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Gerster Sets another Overall Track Record while Pierce Steals the Xtreme Sprints Win in Southern Shootout

By Chuck Corder

Coming into Friday night, Five Flags Speedway probably felt a lot longer than a half-mile to

Aaron Pierce.

The Must See Racing Xtreme Sprints Series driver from Muncie, Ind., had experienced plenty of misfortunes in his two previous trips to Pensacola’s high banks.

Those nightmares were erased Friday when Pierce won the 30-lap Southern Shootout.

“We’ve had two rough years down here,� he said. “We’ve crashed and destroyed a car here, and last year we didn’t have anything to compete.

“We’ve tried our butts off to win here, so this feels good.�

Jimmy McCune took home runner-up honors while Brian Gerster topped his historic night off with a third-place finish.

Gerster once again thrilled a packed house during qualifying. Last year when the MSRXSS came here, Gerster set the overall Five Flags track record at 13.205 seconds.

This Friday night, the 45 year old from Fishers, Ind., was better. He turned a 13.046-second lap to blister his previous mark.

“I’m glad we got the quick time,� Gerster said. “I was a little disappointed because I was hoping for a 12.9-something. Still, it’s good to start the season off with a quick time.

“The racecar I’m driving has some new stuff we’re working on. We came to practice last night and really got it dialed in. This package is a little bit better than last year.�

That point was made clear in qualifying.

What Gerster was hoping for, though, was to improve his performance from a year ago when he crashed early. Third isn’t first, but Gerster was all smiles rounding out the podium.

Early on the man to beat was JoJo Helberg.

The 23 year old from Santa Rosa, Calif., held a healthy early lead until disaster struck on Lap 6.

Helberg cut a right, rear tire and crashed hard in the outside wall in Turn 2.

He did manage to return and salvaged a fifth-place finish.

 

Motorcycles

Rob McClendon sucked out all of the suspense from the drop of the opening green.

He wouldn’t have it any other way

This was supposed to be the night another Southern Motorcycle Asphalt Racing Series rider pulled a rabbit out and upset the “Magic Man� on Friday at Five Flags Speedway.

But McClendon disappeared from the rest of the Expert field in the 12-lap feature to continue his unblemished streak at the famed half-mile asphalt oval.

“My plan was to get a good lead and finish this tire off,� McClendon said.

Mission accomplished. John Cohrn and Dave Majzun, who finished second and third respectively, hoped make McClendon sweat.

But McClendon raced to a huge lead and never looked back.

“I like this track,� Cohorn said. “It’s rough. It’s challenging, but it’s different for us.�

There was a scary moment during the novice class feature earlier in the night.

Dennis Cejas’ bike fell over at the start of their 12-lap feature and fellow racer Jason Akin collided with him.

Cejas lay supine on the asphalt, some 30 yards from the flag stand. He appeared to be unconscious momentarily before showing movement in all of his extremities after about 20 seconds.

Medical officials tended to Cejas at the track before transporting him to a nearby hospital.

 

Sportsman

Everyone in the house figured the Sportsman 25 lapper Friday would be another chapter in the long-running, friendly rivalry between Brannon Fowler and Steve Buttrick.

Shanna Ard had other ideas. While Ard might’ve spoiled the Fowler-Buttrick shindig, the Milton driver threw a party for himself.

Ard started on the pole after a three-car invert following qualifying and led from flag to flag.

He climbed out of his silver No. 29 and slapped the roof in celebration.

“If you could beat them two (drivers) week in week out, you’ve done something,� Ard said. “We drove our tail off and shoed ’em we can get it done.�

Fowler came into the season with an unblemished record. He boasted three wins — two at Mobile International Speedway and the opener last month in Pensacola — coming into the night and was also perfect in qualifying.

That trend continued Friday. Fowler had his double-0 dialed in, setting a new track record (20.398), topping the old mark of Buttrick (20.495) by nearly a full tenth.

“It was a good night,� Fowler said. “The car got a little tight during the race. We’ll go home and work on it.�

Buttrick, the defending track champion and three-time reigning Sportsman Snowball Derby king, isn’t racing a full schedule this season.

He made the most of his time Friday, reaching Ard’s bumper several times, but unable to pass him.

“He had good car,� Buttrick said of Ard. “We didn’t have anything for him. I couldn’t get around him.�

It was a sentimental victory for Ard, who lost his brother on this weekend seven years ago.

“This win is special for me,� Ard said.

 

Bombers

As a 13 year old last season, Ryan Worsham was a tour de force.

He captured two Bomber features and served notice that he would be a driver to be reckoned with.

Worsham, now 14, is showing no signs of a sophomore slump.

With a nifty move late in the 20-lap feature Friday at Five Flags Speedway, Worsham took home his first checkered of 2014.

“I don’t even know,� Worsham answered when asked how he snuck past then-leader Jerry Goff Jr. on Lap 17. “We had a couple problems in practice, but I’m happy now.�

It was a thrilling, but bizarre Bombers feature.

Lapped traffic plagued the race and likely cost Goff his second win in as many races at the famed half-mile oval. Goff eventually finished third with Hunter Ward driving the wheels off for second.

“I used my tires up too early,� Goff said. “I made a rookie mistake.�

The fast qualifier was Robert Balkum, but he had to start sixth after the invert.

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