Wright & Wimbish Split Twin Races on Hickory's Opening Night

Story by: Corey Latham ~ [email protected]

Newton, NC(March 24, 2011) — Hickory Motor Speedway was the place to be this past weekend, as opening night was upon us and the stands were full of fans wanting action. They would not be disappointed with what they saw, it was a night to be remembered at the historical track. The moon was the closest it had been in 18 years and the drivers acted it, we had racing, wrecking and fighting, in the end it was Josh Wright and Grant Wimbish standing in victory lane.

In the first 35 lap feature of the night for the Late Models, Ryan Glenski would led the field to green after picking up the pole. Qualifying earlier in the day saw the cars take two laps with the first counting for the first race and the second for the second race, Josh Wright would start from the pole in race number two.

At the green Glenski would instantly slip backwards and out of contention. It became evident rather quick that Ashley Huffman was the man to beat on this night as he had the fastest average time for his two qualifying laps and jumped out to the early lead with Dexter Canipe Jr. in hot pursuit. Behind them the racing was intense as Glenski was holding up Kyle Moon and Jesse LeFevers and further back Candace Muzny gets into Grant Wimbish almost putting him into the inside wall before making a miraculous save.

Canipe Jr. finally catches Huffman on lap 15 and gets under him to look for the lead. Kyle Moon, who was driving a car out of the Jamie Yelton “Fathead Racing” stables was able to get by LeFevers for third and set his sights on the tow leaders as he seemed to be the fastest car on track. Moon would walk Huffman and Canipe Jr. down just two laps later and makes a strong move to get by Huffman first then Canipe Jr. in the next turn to take the lead.

Lap 23 saw mechanical issues all of a sudden take out two contenders at the front of the field. Huffman, who had been strong all day and in the opening laps, slowly started to fall back when Moon took the lead and finally parked in his pit stall, ma blown engine ending his night of racing. Canipe Jr. suddenly jumped off the pace and fell back also, the handle completely gone on his car after making hard contact with the outside wall on the opening laps.

With only 35 laps to get it done, Moon looked to be on a cakewalk to the win. But, as it always is the case in racing, It’s never over till It’s over and of course a caution always flies. Josh Wright had moved around LeFevers for second and was catching Moon quickly but would run out of time without a caution, that caution would come with three laps to go.

On the double-file restart Moon dives into turn one with Wright on the outside, LeFevers jacks up Moon from behind and gets him up into Wright but both hang on. They would drag race down the backstretch even and coming to the white flag Wright gets a great run off turn four from the outside and blasts into the top spot. Moon would try one last time as cars were beating and banging through the field but couldn’t get to the bumper of Wright as he takes his first Late Model victory over Moon and a hard-charging Jessica Brunelli.

In the second event of the night, Wright would start from the pole with 2011 rookie Austin McDaniels to his outside, Huffman was set to start second but his blown engine would move the entire outside line up on the start. Wright would dive into the lead but it was all for naught as Glenski brings out the caution on the backstretch causing a full field restart. The next one wouldn’t be much better as Keith Bumgardner gets into the back of Brad Cox sending him into the turn four wall. We were able to get one lap on the board though.

On the next restart McDaniels is on the inside of Wright and gets hit from behind by LeFevers as they take the green, McDaniels almost wrecks it but makes the same, even more impressive is that he maintains the lead slightly over Wright as they race through turn two. Still side by side for another lap, McDaniels gets hard into Wright going into turn one but they both maintain with Canipe Jr. slipping into third.

Lap three sees another caution, and this one is absolutely crazy. Jeremy Sorel and Kieth Bumgardner make contact and go for a lazy spin in turn three, with both cars looking to be able to continue with no damage. Bumgardner takes offense to the situation and drives wide-open into the drivers door of the Sorel machine and then holds it to the floor trying to push the car down pit road. He finally quits and backs up, both cars now with heavy damage they make their way to their pit stalls and park for the night, it was a very odd looking situation to say the least.

Getting back to racing, Dexter Canipe had slipped into the lead through the melee with McDaniels dropping back to third. Canipe and Wright race hard for two laps until Wright is able to power to the front on the outside. Grant Wimbish races hard to the outside of Lefevers a lap later taking third with Brunelli coming on strong to pester LeFevers.

As we get to the middle of the race with a few cautions here and there and one extremely long caution so LeFevers can make repairs with the right front tire, we get down to business with Wimbish jumping to the outside of Wright for the lead. As they race two abreast, Brunelli rides comfortably in third with Canipe Jr. holding up Candace Muzny and Moon, who jumps to the outside of Muzny but can’t make it work.

Wimbish finally clears Wright for the lead and Muzny gets by Canipe Jr. for fourth and sets her sights on Brunelli for third……this is where it gets interesting. As Muzny finally tracks down Brunelli, the two female drivers put on a great show with Muzny beating on the rear of Brunelli but not being able to get around. Muzny would finally complete the pass on lap 28 with Brunelli making an incredible crossover move off turn four to dive back to the inside, only problem being is that they ran out of room going into turn one.

As the two ladies race into turn one they make contact with Brunelli on the inside and both crash hard into the outside wall. Muzny then climbs out of her car and goes into the passenger side of the Brunelli machine, not satisfied with that angle, she then goes around to the drivers side and takes her window net down for her. After a few words are said Muzny pops a few shots to the face of Brunelli with Brunelli fighting back and scratching her face. The police are on the scene quick and Muzny tries to hurry up and climb back in her car, but to no avail, she is not arrested but lead straight out of the track to enjoy the rest of the action from the parking lot.

Well, after that bit of action we still had five laps of a race to run. Wimbish elects to take the outside on the restart and it works like as charm as he easily pulls into the lead. Canipe Jr. tries to follow but can’t make it work and falls in behind Wright in third. Wimbish has the race in the bag, but behind him it gets fierce with two to go as Moon makes a power move to the inside of Canipe Jr. to take third, not happy with that he goes after Wright on the final lap and clips him at the line to pick up his second runner-up finish of the night while Wimbish cruises to the checkereds.

It was a crazy night for sure, great fields of cars and the stands were as full as they have been in years. The one thing that really stood out was the racing, fierce every lap and with so many cars that can be contenders, it was the most competitive field we have seen at Hickory for a weekly event in some time. This week should interesting as the Late Models will go for 50 laps while the Limiteds try twin 25’s, we’ll see what tempers boil over from the previous week.