By Gerald Harris
The Gripp Energy Limited Late Models were four races into the books of the 2018 season. The first three races were won by Dillon Houser, his streak was finally broken by Mitchell Mote. The season has already seen lots of ups and downs. Lots of extremely tough competition through out the entire field. The series headed back to Anderson Motor Speedway in Williamston, South Carolina on June 30th.
As the teams scrambled to unload and get set up for the day, they hit the track for the first round of practice. Dillon Houser continued to prove that him and his Dwight Huffman Racing team mean business this year as he topped the speed charts. Houser was followed by Jesse Clark, Ralph Carnes, Tanner Brookshire, and John Gallman. During the second round of practice it was AMS's own five time track champion Ralph Carnes that picked up the pace and found his way on top of the charts followed by Clark, Brookshire, Gallman, and newcomer to the series 2005 Tri-County Motor Speedway track champion Josh Goble.
The teams headed back down to the garage area and bolted on their race tires, headed through tech inspection and lined up for qualifying. Carnes who has the most experience around the speedway, claimed the Renegade Race Fuel's Pole Award. He went on to roll a five on the invert dice, which would now allow Fountain Inn's John Gallman to start on the top spot for the feature. Gallman who felt pretty confident before the race, was ready to go and get out front. He paced the field in behind the City Chevrolet Chevy Silverado pace truck and waited on flagman Timmy Hudson to fire off the field. " I just focused on getting a good start and see where it went from there. We made alot of adjustments before qualifying just to see if we could find some speed. It was better but still not enough" Gallman stated.
Gallman led the first five laps of the race, however Tanner Brookshire had other plans and finally worked his way around the #81 machine of Gallman. "Got to lead a few laps before I moved out the way and let Tanner and Ralph go" said Gallman. Carnes quickly went to work on Gallman seeking his way to the front of the field, " I don't remember how soon he(Ralph) got by John but I remember looking in my mirror, and it going from white to black so I knew something was coming fast." Brookshire said.
The first caution flew on lap 27, as #5 of Jesse Clark came to a stop in turn four. Carnes paced the field back to the green flag and took off like a bolt of lightening. However, just 3 laps later the caution flew again as Davey Smart spun in turn two. Carnes once again led the field back to the green flag. Brookshire didn't give up, he tried his best to get back up front. Carnes went on to capture his first victory with the GELLM's and at his home track. "At my age it's a good to win at any track. But it did show me that my team and I can still get it done. Im so proud of everyone that helped out. And of course we give God all the Glory." stated Carnes. He was followed by Brookshire in second. " I finished 2nd so there are a lot of positives to take away from that race. I hate losing more than anything but I felt better about the finish after reading that Ralph has won 5 track championships there. That's the amount of races I have ran at Anderson" exclaimed Brookshire. Gallman came home third, Houser in fourth, and rounding out the top five was Clark.
Houser continues to lead the points championship after the fifth race. "I just wanted to get out of there with a top five, the points lead and focus on the championship, I think we can win this deal if we finish in the top four or five every week" Houser said. The GELLM Series will be back in action July 14 at Tri-County Motor Speedway for the 6th round of the year.
Official Results
1. 2 Ralph Carnes
2. 55 Tanner Brookshire
3. 81 John Gallman
4. 11 Dillon Houser
5. 5 Jesse Clark
6. 65 Josh Goble
7. 4M Pete Messina
8. 14 Davey Smart
9. 10O Randy Ollis
10. 4D James Dolan
The Gripp Energy Limited Late Models were four races into the books of the 2018 season. The first three races were won by Dillon Houser, his streak was finally broken by Mitchell Mote. The season has already seen lots of ups and downs. Lots of extremely tough competition through out the entire field. The series headed back to Anderson Motor Speedway in Williamston, South Carolina on June 30th.
As the teams scrambled to unload and get set up for the day, they hit the track for the first round of practice. Dillon Houser continued to prove that him and his Dwight Huffman Racing team mean business this year as he topped the speed charts. Houser was followed by Jesse Clark, Ralph Carnes, Tanner Brookshire, and John Gallman. During the second round of practice it was AMS's own five time track champion Ralph Carnes that picked up the pace and found his way on top of the charts followed by Clark, Brookshire, Gallman, and newcomer to the series 2005 Tri-County Motor Speedway track champion Josh Goble.
The teams headed back down to the garage area and bolted on their race tires, headed through tech inspection and lined up for qualifying. Carnes who has the most experience around the speedway, claimed the Renegade Race Fuel's Pole Award. He went on to roll a five on the invert dice, which would now allow Fountain Inn's John Gallman to start on the top spot for the feature. Gallman who felt pretty confident before the race, was ready to go and get out front. He paced the field in behind the City Chevrolet Chevy Silverado pace truck and waited on flagman Timmy Hudson to fire off the field. " I just focused on getting a good start and see where it went from there. We made alot of adjustments before qualifying just to see if we could find some speed. It was better but still not enough" Gallman stated.
Gallman led the first five laps of the race, however Tanner Brookshire had other plans and finally worked his way around the #81 machine of Gallman. "Got to lead a few laps before I moved out the way and let Tanner and Ralph go" said Gallman. Carnes quickly went to work on Gallman seeking his way to the front of the field, " I don't remember how soon he(Ralph) got by John but I remember looking in my mirror, and it going from white to black so I knew something was coming fast." Brookshire said.
The first caution flew on lap 27, as #5 of Jesse Clark came to a stop in turn four. Carnes paced the field back to the green flag and took off like a bolt of lightening. However, just 3 laps later the caution flew again as Davey Smart spun in turn two. Carnes once again led the field back to the green flag. Brookshire didn't give up, he tried his best to get back up front. Carnes went on to capture his first victory with the GELLM's and at his home track. "At my age it's a good to win at any track. But it did show me that my team and I can still get it done. Im so proud of everyone that helped out. And of course we give God all the Glory." stated Carnes. He was followed by Brookshire in second. " I finished 2nd so there are a lot of positives to take away from that race. I hate losing more than anything but I felt better about the finish after reading that Ralph has won 5 track championships there. That's the amount of races I have ran at Anderson" exclaimed Brookshire. Gallman came home third, Houser in fourth, and rounding out the top five was Clark.
Houser continues to lead the points championship after the fifth race. "I just wanted to get out of there with a top five, the points lead and focus on the championship, I think we can win this deal if we finish in the top four or five every week" Houser said. The GELLM Series will be back in action July 14 at Tri-County Motor Speedway for the 6th round of the year.
Official Results
1. 2 Ralph Carnes
2. 55 Tanner Brookshire
3. 81 John Gallman
4. 11 Dillon Houser
5. 5 Jesse Clark
6. 65 Josh Goble
7. 4M Pete Messina
8. 14 Davey Smart
9. 10O Randy Ollis
10. 4D James Dolan