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PHENIX CITY, Ala. (Oct. 3) - Sunday at East
Alabama Motor Speedway Ronnie Johnson proved that he's still one of the best
drivers in the Southeast. Adding to a season that was already his best in
recent years, the Hall of Fame dirt racer from Chattanooga, Tenn., led every
lap of the 32nd annual Alabama State Championship for his third victory in the
$7,000-to-win race.
The win capped off a day that saw Johnson also win
the Crate Late Model and sportsman division features. The two races each paid
$5,000, pushing Johnson's total payday to $17,000 as he became the first
driver to sweep all three of the event's Late Model divisions.
"We came down here knowing it was possible to
win all three of these races today, but I really didn't expect to
happen," said Johnson, who also won the Super Late Model portion of the
event in 2000 and 2006. "The odds are so great for a flat tire or
anything to take you out of one race, let alone three. But it all fell in our
favor today and we were able to do something really special."
Johnson started from the pole of the 75-lap super
late model feature and grabbed the lead on the start as defending race winner
Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., moved to second from the fourth-place
starting position.
The race's opening laps were plagued by cautions
as drivers had trouble negotiating a slick racing surface that was wet just
before the start of the race.
A number of would-be challengers fell victim to
attrition in the early going. Third-starting Casey Roberts of Toccoa, Ga., and
Terrance Nowell of Phenix City, Ala., were both involved in an early accident,
while Montana Dudley of Phenix City was involved in a separate wreck after
starting from the outside of the front row.
World of Outlaws regular Clint Smith of Senoia,
Ga., transferred into the race through the b-main and advanced from 23rd to
fifth in just eight laps before tangling with a slower car.
Each of the restarts allowed Davenport a shot at
Johnson, but he was able to pull away each time and began to open a
comfortable lead as the race entered its first green-flag run after a lap-12
restart.
As he pulled away from Davenport, Johnson's main
concern became avoiding lapped traffic. He overtook all but the top seven cars
on his way to opening nearly a straightaway lead through the middle stages of
the race.
Davenport began his only serious challenge with 10
laps remaining. He slowly closed the gap between himself and Johnson and
pulled within just a few car lengths by lap 70. But his bid to win his second
straight Alabama State Championship fell short when he slid out of the racing
groove in turn four with three laps remaining.
Johnson pulled away for the win as Davenport
settled for the runner-up finish in an event postponed a week after a Sept. 26
rainout.
"The track finally started taking rubber
there towards the end of the race," said Davenport, who also won the
National 100 last year at East Alabama. "I was able to get to him, but I
just got a little too high and let him get away.
"Ronnie's hard to beat at this place. He
knows the way around here as good as anyone and he proved it today."
Aaron Ridley of Chatsworth, Ga., advanced from the
10th starting position to finish third followed by William Thomas of Phenix
City in fourth and Jake Knowles of Tyrone, Ga., in fifth.
Johnson also led every lap of the crate late model
feature, taking the win ahead of Scott Knowles of Lanett, Ala., and Nowell.
The only laps Johnson failed to lead on the day
were the first 13 laps of the sportsman feature. Those were led by Bobby
Thomas of Phenix City. Johnson overtook Thomas with a high-side pass and led
the remainder of the event. Thomas held on for second ahead of William Thomas.
Super
Late Model feature: (1) Ronnie Johnson, (2) Jonathan Davenport,
(3) Aaron Ridley, (4) William Thomas, (5) Jake Knowles, (6) Rick Rogers, (7)
Marvin Cook, (8) Lavon Sparks, (9) Tyler Millwood, (10) Dennis Hale, (11)
Danny Stroud, (12) Donald Bradsher, (13) Terrance Nowell, (14) Gar Dickson,
(15) Mark Sims, (16) Frank Wilson, (17) Montana Dudley, (18) Clint Smith, (19)
Dusty Chitwood, (20) Monk Gulledge, (21) Mitch Fulford, (22) Jody Knowles,
(23) Casey Roberts, (24) Mike Nasworthy. Fast qualifier: Davenport. Heat race
winners: Johnson, Dudley, Roberts. B-main winner: Smith.
Crate
Late Model feature: (1) Ronnie Johnson, (2) Scott Knowles, (3)
Terrance Nowell, (4) Rogerick Dykes, (5) Tod Darda, (6) Chase Edge, (7) Larry
Harrod, (8) Jack Mills, (9) Chip Brindle, (10) Kevin Maher, (11) Billy
Franklin, (12) Jenson Ford, (13) Hunter Peacock, (14) Shane Stodghill, (15)
Russ Ogletree. (16) Brandon Overton, (17) Richie Stephens, (18) Mitch Fulford,
(19) Paul Walters, (20) Brandon Williams, (21) Todd Marrow, (22) Brian Smith,
(23) Brian Conner, (24) Chris Usry.
Sportsman
feature: (1) Ronnie Johnson, (2) Bobby Thomas, (3) William
Thomas, (4) Logan Yates, (5) Joe Armistead, Jr., (6) Tyler Ivey, (7) Adam
Giles, (8) Billy Franklin, (9) Rucker Orr, (10) Ricky Culpepper, (11) Kenny
Collins, (12) Mike Nasworthy, (13) Michael Pope, (14) Oliver Gentry, (15) Will
Herrington, (16) Glenn Brewer, (17) Pat Wall, (18) Arlene Pittman, (19) Phil
Pittman, (20) Jeremy Britton, (21) JR Moseley, (22) Larry Guilford, (23) Lee
Mason.
NOTE: Ronnie Johnson won all three races using
Hoosier Tires.
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