JR Motorsports Back on Track at Hickory Motor Speedway with Another Josh Berry Win
March 12, 2016 Newton, NC: An unseasonably warm and pleasant March day greeted competitors and fans alike as the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series rolled back in to Hickory Motor Speedway for Round 2 of the Paramount Kia ‘Big 10’ Racing Challenge.
Leading off the evening’s events would be the Catawba Realty & Insurance Co. Classic Sportsman Racing Series hotrods and their 25 lap feature. Bill Webb in the #16 would lead the field to green after turning the hot lap in qualifying with the #95 of Eddie Gilbert lined up to his outside. Gilbert would grab the early lead but would face constant pressure by 2015 series co-champion Webb. The pair would set a torrid pace but in the end Gilbert would grab win #1 for the year with Webb finishing a close 2nd. Dennis Hinkle in the #90 would come home in 3rd, Bill Powell in the #71 would get 4th, and Tom Fenn in the #83 would round out the top 5.
The Limited Late Models would roar to life next as they would roll off for their 35 lap feature. Jeremy Pelfrey in the #51 would grab the pole and start from the point with Monty Cox in the #21 to his outside. Pelfrey would jump to an early lead as the green flag fell. The battle for 2nd would stay interesting throughout the event as it was contested by Cox, Evan Duggins in the #12, Evan Swilling in the #18, and Charlie Watson in the #9. Despite a late race caution Pelfrey would drive on for the win and celebrate in an emotional victory lane. A regular fixture at Hickory Motor Speedway, Pelfrey had missed the season opener with an unexpected hospitalization. A joyous celebration in victory lane with family and friends would help soothe any lingering effects and provide the story book ending that everyone wanted to see. Coming home 2nd for the second straight week would be Swilling. Rounding out the top 5 would be Watson in 3rd, Duggins in 4th, and Mitch Walker 5th in the #29.
The Street Stocks would take to the track with the #10 of Kevin Townsend showing the way and Cody DeMarmels in the #18 to his outside. At the start Townsend would jump to the lead and DeMarmels would battle with Kevin Eby in the #18 for 2nd. Townsend would hold on for win number two of the early season as DeMarmels would get around Eby for 2nd. Eby would grab 3rd, Eric Evans in the #7 would take 4th, and Marshall Sutton in the #64 would come in 5th after spirited battles with Jeremy Harrell in the #32 and Trey Buff in the #69.
Dexter Canipe in the #5 would set the fast time and grab the pole for Round 2 of the Paramount Kia ‘Big 10’ Racing Challenge for the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Bojangles Late Models. Josh Berry in the #88 would qualify 2nd fastest and start to Canipe’s outside, with the 2nd row being filled by the #21 of your 2015 NASCAR Whelen All American Series Bojangles Late Model Track Champion Matt Piercy and the #18 of Casey Pierce. The green flag would see Canipe lead the field for the first few laps as the field jockeyed for position behind him. Berry would finally create a small opening and drive in it to take the point with Canipe and Piercy close in tow. As the laps began to count down Piercy would get by Canipe and begin to reel in Berry. However, the lead would prove to be insurmountable as Berry would go on to grab his first victory of the 2016 season. Piercy would grab 2nd in his first HMS start of the 2016 season with Canipe coming home in 3rd. Christian Eckes in the #1 and Ryan Millington in the #17 would round out the top 5.
Closing out the night’s events would be the 4 Cylinders with the #28 of Robert Trivette on the pole and the #17 or Curtis Pardue to his outside. Trivette would lead early until mechanical problems would force him to pit road and surrender the lead to Charlie Neill in the #2 who had charged through the field. Neill would hold on for the victory. Pardue would grab the 2nd spot, Rob Lewis in the #98 would take 3rd, and rounding out the top 5 would be Rusty Fann in the #82 and Rodney Trivette in the #6.
The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series will once again roar to life this coming Saturday night, March 19th, with 100 laps for the Bojangles Late Models, 35 laps for the Limited Late Models, 30 laps for the Street Stocks, 25 laps for the 4-Cylinders, and Twin 20 lap events for the Renegades.
Gates will open at 4:45pm, with Qualifying at 5pm, Autograph session at 6pm, and back to our regular schedule with Racing at 7pm.
Tickets only $11 Adults, $9 Teens/Seniors, and Children 12 & under FREE!
For more information check us out at www.hickorymotorspeedway.com , on Facebook, and Twitter!
Hickory Motor Speedway
Race Results for 3/12/2016
4-Cylinders – Feature
Finish Car No Driver Hometown DQ/DNS/DNF
1 2 Charlie Neill Hickory, NC
2 17 Curtis Pardue Hickory, NC
3 98 Rob Lewis Morganton, NC
4 82F Rusty Fann Hickory, NC
5 6T Rodney Trivette Newton, NC
6 28 Robert Trivette Newton, NC
7 4M Dylan Mundy Concord, NC
4-Cylinders – Qualifying
Finish Car No Driver Hometown DQ/DNS/DNF
1 28 Robert Trivette Newton, NC
2 17 Curtis Pardue Hickory, NC
3 4M Dylan Mundy Concord, NC
4 6T Rodney Trivette Newton, NC
5 2 Charlie Neill Hickory, NC
6 98 Rob Lewis Morganton, NC DNS
7 82F Rusty Fann Hickory, NC DNS
Classic Sportsman Racing – Feature
Finish Car No Driver Hometown DQ/DNS/DNF
1 95G Eddie Gilbert Newton, NC
2 16 Bill Webb Statesville, NC
3 90 Dennis Hinkle Hickory, NC
4 71P Bill Powell Newton, NC
5 83 Tom Fenn Lincolnton, NC
6 66 Robert Webb Harmony, NC
7 95 Tim Gilbert Newton, NC
Classic Sportsman Racing – Qualifying
Finish Car No Driver Hometown DQ/DNS/DNF
1 16 Bill Webb Statesville, NC
2 95G Eddie Gilbert Newton, NC
3 90 Dennis Hinkle Hickory, NC
4 71P Bill Powell Newton, NC
5 66 Robert Webb Harmony, NC
6 95 Tim Gilbert Newton, NC
7 83 Tom Fenn Lincolnton, NC
Late Model – Feature
Finish Car No Driver Hometown DQ/DNS/DNF
1 88B Josh Berry Hendersonville, TN
2 21P Matt Piercy Conover, NC
3 5C Dexter Canipe, Jr. Conover, NC
4 1E Christian Eckes Middletown, NY
5 17M Ryan Millington Statesville, NC
6 18P Casey Pierce Lenoir, NC
7 1W Dylon Wilson Taylorsville, NC
8 77T Tal Davidson Mooresville, NC
9 23D Zachary Dabbs Mooresville, NC
10 12G Andrew Garcia Eagle Pass TX, NC
11 9W Charlie Watson Lenoir, NC
12 42 Craig Thomas Mooresville, NC
Late Model – Qualifying
Finish Car No Driver Hometown DQ/DNS/DNF
1 5C Dexter Canipe, Jr. Conover, NC
2 88B Josh Berry Hendersonville, TN
3 21P Matt Piercy Conover, NC
4 18P Casey Pierce Lenoir, NC
5 17M Ryan Millington Statesville, NC
6 1E Christian Eckes Middletown, NY
7 1W Dylon Wilson Taylorsville, NC
8 77T Tal Davidson Mooresville, NC
9 23D Zachary Dabbs Mooresville, NC
10 12G Andrew Garcia Eagle Pass TX, NC
11 42 Craig Thomas Mooresville, NC
12 9W Charlie Watson Lenoir, NC DNS
Limited Late Model – Feature
Finish Car No Driver Hometown DQ/DNS/DNF
1 51 Jeremy Pelfrey Lenoir, NC
2 18S Evan Swilling Cohutta, GA
3 9 Charlie Watson Lenoir, NC
4 12D Evan Duggins Tobaccoville, NC
5 29 Mitch Walker Newton, NC
6 21 Monty Cox Granite Falls, NC
7 41 Dennis Trivette Newton, NC
8 47P Kenneth Pardue Millers Creek, NC
9 88M Mark Johnson Newton, NC
10 3D Dylan Oliver Stanley, NC
Limited Late Model – Qualifying
Finish Car No Driver Hometown DQ/DNS/DNF
1 51 Jeremy Pelfrey Lenoir, NC
2 21 Monty Cox Granite Falls, NC
3 12D Evan Duggins Tobaccoville, NC
4 9 Charlie Watson Lenoir, NC
5 18S Evan Swilling Cohutta, GA
6 29 Mitch Walker Newton, NC
7 88M Mark Johnson Newton, NC
8 41 Dennis Trivette Newton, NC
9 47P Kenneth Pardue Millers Creek, NC
10 3D Dylan Oliver Stanley, NC
Street Stocks – Feature
Finish Car No Driver Hometown DQ/DNS/DNF
1 10T Kevin Townsend Lenoir, NC
2 18D Cody DeMarmels Newton, NC
3 3 Kevin Eby Lenior, NC
4 7 Eric Evans Mooresville, NC
5 64 Marshall Sutton Burnsville, NC
6 32J Jeremy Harrell Newton, NC
7 69 Trey Buff Hickory, NC
8 10 Ethan Johnson Hudson, NC
9 31 Wayne Edwards Denver, NC
10 77W Mark Whitten Hogtown, VA DNS
Street Stocks – Qualifying
Finish Car No Driver Hometown DQ/DNS/DNF
1 10T Kevin Townsend Lenoir, NC
2 18D Cody DeMarmels Newton, NC
3 3 Kevin Eby Lenior, NC
4 64 Marshall Sutton Burnsville, NC
5 7 Eric Evans Mooresville, NC
6 69 Trey Buff Hickory, NC
7 32J Jeremy Harrell Newton, NC
8 31 Wayne Edwards Denver, NC
9 10 Ethan Johnson Hudson, NC
10 77W Mark Whitten Hogtown, VA DNS
Sources: Hickory Motor Speedway