9/24/2024
Auto City Speedway
Results September 21st
Auto City Speedway Results 9/21/2024
Well, the 2024 Destruction season came to an end this past Saturday night at Auto City Speedway and what an ending it was. First off, the weather couldn’t have been better. A tad on the warm side, but overall pleasant to enjoy the destruction program.
The night started out with a ‘Candy-rama’ autograph session on the track where the fans got to go out onto the track and meet the drivers and gather up lots of candy and goodies from each. Also, during the autograph session, there were the “2024 Specialty Awards” handed out.
The recipients were as follows: 2024 Master of Destruction - Gerald Persails Jr. driver of the #80; Thrills, Spills & Chills Award – Maverick Morrow driver of the #57; Hard Luck Award - Isaiah Jastremski & Caitlin Scully drivers of the #P88H and #420; Best Crash Award – Shane Fogerty driver of the #87; Destruction Sportsman of the Year – Jacob Michael driver of the #83; Most Popular Team Award – Gerald Persails Jr. & Justin Pepitone drivers of the #80/#948; Showmanship Award – Jason Grissom driver of the #224; Most Popular Driver Award – Zack Lopez driver of the #18; Rookie of the Year Award – Matthew Michael driver of the #L83; Flipper Bus Award – Paul Rigda III. Special acknowledgement goes out to Kenny “Tireman” McNarney as the bus tire repairman.
So after all the awards were handed out and the fans made it back to the stands, it was time for the invocation and national anthem. Once completed, the night started out with the twelve lap Chain Gang race. From the drop of the green, it was a battle between the teams of Anthony Richardson #422/Cody Lurak #10 and Justin Pepitone #948/Gerald Persails Jr. #80. They raced side by side exchanging the lead, but when it was all said and done, it was Pepitone/Presails Jr. getting the win.
Next up, was the I-75 Race, and with thirty competitors, it certainly got wild and wooly for a bit. From the drop of the green, it was Jason Grissom #224, Gerald Persails Jr. #80 and the #10 of Cody Lurak jumping out front. Those three would challenge each other as the ‘slowing and going’ allowed others to get into the mix, being Anthony Richardson #422, the #948 of Pepitone and the #57 of Maverick Morrow. While the leaders got bunched up behind the buses, it was a fierce battle of the lead. When the twenty laps were completed, it was Cody Lurak getting the win over Richardson and Morrow.
The twelve lap Push Race was next and the race for the lead was between the teams of Persails Jr./Pepitone and Cody Lurak #10/Doug Hennessy #21. When the pushing and shoving was done, it was Persails Jr./Pepitone for their second team win of the night.
The newly acclimated fifteen lap ‘Shark Race’ was on the schedule next and with the two sharks maneuvering around trying to ‘tag’ the competitors who were racing around the ¼ mile, it was the #10 of Cody Lurak avoiding getting ‘bitten’ by a shark for the win.
There was a Burn-out contest next between some of the competitors tonight and with some very impressive burnouts and beyond. It was Maverick Morrow #57 (in his 57 Chevy) getting the crowd's approval for the ‘Best Burn-out’ tonight. A shout out to Anthony Richardson #422 as he did put on a spectacular burn-out with multiple donuts as well. The crowd had a very tough choice for sure.
Now it was time for the fifteen lap Flagpole race. On lap one it was Jason Grissom, Anthony Richardson and Justin Pepitone going across the start/finish line, but by lap two, it was Richardson getting the lead. Cody Lurak did make his presence known but ended up dropping out. When all the laps were completed around the two 'round-abouts', it was Richardson, Pepitone and Grissom respectively.
After all the destruction races already, it was time for the fifty lap Enduro Race.
This had twenty-five drivers going for the win. Notable mentions in the early laps were Richardson, Pepitone, Grissom, Persails Jr., Jeremy Snyder #00 and William Grubbs Jr. #96. The racing got very congested at times and drivers were bobin’ and weavin’ like Mike Tyson going through the field. Right about lap fifteen, Pepitone got caught up in an accident on the front-stretch with Synder, with the #30 of James Montague pretty much driving over the side of both vehicles. This did bring out a red flag and when the cars were disconnected and cleared, Pepitone did get damage to his front suspension and had to head to the pits. When they went back to green flag racing, it was Richardson leading the way, getting the win.
The ten lap School Bus Figure 8 race was next and it was a bit wild with buses trying to go three wide at times. A few of the buses developed mechanical issues (not surprising being they have been abused all year) and slowly dropped out. Speaking of dropping things, Justin Pepitone in the Bond of Brothers bus dropped that bus on the passenger’s side as he went by the flagstand. When the bus hit, you felt the vibration up in the stands. A red flag was displayed and Pepitone did climb out unscathed and gave the crowd a wave showing he was OK. When the safety crew got the bus righted up and off the track, it was Doug Hennessy leading the way to the checkered flag. This was Hennessy’s first win in a bus this year.
The last race of the night was the ten lap Figure 8 Trailer Race. Jason Grissom took the early lead, but it did not take long for Anthony Richardson to get up to him to battle. Richardson was giving it all he had, as he usually does, and finally got by Grissom to get the lead. Grissom did pull off during the race. When the checkered flew, it was Richardson getting the win.
The night concluded with a Fireworks finale put on by Night Owl Pyrotechnics and Monster bus rides from Jacobi Motorsports.
That was the last Maximum Destruction event of the season for Auto City Speedway, but there are a couple other special events happening in October. You can check out all the details at www.autocityspeedway.com or the Auto City Speedway and Outdoor Events Facebook page and “We’ll See You at the City” in 2025.
Article Credit: Randy Adam
Submitted By: Sharon Fischer
