Story by: Corey Latham ~ [email protected]

Altamahaw, NC(August 17, 2011) — With only four more events on the schedule for the Late Model Stocks at Ace Speedway, the action is heating up as the point race has become a two man show between veterans Barry Beggarly and Jason York. And while that race may be between two, each race has many that are capable of heading to victory lane. Friday night was no exception as one point leader flourished while the other had problems from the first lap of qualifying, ending with a all-out brawl in the pits. Another typical night at Ace Speedway.

Last race out there were only 10 cars making the trip, and while many were worried, it turned out to be one of the best races of the year complete with great racing and controversy. This week would see 14 cars show up to race but only 13 would start as Jason York had his engine let go on his second lap of qualifying. The team would thrash to get another motor but time would not make it possible, at the last minute Thomas Scott stepped up and showed the ultimate sportsmanship telling York he could drive his car for the night since he was in a battle for the championship. Barry Beggarly and Ryan Wilson, fresh off his top ten ARCA run at Pocono a week before would led the field to the green.

Beggarly would assert himself at the front from the start with the hottest driver as of late, Jeb Burton asserting himself in second. Wilson would fade in the early going with Beggarly, Burton and John Moore, back after missing last week with engine problems, pulling away from the field. Most of the action was coming from deep in the pack as Rodney Cook, staying true to form, had a bad qualifying attempt and was coming through the field in a hurry getting by Dustin Rumley and Wilson to move to fourth by lap 32.

While Beggarly was putting a hurting on the field up front, York was coming through the field in the Scott machine after starting shotgun on the grid. He gets all the way to fifth but not after a heck of a fight. York catches the #12 of Wilson but as York looks to the inside Wilson shuts the door each time causing York to get back in line. York would finally use the bumper just a touch to get by, nothing major looking at all but it was the start of a war.

The caution would fly on lap 56 of the 75 lap event for Aaron Dudley spinning off turn two, bunching the field up and bringing the “cone” out for drivers to pick inside or outside. Beggarly would easily pull to the lead with Moore slipping into second in front of Burton and Cook who gets by Rumley who had tried to go to the outside to advance his position but to no avail. Somehow, Wilson and York have contact again from this restart and as they enter turn three on lap 57 York sticks it inside of Wilson hard, the two make contact with Rumley already on the outside and all three cars go spinning with York and Wilson getting damage.

It just gets wilder from here as Begagrly once again easily pulls to the lead but Burton, who took the outside on the restart, hangs with Moore for second for over 5 laps until he pulls the power move taking the runner up spot from the outside. Meanwhile York was coming also, he had took the cone to go to the high side and was working on Rumley for 5th when they make contact sending Rumley up the track a bit, Rumley turns back left hard and they beat on each other going down the frontstretch. Rumley would pull back in front to take over fifth but the message was clear, these two have had a past and it still seems they aren’t the best of friends yet.

With ten to go the top three are set with Beggarly, Burton and Moore, but fouth spot is a hot comodity. Rumley catches Cook and moves to the inside down the frontstretch making the pass as they enter turn one, York tries to fill the hole but Cook slams the door forcing York down ever so slightly into the inside wall. Cook would come back on Rumley to hound him for the spot and finally gets back by him as they bangs doors down the frontstretch with two to go as Beggarly cruises across the finish line to take the checkereds, by far the most dominant performance of any winner this year.

As the top three pull up on the frontstretch for interviews all eyes turn to a crowd gathering on pit road as York had to park Scott’s car back in front of his hauler, which was right next to the Wilson machine. Words are exchanged and the dads go at it, Dean Wilson and John York aren’t holding anything back as this wasn’t no “push” fight, hard contact was being made numerous times. Then of course the teams join in and It’s an all-out brawl until track workers are able to separate them, but not before they go at it for a second time when track GM Brad Allen gets involved to break up the ruckus. This was a short-track racing lovers dream, a great race, controversy and a fight to boot.

The Late Models will have this weekend off as the Limited take center stage with their own 50 lapper but it will be hard to top Friday night. Beggarly may have gotten a little cushion on York in the championship as they were nearly tied going into the night, but York will be back and as hungry as ever. Wilson had only run a few races at Ace this season but had said before the race they would run the last three, now it makes it even more exciting.

Results:
1. Barry Beggarly
2. Jeb Burton
3. John Moore
4. Rodney Cook
5. Dustin Rumley
6. Jason York
7. Dean Fogleman
8. Ryan Wilson
9. Brad Kurth
10. Aaron Dudley
11. Bobby Griffin
12. Lee Ball
13. Scotty Warren