11/24/2024
Crate Racin' USA
Brown Scores Historic Fourth Early Bird 50 Win at Needmore
(Norman Park, GA - November 23rd) - Joseph Brown of Pine Mountain Valley, GA, etched his name into the history books on Saturday night by capturing his fourth victory in the prestigious Early Bird 50 at Needmore Speedway. Brown, who led all 50 laps of the feature event, claimed a $10,000 payday and his first-ever win in the Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts Crate Racin' USA Dirt Late Model Series.
Brown and Cory Neil Jr. of Bridge City, TX, led the field to green in the 13th Annual Early Bird 50, with Brown taking immediate command of the race. However, the action quickly heated up behind him as Trent Ivey, starting fourth, battled Neil for second. After several laps of side-by-side racing, Ivey moved into the second spot. Former series champion Mark Whitener and Cruise with the Champion Rookie of the Year candidate Bubba Roling rounded out the top five as the first caution of the night waved on lap 27 for a solo spin by Tim Dixon.
The restart saw a fierce battle for second, with Ivey, Whitener, and 2023 Early Bird winner Cody Overton joining the fray. However, the action was slowed once again by another caution on lap 34 when Dixon encountered further trouble with a tire rub.
With only 16 laps remaining, the stage was set for a dash to the finish, and Brown once again powered ahead. Overton, who had moved into second, gave chase, but no further cautions would slow the field. Despite heavy pressure from Overton, Brown remained unchallenged and crossed the finish line to secure his place in Early Bird 50 history as the first-ever four-time winner.
"This is huge," Brown said in victory lane. "Anybody in the southeast who wins a Crate Racin' USA race is a badass race car driver. I'm so thankful for my crew and all their hard work. We’ve been working on this for a long time, and it’s finally paying off."
When asked about his plans for the future, Brown hinted at the possibility of chasing a second straight win, saying, “I don’t know how my wife is going to feel about me going to Swainsboro next week, but I think we’re gonna have to make a trip."
In other action, Josh Ray from Byhalia, MS, won the Rogers-Dabbs Chevrolet B-Main, leading all 10 laps to secure his spot in the main event. Ray was joined by Joshua Bishop, Stacey Roberts, and Tim Dixon in advancing to the 50-lap feature.
The weekend began on Friday night with a competitive qualifying session and heat races, setting the stage for Saturday's thrilling feature event. Joseph Brown set the fastest lap during Stakt Products by CV Racing Products Time Trials, with a time of 15.563, and Cory Neil Jr., Bubba Roling, and Brown each won their respective heat races to earn coveted spots in the main event.
Race 16 of 2024 - Needmore Speedway (11/23/24)
1-92 Joseph Brown-Pine Mountain Valley, GA
2-97 Cody Overton-Thomson, GA
3-5 Mark Whitener-Middleburg, FL
4-G4 Trent Ivey-Union, SC
5-2 Trynt Lloyd-Jacksonville, FL
6-515 Bubba Roling-Clay Hill, FL
7-98 Matt Dooley-Brooks, GA
8-615 Colton Trouille-Lake Park, GA
9-10 Ty Giles-Moultrie, GA
10-7 Corey Neil Jr-Bridge City, TX
11-6 Kyle Bridges-Moultrie, GA
12-22T Jimmy Thomas-Phenix City, AL
13-12C Chase Giddens-Moultrie, GA
14-21 Mario Gresham-Rome, GA
15-00 Russell Brown Jr-Valdosta, GA
16-77 Josh Ray-Byhalia, MS
17-118 Jared Delk-Jamestown, TN
18-11 Stacey Roberts-Sylvester, GA
19-58 Trent McLeod-Baker, FL
20-7T Tyler Thomason-Phenix City, AL
21-22 Matt Henderson-Lenoir City, TN
22-54 Tim Dixon-Adel, GA
23-18 Jesse Sobbing-Malvern, IA
24-22B Jonah Bozeman-Moultrie, GA
25-J1 Joshua Bishop-Statesboro, GA
Car Count: 32
Lap Leaders:
Joseph Brown - 50 laps
ATC Bolts & Fasteners - Hard Charger:
Mario Gresham-Rome, GA (+9) 23rd to 14th
STAKT by CV Racing Products - Fastest Qualifier:
Joseph Brown-Pine Mountain Valley, GA | 15.563
Chevrolet Performance Heat Races:
H1 - Corey Neil Jr.-Bridge City, TX
H2 - Bubba Roling-Clay Hill, FL
H3 - Joseph Brown-Pine Mountain Valley, GA
Rogers Dabbs Chevrolet B-main winners:
B1 - Josh Ray-Byhalia, MS
CRUSA National Points (After Needmore)
1-22 Jimmy Thomas | 1332 (-)
2-18 Matt Dooley(R) | 1276 (-56)
3-515 Bubba Roling(R) | 1248 (-84)
4-22 Matt Henderson | 1232 (-100)
5-21 Mario Gresham | 1216 (-116)
6-64 Braden Mitchell(R) | 890 (-442)
7-77 Josh Ray(R) | 848 (-484)
8-66 Jake Knowles | 754 (-578)
9-10G Ty Giles | 584 (-748)
10-46 Bryson Mitchell | 574 (-758)
Cruise with the Champion - Rookie of the Year Points
1-18 Matt Dooley(R) | 1276 (-)
2-515 Bubba Roling(R) | 1248 (-28)
3-64 Braden Mitchell(R) | 890 (-386)
4-77 Josh Ray(R) | 848 (-428)
CRUSA $100,000+ Challenge Points (After Needmore)
1-22 Jimmy Thomas | 572 (-)
2-515 Bubba Roling | 546 (-26)
3-21 Mario Gresham | 530 (-42)
4-18 Matt Dooley | 520 (-52)
5-22 Matt Henderson | 518 (-54)
6-64 Braden Mitchell | 420 (-152)
7-5 Mark Whitener | 408 (-164)
8-7W Ricky Weiss | 300 (-272)
9-77 Josh Ray | 300 (-272)
10-31 Tyler Millwood | 280 (-292)
Next Series Race:
Round 17 of 2024
November 29-30
Swainsboro Raceway / Swainsboro, GA
Turkey 100
For rules and information on both the Rogers Dabbs Performance Parts Crate Racin' USA Dirt Late Model Series (604 Late Models) visit our website at www.crateracinusa.com or email us at crateracinusa@gmail.com.
Crate Racin' USA would like to thank it's marketing partners Rogers Dabbs Performance Parts , Chevrolet Performance, Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, VP Racing Lubricants, KRC Power Steering, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, Willy's Carb & Dyno Shop, LLC, Competition Racing Equipement, Cruise with the Champions, Savage Chassis, BMF Race Cars,Velocita by Melissa Markewitz , Eagle Racing Engines, Hickman Manufacturing, ATC Bolts & Fasteners, and Sin City Bail Bonds.
Article Credit: Cody Earley
