The Southeast Super Truck Series Presented by City Chevrolet & Textron Off-Road made their second stop of the season on Saturday April 28, 2018. The beautiful 4/10th mile oval in Hudson, NC known as Tri-County Motor Speedway. TCMS has produced some of the best side by side battles throughout the years with its multiple groove track. The teams made the trek to the foothills of Caldwell County and quickly went to work dialing their machines in.
As the first round of practice came about, it was the two time Champion from Powderville, South Carolina, Kenneth Headen who paced the field with the hometown favorite Ashley Huffman nipping at his heels in second. They had a hour before the second round began, and this time Huffman set the fast time with Headen running the second fastest lap. The teams had one more round of practice to get everything right, and get set up for their qualifying runs. The final round of practice seen a battle of the Rookie Of The Year Candidates topping the speed charts, fifteen year old Ashton Higgins who has continued to impress the fans found his way to the top. And the lone female in the field reigning out of Madison, Florida Taylor Hosford jumping to second fastest.
The drivers made their five lap scuff session around the facility, and came down pit road to make tire pressure adjustments, tape off their grills and set sway bars. They went out one by one making their qualifying runs. It was Ashley Huffman from the Dwight Huffman stables who claimed the Renegade Race Fuels Pole Award for the second time this season. Huffman rolled a three on the invert dice, which now allowed Headen to start the race from the top spot. The field was set for the main event of the night. Headen led the field down to the green flag, and they was off. However the youngster, Higgins didn’t waste no time getting past Headen for the lead on the first lap.
The field followed Higgins around the track, lap after lap. Hosford set her sights on the back bumper of Weaverville’s Toby Hollifield. The pair battled lap after lap for the fourth position. However she finally made the move, and bringing the other youngster from Mills River, NC Sawyer Frady with her. Hosford’s next steps were on Huffman who was riding back in third. Unfortunately Huffman seen them coming and turned on the afterburners and worked his way past Headen to take over the second place.
Travelers Rest, South Carolina Jamie Barbrey again couldn’t shake the monkey off of his back as he pulled down pit road with engine issues on lap 19. The field reached the half way mark of the race, and Huffman had caught the leader Higgins. Hollifield worked his way back around the #99 machine of Frady to re-claim the fifth position.
Hosford began to quckly reel in the third place truck of Headen, now her next step was how she was
going to get around him. Higgins pulled away from the field, and set his sights on the checkered flag. As they were getting down to the last few laps, Hosford finally made the move around the #22 of Headen. Higgins went on to capture his first ever Southeast Super Truck Series victory in his third attempt, bringing Hosford with him in second, and Headen in third.
Official Results
1. 9 Ashton Higgins
2. 13 Taylor Hosford
3. 22 Kenneth Headen
4. 5 Toby Hollifield
5. 99 Sawyer Frady
6. 3 Greg Nix
7. 20 Jimmy Roberts
8. 66 Bennie Davis
9. 00 Ronald Buckner
10. 21 Jamie Barbrey
11. 88 Mike Canipe
12. 7 Ashley Huffman *
*Denotes Renegade Race Fuels Pole Sitter
