Stacy Puryear put his car on the pole and led every lap at Ace Speedway on Friday night en route to his first victory at Ace Speedway since 1999.
With a guaranteed starting spot in the October Rodney Cook Classic and a $6,000 payday hanging in the balance, Puryear delivered a performance that turned back the hands of time. The 47-year old Late Model Stock Car veteran dominated the race despite challenges from hot shoe Timothy Peters in his first win at Ace Speedway since 1999.
19 years since his last win on the 4/10 mile track and Puryear was elated to get back to victory lane.
“It is so, so hard to win the races anymore,” Puryear said. “I’m 47 years old. I didn’t know if I’d ever get another opportunity to have a good race car like this.”
Puryear’s victory came with a $5,000 paycheck and another $1,000 for beating Blake Stallings, who had won three races already this season.
Puryear had to first fend off challenges from Trevor Ward in the early stages of the race and later from Peters after the races only caution. Puryear managed to stay ahead of Peters and then pulled away in the closing laps for the victory.
“I beat on him a little bit, got him out of shape some,” Peters told the Times-News, “but I just didn’t have enough of the car to capitalize. I could’ve ran on in there and just spun him right out. He was really stopping it in the middle of the corner on both ends (of the track), but that ain’t the way that I race.”
Puryear wasn’t shy about reminding Peters of a verbal jab he’d given him in the past as he stood in victory lane.
“Timmy’s a heck of a race car driver. I watch him on TV. We go way back. We’ve had our differences. Hey Timothy, remember when you said I need to be working in a grocery store instead of driving? I appreciate that, buddy. That just motivated me a little more.”
Behind Puryear and Peters, Ward finished third with Layne Riggs and RD Smith completing the top five finishers on the night.
Late Models:
1 – Stacy Puryear
2 – Timothy Peters
3 – Trevor Ward
4 – Layne Riggs
5 – RD Smith
6 – Dennis Holdren
7 – Thomas Beane
8 – Justin Hicks
9 – Kyle Dudley
10 – Ryan Millington
11 – Blake Stallings
12 – Kevin Neal
13 – Dean Fogleman
14 – Jason York
Quotes from Adam Smith’s Burlington Times-News article.
