Sunday July 19, 2009 3:30 AM
Further Info: Larry Thomas: lthomas@concordspeedway.net  (704) 782 4221
Story by Holli Frazier

Bradley McCaskill claims his first Pro Late Model win at Concord Speedway

CONCORD, N.C. –Bradley McCaskill claimed the Hutch BSR Pro Late Model trophy on Independent Tribune Cabarrus County Night Saturday at Concord Speedway.Other winners include Jimmy Simpson in the Town & Country Ford Late Model Division, Adam Welch in the Wilburn Auto Body INEX Thunder Cars, Bryan Thomas in the Coca-Cola Pure Stocks and Wayne Harrington in the Tim Marburger Honda Fast & Furious Fours Division.

Bradley McCaskill won his first Hutch BSR Pro Late Model race Saturday. The only caution of the race waved on lap forty-seven due to debris on the track after Bobby Measmer, Jr’s Fuel pump fragmented, leaving a sizable chunk in Turn Two.  Measmer retired for the night after the fuel pump failure.  Cooper Faassen, who had led the race until the restart, spun the tires, but was able to maintain the lead until he was passed by McCaskill on lap fifty-six. Faassen finished second followed by defending race winner Roger Lee Newton in third.

Jimmy Simpson won his landmark thirtieth race at Concord Speedway in the Town & Country Ford Late Model Division 100 lap race Saturday night.  Points leader Steve Ackerly led the first lap, but was passed by Jimmy Simpson for the position on lap two at the line.  The first caution of the race waved on lap four, when Joey Rinehardt, Ackerly and Jerry Miracle collided in Turn Three sending Ackerly to the pits and then behind the wall for nineteen laps for repairs.  Ackerly was later able to rejoin the field on lap twenty-five, only to retire on lap eighty-seven.  The field restarted on lap eight with Jimmy Simpson maintaining the lead.  Simpson ran nose-to-bumper with Jay Payne until Payne took the position from Simpson on lap fourteen.  The second caution waved on lap twenty when Larry Huneycutt spun in Turn Three, but was able to continue with minimal damage.  Terry Hoggard and Joey Rinehardt collided in Turn Three on lap thirty-nine and brought out the third caution of the night.  Both cars made stops on pit road for repairs.  Payne led at the restart, but lost the position to Jimmy Simpson on lap forty-five.  Caution four waved on lap seventy due to debris on the track, and number five when Terry Hoggard’s #55 came to a rest in the middle of Turn Two due to mechanical issues.  Caution six waved when Mike Eplee, Larry Huneycutt and Jerry Miracle collided between the start/finish line and Turn One.  The race ended under green/white/checker conditions, with Jimmy Simpson celebrating with the trophy in victory lane.  Brian Conforth finished second followed by Jay Payne in third.

Points leader and defending race winner Adam Welch lead the Wilburn Auto Body INEX Thunder Car field to the green.  The first caution of the race was on lap nine when Brooks Rash in the #0 spun and hit the inside retaining wall in Turn One.  Adam Welch’s #71 started smoking heavily on lap ten.  Jim Fluharty took the lead from Welch on lap fourteen, but Welch battled him side-by-side and regained the top spot on lap fifteen.  The second caution waved on lap twenty-eight when the #0 of Brooks Rash put down fluid on the track.  The race ended in another green/white/checker scenario, with Welch winning his ninth race of the season, followed by Fluharty in second and Hunter Bledsoe in third.

A slick racetrack and ten eager Coca-Cola Pure Stocks put on a fantastic show for the fans, with three-wide racing and almost as much sliding as a dirt track.  Patty Markin lead the field to the green, but it was Jeff Melton jumped out to an early lead and pulled away from the field.  Steve Irvin caught up to Melton by lap six.  Melton was able to fend challenges from both Irvin and Bryan Thomas for the lead on lap fifteen, but it was Steve Irvin who took the top spot on lap sixteen and never looked back.  This was the first win of the season for Irvin who dedicated the win to his mother, and avid supporter, who passed away two years ago. .  However, Irvin’s engine failed to pull enough vacuum in post-race and his finish was disqualified, booting Bryan Thomas to first, Jeff Melton to second and Randy McAnulty to third. 

Wayne Harrington won his fourth race of the season in the Tim Marburger Honda Fast & Furious Fours Division.  The race was caution-free, but fans were on their feet as the cars went three-wide on the first lap of the race.  Matthew Grimes tagged the wall, but was able to continue with minimum damage.  Brian Irby scarped the wall on lap six, but was also able to continue with only a nagging tire rub. Harrington led fifteen of the twenty laps of the race.  Chad Miller finished second followed by Brian Irby in third.

Fans can bring their ticket stubs from the July 18 race to receive $5 admission to the track July 25 for Coca-Cola Night at the Races for the NASCAR Whelen All-American featuring a 100 lap Pro Late Model race.  The Turn Three Parking will be free to the first twenty-eight attendees requesting a Turn Three space from which to view the races.  All adults in the hillside parking area will still need a general admission ticket.

August 1st is Tim Marburger Honda Stanly County Night at the Races presented by The Stanly News and Press. A valid photo ID and/or utility bill confirming the home address is all that is needed to receive the reduced rate.

August 15th will be Whelen Night at the Races for the Whelen All-American Series.  Mobil 1 is sponsoring $5,000 to win, 100-green flag laps Hutch BSR Pro Late Model Feature.

 Concord Speedway is located 1t 7940 U. S. Highway 601 South of Concord (28025).  For more information call 704-782-4221 or visit the website at www.concordspeedway.net

Results July 18, 2009>>

Driver Points effective July 18, 2009

Hutch/BSR Pro Late Models

Town & Country Ford Late Models

Wilburn Auto Body Thunder Cars

Coca-Cola Pure Stocks

Tim Marburger Honda Fast & Furious Fours