9/16/2024
American All-Star Series
AJ Hicks Picks Up the Biggest Victory of His Career in a Thriller At Lake Cumberland Speedway
Fall is in the air, and that means one thing, big money race season! We kicked it off at Hardgrove's House, Lake Cumberland Speedway in the Fall Brawl Presented by Rocky Top Family Medicine and the support of KY Turf Company. Twenty-nine of America's Best Pro Late Models signed in for an electric night of racing in the Bluegrass State!
BHR Fabrication Qualifying saw a bunch of close times with Skylar Marlar being fastest overall with a time of 14.040. Hayden Cardwell would go second by only by two ten-thousandths of a second with a time of 15.0550 while Tyrel Todd took third at a 15.0552. Josh Dietz would turn the fourth best time of the night with a time of 14.124 while Zach Sise would go fifth at a 14.185.
In the ATC Bolts & Fasteners Dash Skylar Marlar looked prime to sweep the night taking the victory over Hayden Cardwell and Josh Dietz. In Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet Heat One Jordan Wesley would grab the win over Justin Smith and Dustin Linville with Shane Crain picking up the final transfer spot. Outside Groove Heat Two would go to AJ Hicks over Trevor Sise and Steve Peeden with Tim Damron taking the final transfer position. PPM Racing Products Heat Three saw Tommy Bailey grab the victory over Logan Walls and "Superman" Zane Powell with William Blankenship taking the final transfer spot. The Dirt Rich TV B-Main saw a light of slicing and dicing for the transfer spots. Roman Wesley would pick up the victory with Baillie Lowe, Joshua Chesney, and Ryan Smith grabbing the final transfer spots. Daniel Dial and Calvin Carlton would use series provisionals with Shelby Johnson picking up the traditional Lake Cumberland track provisional.
With the field set the green was ready to drop on the feature and it was one that would not disappoint. Hayden Cardwell used the top to his advantage on the start and go passed Skylar Marlar exiting turn two and leading lap one. A caution would fly at the conclusion of lap one as Dustin Linville's engine expired early in the night. A lengthy clean up ensued that included Mike Marlar putting speed dry down! On the restart Josh Dietz would fight his way to second in pursuit of Cardwell. Cardwell was rolling, but when we got to lapped traffic cars were battling side by side for position which allowed Dietz and Marlar to close in, but every time they'd get close Cardwell would work through the traffic. This led to a long green flag run before a few cautions followed. A few cautions then ensued in which time AJ Hicks was picking his way through the field from his eight starting spot like a sniper. A long green flag run was set to end the night and on that restart AJ was able to get by Josh Dietz for second. Cardwell held the lead and Hicks was in pursuit. The drivers began closing in on the last place car. With two to go Cardwell was there, In one and two he made a move under the lapped car, but the car was still there. In three and four Cardwell moved up to pass, but the lapped car slid up the track slowing Cardwell's momentum, Hicks was ready to pounce on the bottom and pulled to the lead taking the white flag with Josh Dietz following him through. AJ HIcks said before the race started, 8th was his lucky starting spot at LCS and he got it done taking the biggest career victory he's ever had in exciting fashion. Josh Dietz would cross the line second and break the next time around while it was heartbreak hotel for one of the favorites from Knoxville, Hayden Cardwell who took third. Tommy Bailey ran hard to finish fourth with Logan Walls showing up out of nowhere to finish fifth. Skylar Marlar would take sixth with Steve Peeden finishing seventh. Tim Damron, William Blankenship, and the Hyperco Hard Charger Baillie Lowe would round out the top ten!
The AAS would like to thank Brandon, Jessica, and the whole LCS staff for their support! We'd also like to thank all the teams, competitors, and fans for coming out!
We'd also like to thank all the partners who help us for the 2024 season: PPM Racing Products, American Racer: "The Official Tire of the AAS," Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet, Chevrolet Performance: Vehicles, Parts, Racing, Daytona 1: "The Official Lubricant of the AAS," O'Reilly Auto Parts: "The Official Auto Parts Store of the AAS," Mahle Motorsport, Wieland: "The Official Aluminum of the AAS," Pro Fabrication: "The Official Header of the AAS," Save-A-Lot: "The Official Grocery Store of the AAS," Gasko Gaskets, BHR Fabrication, Double Nickle Race Cars, Outside Groove, Smash-It, VP Racing Fuels: "The Official Fuel of the AAS," ATC Bolts & Fasteners, Rocky Top Family Medicine, Beckley Motor Speedway, Burgess Motorsport Consulting, ML Performance Midwest, Dirt Rich TV, Fast Fab, Hyperco, Massey Powersports, MD3, Popbit, Peeping Dragon Photography, Dirt Track Racers Recovery for Christ, Terror Race Cars, QA1, Warrior Race Cars, WV Fireworks Outlet, KY Turf Company and XS Power Batteries.
Article Credit: Joseph Rush
