Subject: Kevin Love wins Town & Country Ford Night while Jeff Melton doubles again.
Date: Sunday September 28, 2008 2:25 AM
Further Info: Larry Thomas: lthomas@concordmotorsportpark.com (704) 782 4221

Kevin Love Wins Town & Country Ford Night While Jeff Melton Doubles Again

CONCORD, N.C. – Kevin Love of Midland, NC, driving the #88 A Plus Auto Salvage / Sogo Japanese Steakhouse 2006 Ford Fusion, claimed his 4th victory of the season in the Town & Country Ford Late Model Stocks Saturday Night at Concord Motorsport Park.  Other winners in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series event include: J R D Earthworks Limited Late Models- Jeff Melton Concord, NC #6 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS; Coca-Cola Pure Stocks- again, Jeff Melton in the #8 R M Machine Chevrolet; Tim Marburger Honda Fast & Furious Fours- Bradley Kimrey Norwood, NC #99 Tim Marburger Honda / Northside Auto Sales / H & K Auto / Doug's Garage "WILD THANG"          Honda Prelude.  Two touring series also visited Saturday Night.  The INEX Thunder Cars event was won by Adam Welch of Hinesburg, VT in the #71 Thunder Car.  The Interstate Electric Southeast Mini Cup Cars race was taken by Zach Clifton in the #85.

The Coca-Cola Late Model Stock Car drivers opted for a single file start due to a weeper in Turn One delivering moisture close to, but not quite in, the groove.  Kevin Love was able to maintain the point he earned earlier in the day with a qualifying attempt of 108.965 miles per hour. Chuck Crump, of Star, NC, challenged early, but, a side slip in Turn Three of lap 3 allowed Love to move away while Justin Hill in the #45 Chevy almost claimed the second spot.  Crump recovered and led Hill back at the line. Caution flew on lap 39 as CMP newcomer Ryan Fischer felt the 88’s front bumper going into Turn One. Fischer’s #7 went into a spin directly in front of the leaders.  Everyone got by without further incident and the 108 plus miles-per-hour parade continued with Love taking the checkers followed by Crump, Hill, Bob Saville of Albemarle in fourth and Ryan Fischer in fifth. Love stated in Victory Lane “I hate to bump the 7 (Fischer) like that, but I was running out of time with Chuck (Crump) just behind.  I started getting loose on the long runs and I really didn’t want that caution.  Chuck Crump is great competitor, he races clean and I’ll race him clean.”  On the points lead: “That’s great, but I really just want to win races!”

Mike Terry started on the pole for J R D Earthworks Limited Late Models in the #23 JRD Chevrolet by drawing 1st after qualifying 6th.  He started with 5 faster cars behind but, held the point for lap 1 as caution waved when Clint Baker in a late entry #5 Chevy came sideways off Turn Three.  On lap 9 Melton in the #6 Chevrolet inside Terry’s Monte Carlo for the lead.  On lap 25 it looked like something broke in Greg Peterson’s #5 Chevy and when it jumped sideways, points contender Jay Payne in the #08 Ford had nowhere to go and T-boned Peterson’s mount.  Payne was able to pit without losing a lap as caution laps do not count. On the restart the order was Melton, Terry, Steve Ackerly in the #66 Town & Country Ford Fusion, Bobby Measmer Jr. in the #14 and Mike Eplee of Rutherfordton in the #86 in fifth.  That was the same running order at the finish.  Melton stated “I just turned 44 last Wednesday.  I’ve had a good year.  We ran out of money to do Late Model, but we’re having fun in Limited Late Model and Pure Stock.”  Jay Payne was able to assume the points lead last week as Mike Terry’s one-race suspension was upheld by the National Stock Car Racing Commissioner.  However, Terry was able to move back into the lead with this week’s finish.  This was the second event in a row where Melton claimed trophies in Limited Late Model and Pure Stock.

Another exciting night in the Coca Cola Pure Stocks, Cooper Faassen in the #11 laid claim to the lead from pole as Jeff Melton in the #8 sandwiched into second between Faassen and points-leader Charles Hutto in the #1.  On the 4th lap Faasen was loose in Turn Three, allowing Melton moves to inside to the first position.  Melton and Faassen swapped the lead for several laps.  On lap 24 Faassen realigned his front end geometry on the outside wall, but kept it heading the right way on the track.  The caution flag was displayed on lap 26 for fluids on track and Melton’s #8 was pulled down to check for leaks.  None were found and Melton was sent back to lead to the finish.  Hutto finished 2nd, Clinton Baker 3rd, Steve Irvin 4th and Faassen fifth.  Melton was humble in the Independent Tribune Victory Lane.  “This is a great car… a lot of great drivers have won in it, I ‘m just very fortunate t be in it tonight!”

I n the Tim Marburger Honda Fast & Furious Fours Bradley Kimrey of Norwood in the #99 “Wild Thang” led flag to flag. With 5 laps remaining, Chad Miller of Kannapolis moved his #88 Dirty Mo’ Posse Honda to rear bumper of Kimrey’s mount with the #15 of Chad Johnson just behind, and that was the finish, close enough that any of the three could have pulled it out.  Fourth was Eric Harrington in the #03 and fifth went to Wayne Harrington in the #3 “Superman”.

The fog was beginning to settle around the lights when the INEX Thunder Cars set out for their 25 lap feature with a national championship in the balance.  Caution flew early as Rick Fleming’s #27 clipped the outside wall off Turn Three, then crossed to the inside wall to grind to a stop. Fleming’s Thunder Car had been crashed in practice and apparently all the front suspension bits weren’t totally squared away when the race started.  The balance of the race was a thrilling side by side duel for the lead between Adam Welch in the #71 and Florida native Brandon Tomson in the #54.  Welch took the win, barely, with Tomson 2nd, Jim Fluharty 3rd, Taylor Hull 4th and Benny Mingo 5th.

Zach Clifton dominated the Interstate Electric Southeast Mini Cup Cars event in his #85. He jumped out to a 10 car length lead on the opening lap and then just waved good-bye!  Clifton led by a straightaway at the checkers over Ed Peters in the #7, Wade Fogleman in the #97, Duke Furr in #33 and Whitney Clifton in the #66.

The INEX Legends and Bandoleros events Friday Night and Saturday morning were curtailed due to poor weather conditions. Friday was called early due to steady rains and Saturday the track crew gave another valiant effort to dry the surface but the front straight just would not cooperate. The event had to be scratched late.  Pit passes and tickets purchased Saturday are being honored Sunday afternoon for the season finale’ for the Legends & Bandoleros.  We’ll take a moment here to congratulate the drivers who have wrapped the season championships.

Next up on the half-mile TriOval is Insurance Auto Auction Night at the Races October 18th.  It’s a double points night and the season finale’ for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.  Plus, the Bootlegger Brigade will be back for a 25-lap run.   The 1-On-1 spectator drags were moved from Saturday to the 18th as well.  Grandstand gates open at 5:30 PM with racing at 7:30.

 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

Results Saturday September 27, 2008

Driver Points Effective September 27, 2008

Town & Country Ford Late Model Stock Car

J R D Earthworks Limited Late Model

Coca-Cola Pure Stock

Tim Marburger Honda Fast & Furious Fours