Concord, NC(April 15, 2012) — Twin 50-lap features for the Late Model Stock Car division also proved to double the racing excitement at Wilburn Auto Body Night at the races at Concord Speedway. Kenny Brooks, of Concord, N.C., scored back-to-back wins, while Andrew Thomas, of Monroe, N.C., Brian Love, of Mount Pleasant, N.C. and Tracy Mullis, of Marshville, N.C., each scored their first victory of the 2012 season.
Brooks dominated the first of the Wilburn Auto Body twin 50-lap races in the Late Model Stock Car division backing up his win in last week’s Town and Country Ford Kid’s Night at the Races. Setting the pace early on, pole sitter, Brooks, checked out to a seven-car lead by the halfway point. Buster Bennet, of Concord, N.C., and Andrew Thomas, of Monroe, N.C., worked to lessen Brooks’ early lead. However, shortly after halfway, the leaders began to make their way carefully through lap traffic. Brooks was able to maintain his lead, but Bennet gave up second place to Thomas by the end of the short 50-lap event.
Thomas, after coming up a spot short in the first 50-lap feature, snatched the win in the second of the twin 50-lap races for the Wilburn Auto Body Late Model Stock Car division. Thomas checked out to an early lead on the field leaving Brooks in an unfamiliar place battling back in traffic for the first time all night. After a wild spin right in front of the leaders by Tony Pasquarello, Sr., of Matthews, N.C., brought out the caution on lap 18, Thomas’ lead was compromised at the halfway point.
Brooks filled up Thomas’ rear view mirror on the restart, but he could only follow for so long. With 10 laps to go, Brooks made the pass for the lead. However, Thomas didn’t give up easy and the two fought door-to-door swapping for the lead corner-to-corner. Fans were on their feet with the winner standing undetermined until the final lap. Thomas grabbed the win with Brooks finishing in second position right on his rear quarter panel in one of the best finishes so far this season at Concord Speedway.
Love scored his first victory of the season in the Pepsi Street Stocks division 40-lap feature event after two disappointing finishes in the prior two races. Sonny Schoffen, of Mint Hill, N.C., in the borrowed car of Charles Hutto’s appeared to be the driver to beat early on in the race as he capitalized on the loose race car of Cooper Faassen, of Monroe, N.C., to pass for the lead by the halfway point.
Schoffen settled into the lead but was unable to take a breath as Love charged to second position and set his sights on Schoffen’s car and victory lane. The spun car of Charles Faassen, of Monroe, N.C., brought out what Schoffen wanted to see least, the caution flags. The restart disintegrated Schoffen’s nearly half-track lead on the field and allowed Love to pass for the lead forcing Schoffen to settle for second position and Cooper Faassen to follow behind to take third.
Mullis took home his first win of the season in the 25-lap Town and Country Ford Fast and Furious Fours division feature event. Mullis, nicknamed “the Enforcer,” shot out to an early lead leaving Barry Canter, of Mint Hill, N.C., and Adam Morgan, of Concord, N.C., to battle behind him for second position.
Morgan broke his own qualifying record set last week with his lap of 19.810 seconds and 90.863 mph which scored him the pole. However, Morgan was made to start on the rear of the field according to the Fast and Furious Fours division rules because he won last week’s race. The laps wound down too quickly for Morgan to track down Mullis’ tremendous lead and Morgan settled for second position with Canter rounding out the top three.
Five-year-old, Chase Martin, of Wingate, N.C., and five-year-old, Ashlynn Bost, of Concord, N.C., took home the victories in the famed Concord Speedway Boy’s and Girl’s Peddle Car Races.
Next Saturday night, April 21, is 99.7 the Fox’s Night at the Races. The racing show will feature 100 laps for the Wilburn Auto Body Late Model division, twin 25-lap races for the Pepsi Street Stocks division and 25 laps for the Town and Country Ford Fast & Furious Fours division.
Grandstand admission is just 15 dollars and kids 12 and under are admitted for free at Concord Speedway. Also new for this year, the speedway will be offering a Senior, Teen and Military discount admission of 10 dollars. Don’t miss the racing excitement at the track where grassroots racing lives, Concord Speedway!
Please contact the speedway office at 704-782-4221 or visit our website at www.concordspeedway.net with any questions. Connect with Concord Speedway and stay up to speed with all of the action at both the Quarter and Half-Mile tracks on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ConcordSpeedway and by following on Twitter at www.twitter.com/concordspeedway.
