8/13/2015
County Line Raceway
Holcombe Wins Super Stock Four Cylinder Special
Elm City, NC – County Line Raceway roared back to life on the 3/8 mile clay oval Saturday night as five divisions of racing excitement were on the card for the weekly racing series presented by Lee Motor Group – Doing Business The Right Way Since 1953.
First on the track was the ARCO Restoration Limited Sportsman division. Two heat races, won by points leader Matthew Bissette and John Proctor, would normally set the field for the 20 lap feature event, but Bissette was slated to start at the rear of the field for the feature after winning 3 in a row. Proctor and Chris Radford would stage on the front row to bring the field to green flag racing for the feature event. Proctor led the way as Bissette rallied from the rear until 2 laps to go. Proctor spun in turn #2, caution waved, and Bissette went on to collect his 10th win of the year followed by Skeeter Liles, Chris Radford, Mark Boykin and Walt Gibson.
The second feature event of the night was the Pure Stock V8 division racing for 15 laps of side by side racing. Starting on the front row were heat race winners Willie Schwan and Phillip Lamm. Before completing a green flag lap, Joshua Byrant was off the pace and caution waved for Byrant to pit. Staged for the restart in double file formation, the field took the green flag and racing was intense until lap 12 when the 55 of Glenn Stocks was off the pace and caution waved to slow the field. Stocks was able to resume and we went  back to green flag racing for the final 3 laps as points leader, Phillip Lamm, went on to claim his 4th win of the season followed by Gary Whitley, Kevin Beard, Austin Ferrell and Willie Schwan.
Staged and ready for their $600 to win special event were the Super Stock Four Cylinder drivers. Qualifying set the 15-car field for 20 laps of action packed racing. Starting on the front row were Jason Horne and Damien Bryant, after qualifying first and second fastest, respectively. The action started at the drop of the green flag as Horne and Bryant were racing side by side down the front stretch and into turn #1. Horne’s steering broke and spun front of the field going into turn #2, collecting several other cars, all of which were able to pit and resume racing except Horne and Nevin Twiddy, who suffered heavy damage. Since no green flag laps were completed, the field was lined back up double file for a second attempt at a green flag start. Bryant led the first three laps with Austin Holcombe and Cy Nelms, Jr in hot pursuit until caution waved as the 007 of Austin Larrison spun in turn 3 collecting the 61 of Eric Hill. Both cars suffered damage and  were forced to pit. Green flag racing resumed for 3 more laps until points leader, James Manning, fell off the pace due to engine failure and was forced to pit. Bryant brought the field back to green for another 3 laps until caution waved again on lap 9 for the C8 of John Carroll who spun in turn #2. Carroll was relegated to the rear for the restart and we were back under green as Bryant led us to the half way mark looking for his 5th win of the season when his 03 car spun in turn two, bringing out another caution, and handing the race lead over to Holcombe. Holcombe led the final 10 laps holding off hard-charging Nelms, Jr and surviving several more cautions. Holcombe captured his third win of the season and gained valuable points in pursuit of the points championship, followed by Nelms, Jr., hard-charging Bryant, who made his way back to third, a strong run by Glenn Bottoms, and Ron Hill rounding out the top five.
Next on the track were the DRU Auto Sales and Service Pure Stock Four Cylinders ready to battle for 15 laps of feature racing. The field was set to double file and the front row was determined from heat race wins by Michael Webb and points leader, JP Brantley. At the drop of the green flag, Webb and Brantley battled down the front stretch as Webb took the first spot and led the field around for 15 laps of caution-free racing. Webb was battling lapped traffic with one lap to go, and Brantley had him in his sights, but Webb held on to win race #4 for him this season, followed by Brantley, Chris Collins, Robbie Causby, and Cody Keith.
The final event of the night saw seventeen high powered Late Models registered for action. Based on qualifying times, Dustin Mitchell and Christian Joyner would lead the field to green for their 30 lap main event. We were quickly under caution in the first turn as the 37 of Cy Nelms, Sr spun from his 4th place qualifying effort and collected several cars including, Brad Hamm and Paul Reitelbach, all of whom suffered extensive damage and were forced to retire for the night. After a quick clean up, the field was lined back up double file for another attempt at green flag racing. At the drop of the green flag, Mitchell and Joyner battled off turn #4 and down the front stretch, but it was Joyner who took the lead, followed closely by Mitchell. By lap #7, the leaders were already battling lapped traffic and continued to lap the field up to the 7th position before caution waved just past the half way mark for the #11 of Ray Miller spinning in turn 4. Back under green, Joyner continued to hold off Mitchell and went on claim his 5th win of the year and maintain his points lead. Pole sitter, Mitchell, came home second followed by Derek Francis, JP Cascell, and Michael Rouse.
Don’t miss the excitement this weekend as the action will be fierce on Saturday night at Elm City's 3/8 mile clay oval as the weekly racing series presented by Lee Motor Group - doing business the right way since 1953 - features the return of the Open Wheel Modifieds vying for a $1,000 first place prize and the Pure Stock V-8 division battling for a $400 winner's purse. The action doesn't stop there as the Late Model, Super Stock Four Cylinder and DRU Auto Sales and Service Pure Stock Four Cylinder divisions are also in the line-up. Be on the look-out for the Wilson Evening Lion Club representatives to be making their way around the grandstands and through the pit area selling 50/50 tickets to help raise money for the blind and hearing impaired in our local community.  The Lion’s Club is a non-profit group that aide’s local residents who cannot afford glasses. We are proud to support them and help raise money for this great cause. Pit gates open at 4:00, grandstands at 5:00 and cars hit the track at 7:30. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $5 for kids 11-15 and free for children 10 & under. Want to get closer to the action? Pit passes are available for $25. For more information on County Line Raceway visit the track's website at www.countylineracewaync.com or call the track phone at 252-985-1949. Bring the family out for an evening full of dirt track racing excitement at its finest at the little track making big noise, County Line Raceway, We'll see you at the LINE!
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