---

Crocker Makes it Three-for-Three in New Modified; 13-Year-Old Worsham Snatches First Win at 5 Flags

By Chuck Corder

Donald Crocker climbed into a new ride a few weeks ago.

Sometimes it takes a while to get comfortable. Crocker has had none of those issues, as his No. 5 Modified has paid immediate dividends.

He brought it Friday to Five Flags Speedway for the first time this season and for the third time in as many races, Crocker again captured the feature.

What made this trip to Victory Lane so special was it was his first career win at the famed half-mile oval.

“We’re three for three,� exclaimed Crocker, who has also won in Mobile and Opp, Ala. “I believe it’s gonna be a pretty good car.�

To say the least. It was a commanding performance for Crocker, who led all 35 laps Friday and barely had to break a sweat.

Donnie Hamrac, who was the fast qualifier but started second on the invert, was the lone driver to challenge Crocker, but Hamrac never came close.

“We had a good qualifying run, but we freed it up a little too much,� Hamrac said. “The right rear (tire) was blistered; it’s gone.�

It was a nightmarish night for Mods points leader Brandon Howell.

The Lucedale, Miss., native spun the tires and was never the same. Howell dropped back to sixth in the seven-car field and had no influence on the night’s outcome.

The same couldn’t be said for Crocker. He deftly navigated through lapped traffic down the stretch and never looked back.

 

Super Stocks

Bubba Winslow and Randy Thompson gave Five Flags fans a race for the ages Friday night.

Winslow won for the third time in five Super Stocks races this season, but it didn’t come easy, edging Thompson by less than the rubber on their tires.

“I really didn’t know who was ahead the last five laps,� said Winslow, who padded his Super Stocks points lead. “I guess we ended up winning.�

After jumping out to a comfortable lead in the 25-lap feature, Winslow had to white knuckle it on the final laps while Thompson made a valiant charge.

With just a few laps left Friday, Thompson peaked inside for the lead going into Turn 1, and then took a glance outside coming out of Turn 2.

The pair was door-to-door at the line with 2 left. Thompson, on the outside, actually poked his nose out in front before Winslow pulled back ahead.

On the final lap, coming out of Turn 4, Thompson went high and slung the rear end for one last push before righting his No. 42 and charging toward the checkered.

As the two came to the line, Winslow stuck his nose across first by less than an eyelash.

“I was gaining on the straightaways,� Thompson said. “It was an awesome race to run with (Winslow) those last three or four laps.�

 

Sportsmen

Steve Buttrick’s amazing tear at Five Flags Speedway continued Friday night.

The Sportsmen points leader and three-time defending Sportsmen Snowball Derby champion won for a seventh time this year, including his fourth straight.

Buttrick’s victory, though, was a little bittersweet. He was concerned about the fate of his friend and closest rival Brannon Fowler.

Fowler, the two-time Sportsmen defending track champion, endured a vicious crash late in the race when something broke in his No. 00.

“I don’t know what happened to Brannon. I’m sorry for him,� Buttrick said. “It got a little hot out there. It was good racing.�

Gary Goodwin, who won the Bombers track title last year, claimed runner-up honors for his best finish since moving up to Sportsmen this year.

It was a roller-coaster ride for Fowler, who was terrific during the heat races when he held off Buttrick for a victory.

When the feature came, though, Fowler’s evening suddenly turned helter skelter.

He made contact several times early on with Johnny Greene, which dropped Fowler as far back as seventh.

Then, Fowler had issues with Raymond Ray, who was holding him up halfway through the race before Ray ultimately spun.

Somehow, though, Fowler recovered to climb back to second and was trying to chase down Buttrick before he spun by himself going into Turn 1.

The back end of the No. 00 crashed hard into the outside wall and Fowler’s night was over.

 

Bombers

Ryan Worsham will certainly remember Friday night for the rest of his life.

Hopefully, Five Flags Speedway fans certainly will, too.

Worsham isn’t old enough to drive on the highways just yet, but the 13 year old is happy to wheel a Bomber at Pensacola’s high banks.

The seventh-grader got his first career win at Five Flags, leading all 20 laps.

“I’d like thank my dad, mom, grandparents and all my friends and family,� the humble Worsham said.

His monumental victory didn’t come without a bit of drama, though.

With 18 laps completed, and Worsham comfortable ahead, there was a horrific crash between Hunter Ward and John Kevin Merritt near the start-finish line.

The red flag came out, as the front wheels of Merritt’s No. 22 were wedged on top of the front fender of Ward’s No. 1.

Merritt was jammed against the inside wall while Ward was perpendicular to the speedway, facing the inside wall.

Worsham had to endure a green-white-checkered finish. But thanks to a great restart, Worsham cruised to the finish line with Robert Balkum taking runner-up honors and Tracy Soles finishing third.

Back to News