Prospects march on at Music City

NASCAR Grand National East Series - Music City Motorplex (TN)

Posted July 23, 2007 by David Smith, 12:00 AM EST

In the quest for the Copely Guitar, Mexican-born Rogelio Lopez scored the victory in the 150-lap Grand National East Series race at Music City Motorplex (TN).

Lopez hoists the guitar, thanks to holding off five-star prospect Joey Logano off of turn 4 on the final lap. Logano, the series point leader, came home runner-up by mere inches.

Logano's teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, Marc Davis, threw a feverish march off of the final re-start, passing five cars to finish 3rd. This comes after being caught up in an accident with Ruben Pardo and pole-sitter Sean Caisse on lap 72.

Jeffrey Earnhardt finished 4th in an Andy Santerre Motorsports entry. Tim Andrews finished 8th in his return to the GN East.

North Carolina's Kevin Leicht made his series debut, qualifying 8th, but ran out of fuel during the caution period prior to the final re-start, relegating him to a 20th place finish. He would have competed for a top-ten finish in the race's final two laps.

Unofficial Finishing Order: 1. R. Lopez; 2. J. Logano; 3. M. Davis; 4. J. Earnhardt; 5. B. Chew; 6. J. Hayes; 7. J. Anton; 8. T. Andrews; 9. J. Marquis; 10. R. Gould; 11. C. Austin; 12. M. Kobyluck; 13. M. Theriault; 14. M. Dumarey; 15. N. Formosa; 16. P. Sellers; 17. J. Freeman; 18. S. Caisse; 19. J. Salemi; 20. K. Leicht; 21. S. McCord; 22. T. Peck; 23. J. Pritchard; 24. S. Bouley; 25. J. Smith; 26. G. Quiroga; 27. R. Pardo; 28. D. Ciccarelli; 29. J. Hernandez; 30. M. Olsen
 

Grissom, Barker shine on local scene

Racing Roundup

Posted July 22, 2007 by David Smith, 1:39 PM EST

Grissom grabs first win of '07

It's been a long season for 18 year-old Kyle Grissom, but Saturday night finally made his "caviar dream" a reality.

The three-star prospect captured his first win of the 2007 season with a strong performance at Hickory (NC) Motor Speedway. Son of former Busch Series champion Steve Grissom, Kyle managed to hold off fellow NASCAR off-spring Chrissy Wallace and Coleman Pressley at the line.

Barker nabs No. 9

Hurt, Virginia's Adam Barker grabbed his ninth checkered flag of the season at South Boston Speedway with a come-from-behind performance in the 150 lap feature on Saturday night.

The race was dominated by C.E. Falk until Barker forced his way past for the lead on the final re-start. Barker's one lap led was enough for the win. Falk finished 2nd.

Annett, James place top-five at Motor Mile

After officials deemed Peter Cozzolino the winner of the 200-lap ASA feature at Motor Mile (VA) Speedway, the final results fared well for several prospects.

Michael Annett finished 2nd as Colt James (5th), Travis Dassow (6th), John Wes Townley (8th), and Keeton Hanks (9th) scored top-ten finishes.

Cozzolino led all 200 laps and was named the winner after Derek Thorn, attempting to pass for the lead, crashed both Cozzolino and Annett, as well as himself. ASA officials stated that Thorn was the cause of the caution and scored him 15th, the tail-end of the lead lap.

Pope continues ALS dominance

Nicholas Pope continued his domination of the Allison Legacy Series with a win in the USAR companion race at Southern Nat'l (NC) Raceway Park. Michael Cooper finished 2nd.
 

McFarland, Hawkins lead pack at Kenly

USAR Pro Cup Series Southern Division - Southern Nat'l Raceway Park (NC)

Posted July 22, 2007 by David Smith, 1:20 PM EST

While veteran Michael Ritch got richer with his second victory of the season, Virginia driver Mark McFarland and USAR Pro Cup Series rookie Matt Hawkins impressed at Southern National Raceway Park.

McFarland, the former JR Motorsports Busch Series driver, recorded a runner-up finish to Ritch after starting 3rd in his Pete Knight Racing entry.

19 year-old Hawkins, a four-star prospect out of Canton, Georgia, climbed his way from the 17th starting position to finish 5th, his third top-five finish of the USAR season. This comes after he and fellow prospect James Buescher tangled out of turn 4 on lap 207. Buescher would go on to finish 14th.

Pole-sitter Woody Howard saw a promising night end prematurely after being caught up in a lap 110 accident with Iowa three-star prospect Brian Scott. Howard finished 27th, Scott 30th.

Chase Pistone and Dale Earnhardt Inc. development driver Trevor Bayne came together to make hard contact with the frontstretch wall on lap 188, bringing out a red-flag condition. Neither driver was injured.

Unofficial Finishing Order: 1. M. Ritch; 2. M. McFarland; 3. J. Fogleman; 4. M. Garvey; 5. M. Hawkins; 6. B. Gill; 7. C. Long; 8. R. Boswell; 9. M. Herman; 10. D. Kelley; 11. W. Day; 12. S. Howard; 13. K. Leone; 14. J. Buescher; 15. B. Plemons; 16. M. Mason; 17. C. Jones; 18. D. Hanniford; 19. B. Bigley; 20. D. Williams; 21. G. Helton; 22. A. Purkhiser; 23. T. Bayne; 24. C. Pistone; 25. C. Holman; 26. J. Wakefield; 27. W. Howard; 28. D. Satterfield; 29. F. Deiny; 30. B. Scott; 31. M. Nesbitt; 32. R. Duff; 33. J. Coulter