Brindle Wins Thriller, Hedgecock Dominates First Ever Caution Free Event
A double header weekend was on tap to wrap up the series month of April. We would visit Ray Cook's TriCounty Racetrack for the third time in series history and North Georgia Speedway for the first time ever. First up was TriCounty Racetrack where twenty-two of America's Best Pro Late Models signed in for AAS competition. There was rain in the area for the night so we shortened from our normal program to make sure all competitors got to run the feature and get paid!
BHR Fabrication Qualifying saw Brandon Williams set a great pace with a time of 13.546. Chip Brindle went second fastest at a 13.552 while points leader Josh Dietz was third fastest at a 13.558. Newcomer to the series, Tucker Anderson was fourth fastest overall with a time of 13.662 and Jesse Lowe rounded out the top five with a 13.622.
With the weather in the area we went straight to the Vol-Heel Spring Shootout Feature featuring a 40 lap event. Lap one saw the scariest wreck in series history as regular, Logan Walls got up on the wall and road it down the backstretch. He knocked a concrete block onto the track which caused Gabe Wilson's night to send early and then went through a power pole landing on his roof. Good news was he was okay and when series crew got to him he was ready to climb out of the car. Green flag racing would resume and only a couple more cautions would come out on the night. The racing got really good after the delay that took a little over an hour. Brandon Williams jumped out to an early big lead, but within the last fifteen laps Brindle and Booger Brooks got on the hunt. The competitors then began three wide racing. Brindle would jump to the lead with just a couple to go and Brooks would be in hot pursuit with Williams falling to third. Chip Brindle would go on to become a first time AAS winner with Booger Brooks finishing runner up. On the last lap local star Jason Deal would power by Williams to finish third with Brandon Williams finishing fourth. Tucker Anderson held on for a strong fifth place finish and Josh Dietz took sixth. Trevor Sise and Zach Sise would finish seventh and eight. While Sylvan Schuette and Jesse Lowe rounded out the top ten.
The series first trip to North Georgia Speedway was a great experience! Twenty-three cars signed in for battle in front of a solid crowd on a great race track.
Booger Brooks would take the BHR Fabrication Qualifying in round two of the weekend, picking up the $100 bonus with a time of 14.511. Cory Hedgecock came in just behind him in second with a time of 14.520. Brandon Williams was fast once again turning the third fastest time overall at a 15.548. Tyler Price, who never disappoints, was fourth fastest at a time of 14.558 and the previous nights winner Chip Brindle turned the fifth fastest time at a 14.569.
The Race Track Connection Dash saw Cory Hedgecock take the lead on lap one and the win with Booger Brooks and Brandon Williams crossing the line in second and third. Dirt2Media Heat One was won by Jason Deal over Hayden Cardwell and Josh Dietz. Outside Groove Heat 2 would go to Brandon Miller over Jake Knowles and Mitchell Stanley.
With the field set for the feature we were in for a short one! Fourty laps of green flag racing would mean the first caution free race in series history. Cory Hedgecock jumped to the lead from the get go. Brooks followed closely early before fading late. A few cars pulled in early due to issues, but he green flag remained out. Hedgecock would take the win in the feature event by just under two and a half seconds. Booger Brooks would take second with Seth Wimpey bringing home his best finish of the season in third, a good points night for the full time competitor. Chip Brindle had a another good night finishing fourth and Brandon Williams finished fifth. Tyler Price and Jake Knowles raced their way to a sixth and seventh place finish respectively. Jason Deal, Brandon Miller, and Mitchell Stanley would round out the top ten.
The AAS would like to thank Ray Cook and TriCounty Racetrack, as well as, David Ridley and North Georgia Speedway for being such great hosts this weekend. We'd like to thank all the fans, drivers and teams for their support as well.
We'd also like to thank all the partners who make it possible: Dirt2Media, PPM Racing Products, Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet, Chevrolet Performance: Vehicles, Parts, Racing, Pro Fabrication "Official Header of the AAS," Mahle, Super Clean "Official Cleaner of the AAS," Outside Groove, FMS Rapid Graphix, Race Track Connection, Beckley Motor Speedway, O'Reilly Auto Parts "Official Auto Parts Store of the AAS," Smash-It by BWR, American Racer, Wieland "Official Aluminum of the AAS," BHR Fabrication and Double Nickle Race Cars, Fast Lane Fabrication, Warrior Race Cars, WV Fireworks Outlet, TNT Race Cars, KRC Power Steering, Peeping Dragon Photography, Terror Race Cars, ATC Bolts and Fasteners, PopBit, MD3, Hyperco, and Fast Fab.