By J M Hallas
Abilene, Tx.,(Feb. 20Th, 2009) Abilene Speedway roared to life for the season with it’s annual Ice Breaker event on the !/4 mile, semi-banked red clay oval. This yearly event draws IMCA racers from all over, with over 160 representing seven states, signing in this year. Warm, dry weather along with high winds quickly made for a tricky track surface, but with some extra prep work, the track maintained two racing grooves and even took rubber on the east end of the speedway. This gave the racers and fans plenty of side by side racing action throughout the night.
Another win for White in Modified Main
After suffering a disappointing run in the Southern Sportmod main run earlier in the night, Academy’s Keith White took it out on the IMCA Modified field. White jumped out front on the drop of the green, held off all challengers and was the see the checkers in the 20-lap feature.
Anyone recall the 2008 Southern Sportmod Nationals? Well in a unique twist of fate, it would be Jeff Emerson and White drawing the front row for the 20 Modified main. On the first try to get the field going, Monte Bolton spun in turn 4 stacking up the field behind him to bring about a complete restart. In a little gamesmanship, White got the jump on the second attempt, but a bit too good of a jump for officials.
Finally, the third time was the charm as the lead duo stayed side by side until White out drove Emerson into turn 3. On lap 2 Robbie Edwards was able to get past Emerson for second. Bolton was just about to get Danny Hogue for fourth when yellow waved for Jason Schoenberger. Once back to green, Emerson gave Edwards a little tag, but Edwards held steady. Bolton again was looking for a way around Hogue and took the spot.
Edwards was now putting pressure on White for the lead, while Chris Bragg moved into a top 6 for his mid-pack start. Edwards looked low on White during lap 6 and was able to get along side for a second, but not complete the move. Behind the lead duo Emerson had Bolton taking looks, with Bragg getting fifth from Hogue. Bolton got under Emerson on lap 8, but Emerson fought back to hold the spot.
Coming to the midway point, Edwards was again all over White for the lead with Emerson, Bolton and Bragg rounding out the top five at the crossed flags. Bolton retook third from Emerson on lap 10 and was quickly on Edwards for second. Darin Leonard saw his night end on lap 12 after dropping a driveshaft to bring out a yellow.
On the restart, Edwards again got the nose outside White, but White closed the door on the front stretch. Bolton then began trying Edwards for second on lap 14 but fell back in line. Bragg picked off another spot, taking fourth from Emerson on lap 15. Bolton had just got along side Edwards when Brian Flowers spun in turn 2 to bring out the final caution.
At the back stretch cone the top three were nose to tail until Bolton tried o duck inside Edwards. Edwards held off the charge as he mounted another one of is own on White for the lead. After several tries up top, Edwards gave it one more shot on lap 18, this time trying the low side. Once again, the veteran White was up to the challenge holding the spot and going on to the win in the Braka Operating, Traceys Auto Sales, Belton Metals, Left Hand Graphics, TCI, Tubbs Paint & Body, All-Tex Cabling, Cen-Tex Motorsports, Hughes Chassis.
Continue reading »
Tags:
abilene,
Abilene Speedway,
boyd,
hallas,
IMCA,
Modified,
nationals,
speedway,
sportmod,
stocks,
UMP,
Wallace
