Wilson slides into Diamond Park Winner’s Lane…. AGAIN!

7/9/2021

Diamond Park Speedway

Wilson slides into Diamond Park Winner’s Lane…. AGAIN!

Murfreesboro, AR – Blake Wilson took his TWR Racing/Randy Doughty Motorsports #18 from his fourth row starting spot right on into the winner’s circle yet again at the Diamond Park Speedway in the inaugural Tex Myers 8Ball Classic.

The race, in honor of the late Tex Myers who was a pioneer in the Arkansas dwarf/mod lite scene, paid $888 to the winner and $88 to start a nod to his famous 8Ball car number. Wilson was able to top the field of 23 competitors who checked in from Arkansas and Texas. Justin Hughes of Arkadelphia, James Rollins, Caleb McCollett both also of Arkadelphia, and Wilson’s dad, Jeromy, all topped the qualifying heats.

It was Hughes and Rollins in his Sidewinder/Arkadelphia Tire #47M on the front row with the elder Wilson and McCollet on row two. Row 3 had Aubrey Taylor and his #10X Evolution Chassis sponsored ride and the 41JR of Joe Butler from Cleveland, Texas. Wilson started on row 4 alongside teammate Dylan Hollingshead of Sheridan, AR and once the green flag fell began his march towards the front.

The race was a scheduled 25 lapper and Rollins was the early leader. A number of local businesses and sponsors donated monies to be awarded to various place finishers as well as lap leaders, hard chargers, and longest tow. Rollins methodically held off Hughes, J. Wilson, and McCollett while they started to work lap traffic on lap 12. Lap 21 was where the younger Wilson, who had worked his way through the field to second, on the exit of turn 2 used some heavy traffic to his advantage and took a low line and slid right under the 47M of Rollins. The first race stoppage was on lap 22 when a red came out for an upside-down Jason Reavis in turn 4. Racing got back underway for a three-lap shootout to the finish and Rollins gave it all he had to try and best Wilson but it wouldn’t happen on this night as Wilson took the checkers and the $888 payday.

Myers’ wife, Judy, was on hand to present the winner’s trophy and check in victory lane. After the race, Wilson was all smiles in his victory lane interview and thanked the family, and his competitors for a good clean race. “I knew we had a good car and the long green flags helped – we had some great side by side racing and I couldn’t ever get by. It wasn’t until we had some lap traffic that I got to the bottom and held on for the win,” said Wilson. The longest tow award was split by Kyle Berry and Jason Reavis and Taylor Crawley in the 9X was the race's hard charger and picked up an additional $200 for her efforts.

The next big race on tap for the mod lites at Diamond Park Speedway is the 3rd installment of their own ModLite Challenge Series paying $1,000 to win and $100 to start on August 7th. A large field is expected and national points leader Kaden Cochrun has expressed some interest as a bit of a challenge has been levied. Track promoters Wayne Tidwell and Justin Newman have announced a bounty on Wilson and his #18 at the next Challenge Series race. “We thought it would generate some interest and a whole lot of bragging rights,” said Newman. Currently the bounty is at $400 beefed up from the original $250 by a couple of local sponsors. “I hope some folks will come and see why our facility and our drivers turn out some of the best and most exciting mod lite racing in the country” continued Newman.

For more information about Diamond Park Speedway you can visit them online at www.DPSDirt.com

Article Credit: Justin Newman