr.

The C & R Auto Service Grocery Getters took to the track first with Eric Shifflett out front with Eddie Moran and E.J. Campbell nearby.

Shortly after mid-race, Campbell lost a left rear wheel in turn 2, ending his night early. Shifflett felt strong pressure over the final few circuits from Daniel Bowden who made a last lap pass to record his first win of the season. Shifflett, Owen Adelman, Moran and Dave Barb wrapped up the top five.

“All in all, it was a pretty good run…it’s my first win this year and I’m the points leader … it’s great,” said Bowden.

The Cupp All-Parts Sportsman feature saw Brown jump out front early with Ricky Fox in tow. By lap 5, Fox moved under Brown Jr off turn 2 to take over the lead.

While Fox was pulling away, Brown had all he could handle with pressure from Tony Knicely for second. The two swapped the position more than once with Brown taking it for good after Knicely dropped out late in the go with mechanical problems.

Fox went on to capture his third win of the season, this one in front of Brown, Dudley, Jeremy Coffey and Lee Jamerson.

Fox said, “After having all sorts of problems over the past several weeks, it was good to finally put a good run together.”

Brad Conner led flag-to-flag in the Eastside Auto & Machine Shop Mini-Modified feature with Gary Stiteler Jr, Ernie Alder, Kevin Campbell and Daniel Stickley capping the top five.

“The car handled really well and I’d like to dedicate this race to Junior Humphreys dad who passed away yesterday,” said Conner.

Chris Barger headed up the start of the Junior Campbell Memorial 50-lap Summer National Late Model main event with a mirror full of Jared Almarode and Tommy Hoy.

By the third lap, Almarode took over the top spot by moving under Barger in turn 3. With Hoy nearby, the top two pulled away from the pack.

Several laps later, Jon Painter passed Hoy off of turn 2 for second with Dave Bennett third. At the half, Almarode was holding off Painter while Leavell and Greg Roberson joined the top five amidst extremely dry and dusty track conditions.

Lap 33 action saw Leavell grab the lead from Almarode off the second turn. With a dozen remaining, Painter, Roberson and Kristian Looney tangled in the first turn, leaving Painter to start in the rear.

With seven to go, Roberson manages to pass Almarode for second, setting his sights on catching leader Leavell. On the tenth restart, Roberson tried jumping the start on Leavell off turn 4, but it was called back.

Once the final green flew, Leavell zoomed away and into the record books for this year with eight wins and $2,000 for his efforts.

Roberson, Looney, Bennett and Almarode wrapped up the top five finishers.

“The track was pretty rough,” said runner-up Roberson. “I had my windscreen and helmet visor break from rocks. I never ever wanted to leave the track during the middle of a race, but those thoughts entered my head during that one.”

Brad Sayler took his fourth Cohron Equipment U-CAR feature win in flag-to-flag style, beating Eddie Lawhorne, Ryan Wharam, Stephen Andes and Dusty Taylor after Andes made a last turn pass.

“What a great night of racing….the track was just fine for my car, either high or low,” said Sayler.

Dakota Riggleman picked up his second checkers of the year in the 20-lap Street Stock feature with only Chad Click in the same time zone. Charles Wyant, Kenny Gibson and Jonathan Burris rounded out the top five.

In victory lane, Riggleman said, “We were able to get the power to the ground, something you can’t always do, but thanks to Dennis and the gang, we’re here.”

This week’s schedule for the round track has a special Cub Scout Night combined with a Nu-Valley Fence Dash-for-Cash for the Late Models. In addition to the 30-lap Late Model feature and Dash, the remaining five classes of Sportsman, Street Stock, Grocery Getter, Mini-Modified and U-CAR divisions will also compete.

The first feature is slated to wave the green flag at 7:00 p.m. with a new pit gate opening time of 4 p.m. and spectator gates to open at 5 p.m.