Story by: Langley Austin — [email protected] 

Hudson, NC ~ The 2009 season at Tri-County Motor Speedway is certainly proving to be a competitive one as in five races victory lane has been graced by five different drivers each with varying levels of experience behind the wheel of a Late Model Stock Car.

On Friday night, Brennan Poole proved that talent can beat experience as he won in just his eighth time behind the wheel of a full-size Late Model Stock Car for FatHead Racing and team owner, Jamie Yelton. The win was a first for Yelton as a car owner after launching a driver development program in mid-summer 2007 with driver Paddy Rodenbeck. Yelton and Rodenbeck never won together, but with the knowledge that Rodenbeck gained while racing with Yelton he is now fast becoming one of the top young Late Model drivers in the Carolina’s.

Poole apparently is a fast learner and his talent peaked through on Friday night, May 8th when after starting third he quickly made his way to the front of the field in the first of twin 35-lap Late Model Stock Car races and held the point until the checkered flag fell. Poole, who tested in a Late Model Stock Car for the first time only in March is a Rookie of the Year candidate on the ultra-competitive UARA-STARS tour and has been using Tri-County and Hickory Motor Speedway to gain experience.

Poole and Yelton had high expectations for the 2009 season, but neither could have believed that just eight races in the 17-year old driver from The Woodlands, Texas would already be a winner in the competitive world of Late Model Stock Car racing. For Poole the win has to be a huge confidence booster and with the team and driver getting better every week on the UARA-STARS tour his confidence will certainly be high heading into the next race on the tour which just happens to be at Tri-County Motor Speedway on Friday, May 22nd.

Dexter Canipe, Jr. finished second in the first race, but kept his eyes set on the top prize for race two. Finishing third was Tyler Brown, Megan Reitenour and RA Brown completed the top five. Last weeks winner, David Wilson had a tough night in the first race breaking a wheel and then rallying back to finish 7th.

In race number two Canipe put himself in position to finally break through this season after getting off to a slow start and like most every winner this season at Tri-County once he got out front he wasn’t going to be caught. Canipe took home a dominating win with first race winner, Poole finishing second for his best two career finishes in one night. Completing the top five was Megan Reitenour(her best career Late Model Stock Car finish), RA Brown and Tyler Brown.

Kaleb Pressley grabbed two sixth place finishes in the twin features with Brian Curry making his first starts at the 4/10 mile track with a best finish of 7th. David Wilson continued his struggles in race number two as he spun out, but came back to finish 8th in a 14-car field for both races.

Poole and Canipe became the fourth and fifth different winners in the five races held this season at Tri-County Motor Speedway and both drivers needed the confidence boost that comes with winning a race in the most competitive forms of racing in the world … now we’ll see which driver can keep the momentum gained and make something out of there season.

RACE #1
1 – Brennan Poole
2 – Dexter Canipe Jr
3 – Tyler Brown
4 – Megan Reitenour
5 – RA Brown
6 – Kaleb Pressley
7 – David Wilson
8 – Ryan Rust
9 – Monty Cox
10 – Sean Brieley
11 – Julia Dawson
12 – Chuck Jensen
13 – Br1an Curry
14 – Jimmy Simmons

RACE #2
1 – Dexter Canipe Jr
2 – Brennan Poole
3 – Megan Reitenour
4 – RA Brown
5 – Tyler Brown
6 – Kaleb Pressley
7 – Brian Curry
8 – David Wilson
9 – Ryan Rust
10 – Sean Brieley
11 – Monty Cox
12 – Julia Dawson
13 – Jimmy Simmons
14 – Chuck Jensen