Tripp Massengill Wins EJ Gilchrist Memorial 100 at OCS

Set to Storm into Rougemont

The Southeast Limited Late Model tour came roaring into Orange County Speedway Saturday night with some of the heaviest hitters in the region’s Limited Late Model ranks set to take on the tricky 3/8 mile track.

Orange County Speedway Late Model Select point leader Joey Throckmorton and South Boston Speedway track champion Danny Willis Jr. would sit on the front row of the 22 car field, and both drivers would set a blistering early pace.  Both drivers would weave through slower traffic until Lap 36 when Willis Jr. suffered his first of two flat tires, narrowly avoiding the wall about bringing out the caution flag.

As Throckmorton led, Tripp Massengill began to work his way through the field, having been shuffled back early, and by time a Lap 63 caution had flown, Massengill had caught Throckmorton.  The next 13 laps would see great racing between Throckmorton and Massengill, with Massengill making a pass for the lead on Lap 76.  A late caution would give Throckmorton one final shot at Massengill, but Massengill would prove too tough, winning the inaugural EJ Gilchrist Memorial 100 by a half-second over Joey Throckmorton.  Darrell Gilchrist would finish in third, well ahead of Trey Marchem and Jake Morris, who finished fourth and fifth respectively.

“Our car got really tight, but it was our first time racing on the Goodyear (tires).  If I were going to lose it, Tripp is who I’d want to lose it to.” Throckmorton said of his second-place run.

A choked-up Massengill was at a loss for words on his win. “It’s been a while. When you’ve raced a lot and couldn’t get a win, it takes a lot out of you when you get one.”  The win is the first of the year for Massengill.

In the 40 Lap Southeast Limited Late Model Challenger division, it was the Justin Crider show.  Crider would take the pole by two tenths of a second, ahead of OCS Sportsman division regulars Jerry Hinesley and Donald Brace.  Crider would have Donald Brace in his mirror for the better part of the race, until Lap 35 when Brace’s engine would expire.  That would open the door for Noah Triplett, who would finish second behind Crider, while Michael Schwietering would cross third.

A great field of Pure Stocks would take to the high banks Saturday evening.  Stuart Crews and point leader Matt Grimes would start on the front row, while an incident in practice would lead to a poor qualifying result by Les Aliff, who started the night just one point out of the lead.  Crews would have to fend off repeated attacks by Chris Crosby, Grimes, and Daniel Crews until a Lap 15 caution would fly for debris on the track.

The double-file restart would put Aliff to the outside of Grimes, and the two teammates would race hard for the point lead behind the leaders.  Heavy contact between the two championship contenders would do more damage to Aliff’s machine, while Grimes appeared to go unscathed.  Out front, Stuart Crews appeared to be in his own world, winning easily over Courtney Crosby and Matt Grimes.  Aliff would settle for fourth, just ahead of Daniel Moss.

In Super Mini Trucks, Toney Henderson would hold off a last-lap charge from Chris Henderson to win his second race of the year while Quain Moore finished third.  In Street Stocks, Gary Ledbetter would hold off Larry Isenhower and Richard Hayden to keep his win streak alive.

Racing returns to the high banks of Orange County Speedway on  October 8  with 205 laps of action.  Taking to the 3/8 mile track will be the  Limited Sportsman, Pure stock, Street Stock, Super Mini Trucks, Southern Ground Pounders, Modifieds and CCS Sportsman divisions.  Tickets are just $10 for adults, with students, seniors, military, law enforcement, fire department and University faculty & staff $8 with a valid ID.  Kids 10 and under are just $1.  For more information call the track office at (336) 364-1222 or check out OCS on the web at www.ocstrack.com.