TROY, NC :: Tommy Lemons, Jr. came home with a podium finish in Friday night’s running of the previously postponed 2012 Myrtle Beach 400 at Myrtle Beach Speedway in South Carolina. Lemons started the race in the third position but dropped back early to save his equipment. In the second half of the race, he patiently raced his way up to a podium finish in one of Late Model Stock Car racing’s most prestigious races.
“I gave up too much track position in the first half,” said Lemons. “I know it’s crazy to say that when you get four new tires. I never could get back where we needed to be to get up there and save a little bit. I don’t think we went too late or too early, it’s just track position.”
Lemons was running 10th at the halfway point of the 250 lap feature event. When the second half started, he patiently worked his way in to the top-five. He stayed up inside the top-ten in the final 75 laps of the race and crossed the line in the fourth position. The first car to cross the line was stripped of the win which promoted Lemons up to third in the final running order.
“I asked my spotter if he thought we were at Talladega after that first caution,” said Lemons. “We were running three and four wide. I don’t know what happened. A light switch turned on in somebody’s head and it just got crazy. It was a good finish though and the car’s in one piece.”
Lemons had intended to run in Saturday night’s Spring Challenge at the Beach, a 150 lap Late Model Stock Car race. However, the race was cancelled due to rain and will not be rescheduled. The next race Lemons will race in will be at South Boston Speedway on March 30th for a 150 lap Late Model race.
Lemons is supported by Lemons Backhoe, Hedgecock Racing Enterprises, Kowlasky Racing Engines, and Sellers Racing. For more information on Tommy Lemons, Jr. or the Lemons Motorsports team, check out their new website at www.tommylemonsjr.com.
