Philip Morris has been nothing short of dominant at Motor Mile Speedway this season and, on Saturday night, his domination continued.
Morris picked up his seventh win out of ten Late Model Stock Car races held this season on the 4/10 mile track.
Morris put his mount on the pole for the 150-lap race but was relegated to start sixth due to track rules for repeat winners. The rule put CE Falk on the point for the initial start of the race flanked by Mike Looney. Bryan Reedy, Dennis Holdren and Dan Moore completed the top five starters with Morris to Moore’s outside for the start.
Falk got the jump on the green flag followed by Looney with Holdren jumping up to third. Reedy slipped to fourth on the start and, by lap four, Morris made his way into the fourth position. By lap 20, Falk had a nice lead over Looney and Holdren.
Moore was running sixth with Ricky Gillespie giving him a battle for the spot around lap 25. Moore was able to fend off the challenge. Meanwhile Falk had lapped up to ninth position before the caution flew on lap 40.
Falk jumped back out to the lead on a lap 45 restart but, by lap 63, Looney hadclosed in on Falk for the top spot. Looney gave him a bump off turn four and moved Falk out of the way, taking over the lead and bringing Morris with him to second place. Another caution waved on lap 70 and on the restart Morris would take over the point.
Mark Keese and Ricky Gillespie gottogether off turn four to bring out the caution on lap 96. Morris tookthe lead again on the lap 106 restart with Looney in tow. Looney looed to get to Morris for the top spot but Morris began building a little room in between the two leaders.
The best battle on the track at lap 113 was Kyle Barnes looking for sixth position on Reedy. Reedy held off the challenge while Morris, Looney, Falk and Holdren helddown the top four positions with no challenge. Barnes would surrender his position on the track and come to pit road at lap 137 as it sounded he was down a cylinder.
With no more caution flags flying Morris would stretch his legs on his way to his seventh win at Motor Mile and his 13th overall this season. Looney, Falk, Holdren and Moore completed the top five. Reedy, Devin Steele, Jonathan Hall, Barnes and Keese completed the top 10 unofficial finishers.
Official Results:
1 – Philip Morris #01
2 – Mike Looney #87
3 – CE Falk III #02
4 – Dennis Holdren #2
5 – Dan Moore #22
6 – Bryan Reedy #17
7 – Devin Steele #7
8 – Jonathan Hall #25
9 – Kyle Barnes #15
10 – Mark Keesee #38
11 – Ricky Gillespie #78
12 – Phillip Sisson #24
13 – Joe Taylor #81
14 – Stacey Terry #28
15 – Forrest Reynolds #04
16 – Blake Morris #26
