Coy Beard Takes Late Model Win at Caraway Speedway
Cody Norman Back in Victory Lane in 602 Modifieds; Cody Griffin Claims Challenger Win; Brandon Clements Notches Mini Stock Win; Brandon Collins Earns Ucar Win
(Sophia, NC): With double points on the line in all divisions Saturday night, the full moon played its usual part in the racing.
Fast qualifier, Coy Beard returned to a familiar spot atop the Late Model finishing order. Beard took over the top spot from Donnie Apple on lap 16, then held off a fast-closing Daniel Schadt to take the win. Wesley Hawkins finished third ahead of Gavan Boschele and Jeffrey Wood. Steven Truell, Chase Murphy, Hunter Deshautelle, and Apple rounded out the field. Apple retired after a brush with the backstretch wall. Murphy had engine problems and Deshautelle and Truell were eliminated in a spectacular turn one crash that saw Truell wind up on top of Deshautelle.
A Saturday night full moon played its part in the Challenger feature as well. An event that included great racing but also a fair share of spills. Bobby Salisbury led lap one before Alan Vance moved to the point for a five-lap stint. Fletcher Whaley took over the lead on lap six. Whaley looked to have things under control until a caution bunched the field. Whaley and Vance got together on the restart eliminating both cars and handing the lead to Cody Griffin who held off Toby Layne for the win. Enoch McNeill and Salisbury won 10 lap qualifying heats.
The 602 Modified feature was a battle of the young guns as Cody Norman and Carson Loftin raced for the win. Norman made it three-in-a-row in the division, prevailing over Loftin in the 30 lapper. Veteran, Dean Lowder returned to the Mods with a third-place finish. Another young gun, Jaxson Casper finished fourth and Doug Patton rounded out the top five. Joe Flenor was sixth with Heath Macdougll and Carlos Gray completing the rundown. Loftin won a ten-lap qualifying race for the Mods.
Brandon Collins returned to the UCAR division Saturday night and the bright orange and blue, number 94 stole the show as Collins came from mid-pack in four laps to take the lead from Josh Phillips on lap five. Collins survived a couple of restarts and held off Daniel Hughes for the win. 2021 UCAR Champion, Justin Smith, returned from a late-season injury to finish third in his first 2022 start. Troy Ring and Corey Rose completed the top five. Josh Williams, Steven Trotter, Phillips, Brandon Hill, and Justin Hill rounded out the top ten. Caleb Allred, Blair Patterson, Ron Mock, and Mason Vance completed the rundown. Corey Rose and Mason Vance won UCAR heats.
Mini Stock hot-shoe, Brandon Clements, ventured into the Caraway Speedway grounds and walked away with the win over a short field of Mini Stocks. Jimmy Crigger finished second ahead of Levi Holt and Alex Higginson.
Racing returns to Caraway Speedway on Saturday, April 30th with Mothers Appreciation night at the track. A full card of action with Late Models, Challengers, Mini Stocks, UCAR’s, Legends, and Bandoleros in action.
For more information on great racing and other Caraway Speedway events, check the Caraway Speedway website at www.carawayspeedway.com or their Facebook page at Caraway Speedway. You can also call the speedway at 336-629-5803 and the staff will return your call. As always, if you can’t make the races, you can catch the action at carawayspeedway.tv.
Sources: Randy Myers/Caraway Speedway PR