Matt Bowling along with Louis White both won last weekend by splitting the twin 35’s at East Carolina Motor Speedway. Coming into the evening festivities was the tone and mindset of many of the race teams involved in last weeks scary front stretch crash. Late Model Series points leader Brenden Queen, Louis White and Thomas Burbage along with others were all involved in the crash and unknown just how good they’re cars would be in competition. Making the trip to ECMS this week was National NWAAS Division 1 points leader Matt Bowling who races out of South Boston Speedway.

Justin and Terry Carroll would also make a weekend at the high banked D-shaped oval both in search of they’re first wins in the 2016 race season. While everyone was excited to get back to racing, the thought of one of they’re own in Bradley McCaskill weighed heavy in both the hearts and minds of all the race teams. McCaskill was injured just last week, suffering from burns to his body resulting from the wreck. As of to date, McCaskills recovery is progressing and his healing of the burns bears great news. The family reports he’ll need another surgery by the end of the week but doctors remain confident. On behalf of Race22.com and the entire race community, Get well Bradley McCaskill.

Qualifying time trials decided the starting grid with Louis White posting a lap at 15.421 sec or 87.543 mph worthy of the races pole position. Justin Carroll, Matt Bowling, Brenden Queen and Michael Fose were the five fastest in the grid. Other notables were Eric Winslow in seventh and starting way back in a borrowed race car was Thomas Burbage in the eleven spot and looked to make ground as the race progresses. Green flag would wave as sixteen Late Models answered the call to compete in the first of twin thirty five lap events. Leading the races first circuit was pole sitter Louis White who had intentions of driving away from the field.

Bowling and Fose were the early movers in the bunch as the field finally sorted itself into single file formation. Then Bowling mounted a charge on Whites lead and by lap fourteen, powered his way to the front to take the race lead. Jeff Shiflett had a good run going as he made his way to the top five but the laps were clicking away fast as Bowling was having his way. White would make on last stab at the leader but could not collapsed the lead as Matt Bowling would cross the strip first for his first ever win at East Carolina Speedway. White, J Carroll, Fose and Shiflett were the races five best.

In the nightcap, Louis White had the pole entering the event in a race where the grid was determined by who was fastest in each racers slowest lap during qualifying. Coming to the green, Louis White made quick work and would go on to lead the field around its first lap. Bowling was there in tow as was Fose who some folks wondering if he could be the man in the second feature running third. Wasn’t long before the spin of Paul Williamson brought out the races first caution on lap six of the event.

But soon after, we were back to the green with Bowling making it known to race leader Louis White that he was coming. Several laps into this run and Bowling searched for a way around the leader to no avail. White at this point in the race, proved to be to strong but then something you don’t see often at a race track. The races second caution flag waved as the father son duo of Terry and Justin Carroll tangled up coming out of turn two. The caution would set up a lap sixteen restart and another chance for Bowling to try White for the lead. Back to the green and once again, Louis White was having none of it showing the field into turn one on point.

Bowling would give chase but soon had his hands full of Michael Fose who would take the two spot on the grid just a few laps later. Fose would then seek out the leader and lap by lap clipped into Whites race lead. But the closest Fose could get to the leader was just shy of his rear bumper before falling off and forced to concede his charge. But in this twin thirty five, Louis White would not be denied Victory Lane.

One the hood of Louis Whites car was a picture of friend and fellow competitor Bradley McCaskill in salute to his courage and uphill battle to a full recovery. Michael Fose, Matt Bowling, Jeff Shiflett and Eric Winslow rounded out the top five. Late Model race action at East Carolina Motor Speedway picks back up on July 9th where twin races are on the schedule.

Race Results #1
1 #83 Matt Bowling
2 #7 Louis White
3 #91 Justin Carroll
4 #54 Michael Fose
5 #01 Jeff Shiflett
6 #03 Brenden Queen
7 #25 Ken Mercer
8 #90 Terry Carroll
9 #22 Eric Winslow
10 #29 Paul Williamson
11 #19 Thomas Burbage
12 #19 Cameron Bowen
13 #33 Ryan Haddock
14 #51 Tyler Mathews
15 #83B Chris Byrnes
16 #12 Wesley Johnson

Race Results #2
1 #7 Louis White
2 #54 Michael Fose
3 #83 Matt Bowling
4 #01 Jeff Shiflett
5 #22 Eric Winslow
6 #03 Brenden Queen
7 #90 Terry Carroll
8 #25 Ken Mercer
9 #19 Thomas Burbage
10 #91 Justin Carroll
11 #19 Cameron Bowen
12 #33 Ryan Haddock
13 #29 Paul Williamson
14 #51 Tyler Mathews
15 #12 Wesley Johnson
16 #83B Chris Byrnes