Practice Pays Off for Jones in Lee Fields Memorial
IRVINGTON, Ala. — When the green flag flew Saturday on the Lee Fields Memorial at Mobile International Speedway, all eyes were on the likes of Christopher Bell, Augie Grill, and Donnie Wilson. But when it was all said and done, a dominating performance by Garrett Jones was the topic of conversation.
Jones started the 150-lap Southern Super Series presented by Sunoco race from outside the top 10 but worked his way into third by the lap 75 break. When the race went back green, problems for leaders Augie Grill and Donnie Wilson opened the door for Jones who was more than ready to capitalize and run away with the lead.
Jones opened up more than a seven-second lead when the checkered flag waved to capture his first win in a Super Late Model.
“We’ve been testing at Hickory (Motor Speedway in North Carolina) and it’s paid off a bunch.” the former Pro Late Model champ said. “We haven’t done a lot of racing this year. We’ve spent countless hours testing.
“It is funny how these things work. We wanted to come back in dominating fashion and that’s what we did.”
The first half of the event was dominated by Grill and Wilson as that pair opened up a full straightaway lead before the break. On the restart, however, Grill’s car shot up the track and in front of Wilson in turn one allowing the field to get past the two for several laps, dropping Grill back to 10th, while Wilson was able to settle in line in the sixth position.
“When we went off in the first corner I just thought we had a right front flat. It just wouldn’t turn at all. And the next corner wasn’t much better.” Grill explained after the race. “I was hoping something wasn’t wrong and it finally came back around. But I had lost half a track to Garrett already. And that’s just too hard to make up under green. “We’ll take second. I’m happy with that.”
Grill did make up quite a bit of that ground, charging all the way back to take the runner-up spot.
Wilson, who also got to the runner-up spot during the final half, wore out his tires trying to run down Jones and had to settle for fourth when it was all said and done.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Christopher Bell looked to be the driver to watch as the race went green after topping practice and qualifying in the afternoon. The Norman, Oklahoma driver traded the lead with Grill during the opening laps before settling into the field.
After the break, Bell stayed patient and moved his was up to battle with Grill and Wilson in the closing laps for the last two podium spots before taking home third.
For Bell, 150 green flag laps in a Late Model was something new and proved a good test for a Kyle Busch Motorsports team that had been struggling lately.
“Just really happy to be with KBM in this Late Model deal,” Bell said. “They’ve been struggling the last couple of weeks so just glad we could get it turned around a little bit. They’ve been working hard to get this turned back around and I think that showed.”‘
The top-five finish for Wilson extended his points lead heading into the final two races of the Southern Super Series season as he tries to become the next series champion.
“I don’t think I’ve ever run a Late Model race that went green to checkered so that was definitely something different for me. It was good to get a long run in like that,” Wilson said with a smile.
Next up for the Southern Super Series will be the Alabama 200 at Montgomery Motor Speedway (AL) September 9-11.
For more information on the Southern Super Series presented by Sunoco, visit www.southernsuperseries.com.
Lee Fields Memorial Unofficial Results
1 88 Garrett Jones
2 112 Augie Grill
3 51B Christopher Bell
4 2W Donnie Wilson
5 99 Casey Smith
6 14 Chris Davidson
7 97 Cole Anderson
8 98 Kenzie Ruston
9 97P Chase Purdy
10 2 John Bolen
11 47 Allen Karnes
12 1 Mike Garvey
13 99N Wayne Niedecken Jr
14 30 Bobby Knox Jr
Sources: 51 Sports/Southern Super Series PR