Subject: Kevin Love wins, clinches NASCAR Title.
Date: Sunday November 14, 2008 2:20 AM
Further Info: Larry Thomas: lthomas@concordmotorsportpark.com (704) 782 4221

Kevin Love wins, cinches NASCAR title

CONCORD, N.C. – Three-time Concord Motorsport Park Late Model Stock Car Champion Kevin Love of Midland, NC driving the #88 A Plus Auto Salvage / Sogo Japanese Steakhouse 2006 Ford Fusion clinched the 2008 NASCAR Late Model Stock Car title Saturday night while winning The Town & Country Ford feature division race during Hendrick Chevrolet-Cadillac Night for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.  Other winners include: J R D Earthworks Limited Late Model- Steve Ackerly of Medford, NY in the #66 Town & Country Ford 2007 Ford Fusion; Coca-Cola Pure Stock- Jeff Melton of Concord in the #8 R M Machine Chevrolet; Tim Marburger Honda Fast & Furious Fours- Tracy Mullis of Indian Trail, NC, driving the #55 Miracle Dental Center / Spencer Morgan (Autism Foundation) "THE ENFORCER" Honda.

This was the final weekend for NASCAR Whelen All-American Series points.  Barring an unforeseen disqualification, Kevin Love needed only to start the event to cinch the 2008 NASCAR feature division title, but, in usual Love style, he turned up the wick on the start and led flag to flag to put an exclamation point on the season title.  Two more races remain in the track championship, September 27th and October 14th.  The October date is the season finale’ and is a double-points affair, so the track championship is still in doubt as Love leads last year’s LMSC Track Champion, Chuck Crump of Star, NC, driver of the #8 R. L. Kellam Company 2008 Ford Fusion, by just 22 points.  With Love leading to the checkers, Crump came in a close second, Terry Brooks, Jr. of Concord third in the #23 Chevy, Justin Hill of West Palm Beach, Florida fourth in the #45 Chevy and Bob Saville of Albemarle, NC fifth in the #57 Impala SS.

Much drama surrounded the J R D Earthworks Limited Late Model feature after the August 30th race.  Mike Terry, driver of the #23 J R D Earthworks Chevrolet has appealed his one-race suspension after the August 30th brouhaha.  While the suspension is being appealed to the NASCAR National Racing Commissioner, Terry was allowed to race this event.  Standings are still in the air pending the outcome of the appeal.  If the penalties issued by NASCAR are upheld, the results of the September 13th event will be negated.  As the race began, Terry jumped out to an early lead, but Steve Ackerly moved to the point on lap 8.  Shortly after, Jay Payne in the #08 Ford exited Turn Three in a spin with the #21 mount of Todd Bradburry pushing from behind.  Bradburry was black flagged for rough driving and instead of reporting to the pits, offered a hand gesture in the direction of the flagman resulting in an order to trailer his car.  Bradburry took it upon himself to sprint through the stands for the scoring tower, only to be intercepted and detained by deputies of the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s department. With the race finally restarting, Terry fell off the pace and took a spin in Turn One with a flat tire, effectively ending his bid for a win. Immediately on the restart the #14 of Bobby Measmer, Jr went smoking through Turn One with a reported stuck throttle. Measmer got her woahed down and retired.  On lap 16 Jay Payne slowed with a very off-song motor and shortly retired as well. Ackerly then sprinted for the win with Jeff Melton finishing second, Mike Terry third, David Miller fourth in the #74 Chevy and Jerry Miracle, D.D.S. claiming fifth.

The Coca-Cola Pure Stock event took the awards for most side by side racing and excitement.  The #1 WIXE 1190 AM / Autotrader.com  Monte Carlo SS of points-leader Charles Hutto of Monroe and the #11 Wilburn Auto Body / Akzo Nobel Chevrolet of Cooper Faassen, also of Monroe, dueled side by side for the first 3 laps before a caution period for a front-straight spin by the #21 of Frank Hill. On the restart Hutto pulled into the lead with Faassen second and Jeff Melton in the #8 Chevy an incredibly close third.  At the end of lap 5 Faassen went inside Hutto at the line to lead with Melton still just behind.  Hutto led lap 7, Faassen laps 8 and 9 followed by another caution for #21 slowing to a stop in Turn One. The swap for the lead went on lap after lap between Hutto, Faassen and Melton until the next to last lap when Hutto and Faassen tangled in a similar incident to a couple of events ago with both cars clouting the outside front straight retaining wall. On the restart, Melton found himself in the lead and motored on to the win.  Great racing you guys!  Clinton Baker in the #2 Chevy finished second, Steve Irvin third in the #112 after taking thirteen months off, Patricia Markin of Toledo, Ohio fourth in the #38 Monte Carlo and Faassen fifth.

Tracy Mullis of Indian Trail returned Saturday to win the Tim Marburger Honda Fast & Furious Fours event I the #55 Honda.  Chad Miller of Concord raced to second in the #88, Bradley Kimrey of Norwood was third in the #99, Eric Harrington of Kannapolis fourth in the #03 and Cody Carelock of Charlotte fifth in the #5.

The Bootlegger Brigade cars returned after a layoff since August 2nd.  Rusty Drye claimed first in The Vigilante, Kirby Allen was second in Rimer Motors, Matt Drye third in The Stinger, David Miller fourth in Patti Markin #38 Pure Stock, renumbered 88 for the Bootlegger run and Make Gatton finished fifth in Trouble.

Results Saturday September 13, 2008

Friday night on the quarter-mile the INEX Legends and Bandoleros ran a full evening of racing.  The winners in the RPM Pro-Formance Legends cars: Pro- Daniel Hemric Kannapolis, NC #21 '34 Ford Coupe; Masters- Clay Hair, Mt. Pleasant, NC #29 Legends; Semi-Pro- Jimmy Heavlow  Galena MD #48 Chesapeake Diesel '34 Ford Sedan.  In the Bandoleros divisions: Outlaws- Kendell Sellers Kannapolis, NC   #6 J D L Homes - Sellers Racing Bandolero; Young Guns- Noah Triplett     Lexington, NC #70 Ace Homes – NASCAL Bandolero; Bandits- Dillon Bassett Winston Salem, NC #44 Bassett Seamless Gutters Bandolero; Beginner Bandits- Garrett Biggers Charlotte, NC #40 Town & Country Ford / Howard 4 Motorsports     Bandolero.

Results Friday September 12, 2008 (Quarter Mile)

Next Friday and Saturday nights, September 19th and 20th the INEX Legends and Bandoleros will again be headlining the racing at Concord Motorsport Park.  Both evening programs have the pit gates opening at 5:30 PM, practice at 6:10, drivers meeting at 7:20 with heat races and features to follow.  Grandstand general admission is only $7.00 for adults with children age 11 and under admitted free with an attending adult.

The annual Pebble Pushers Custom Car and Truck Show will occur on the half-mile TriOval. It’s a come and go as you wish program setting up Friday evening and open Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

 Concord Motorsport Park is located on Highway 601 South of Concord.  For information call 704-782-4221 or visit the website at www.concordmotorsportpark.com

NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
Driver Points Standings effective September 13, 2008

Town and Country Ford Late Model Stock Car

J R D Earthworks Limited Late Model (provisional pending penalty appeal)

Coca-Cola Pure Stocks

Tim Marburger Honda Fast & Furious Fours