By Gerald Harris
The Southeast Super Truck Series rolled into Anderson Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 30th. With the points battle beginning to take shape after four races in the books, Kenneth Headen who has a pair of wins this season already, is sitting a top the standings going into this race with just a 10 point advantage over Taylor Hosford. Hosford is also leading the Rookie Of The Year Points as well.
Brandon Setzer announced earlier in the week he would be piloting the #7 Dwight Huffman Racing truck normally driven by Ashley Huffman. "Anderson was all about going out and having a good time and getting back behind the wheel. It has been over a month since I’ve raced so it was nice to get some seat time" Setzer said. So with Setzer adding his name to the list of already top talented drivers it was sure going to be a exciting night. As many of the teams observed all day long, the current points champion wasn't no where to be seen. Little did we know Headen and the team were at the shop thrashing on the #22 truck and would arrive just a little while before the race would start. "Well we tore the ole 22 up pretty bad at Tri-County a lot worse then we thought and due to getting parts made etc., it put us getting our stuff Wednesday so with Allen’s determination and with the help of Ricky Raymond and my dad we barely made it" Headen said.
Meanwhile young super star Ashton Higgins who has already picked up one win this season, topped both rounds of Practice. As the teams mounted the race tires on their machines and worked their way through the room of doom tech shed, they lined up and prepared for Qualifying. Higgins found his way to the top of the charts and captured the Renegade Race Fuels Pole Award, with Setzer setting the second fastest time, they were followed by Ralph Carnes (who also runs in the Gripp Energy Limited Late Models), Toby Hollfield, and Taylor Hosford. Higgins rolled a five on the invert dice which now set Hosford on the top spot for the race. "I felt like we really had a good piece for the race and knew if I could get out front and take care of my stuff we would be good in the race" Stated Higgins.
The drivers and teams prepared for the 75 lap feature to finish the night off. Hosford led the field to the green flag with Hollifield on her outside. She quickly jumped out front ahead of the field. After 10 laps in the race there was a new sherriff in town, as Ralph Carnes worked his way past Hosford and took over the top spot. Carnes brought Higgins with him, and held off the hard charging youngster for several laps. With just over a third of the way through the race, Higgins was finally able to capitolize and take the lead from Carnes. " I got out front and rode as much as I could to keep the tires under it for next week at Tri-County" Higgins said
The battle for second began to heat up as Carnes was trying to hold off Setzer, Headen and Hosford. "I had my hands full just trying to keep the #7 truck from passing me. I was fighting brake problems" stated Carnes. The first caution flew as Hollifield spun on the front stretch, this now allowed the field to regroup. Higgins paced the field back to the green, Headen quickly went to work on Setzer, the pair raced side by side giving it everything they had. Meanwhile Jamie Barbrey worked his way passed Hosford to take over the fifth position and set his sights on the top four. Setzer finally was able to pull away from Headen and tried several times to get around Carnes for second. The field worked their way inside the final ten laps of the race, Higgins managed to pull away to a straigh away lead over Carnes, and went on to capture his second win of the season. Carnes followed in second, Setzer in third, Headen in fourth, and Barbrey rounding out the top five. "It definitely gave me a big confidence boost after having bad luck race 1,3,4 and I just can’t thank everyone enough" exclaimed a very excited Higgins.
"With only 5 laps of practice a 4th place finish, it was like a win, Our Team never gives up even if we’re winning we keep digging and that is where the saying I use “If you win the race the points will take care of them selves” " stated Headen. Headen maintains the points lead heading into the next race.
The Series will visit Tri-County Motor Speedway again on July 14. So make plans now to catch the action.
Official Results
1. 9 Ashton Higgins
2. 44 Ralph Carnes
3. 7 Brandon Setzer
4. 22 Kenneth Headen
5. 21 Jamie Barbrey
6. 3 Greg Nix
7. 5 Toby Hollifield
8. 13 Taylor Hosford
9. 66 Bennie Davis
The Southeast Super Truck Series rolled into Anderson Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 30th. With the points battle beginning to take shape after four races in the books, Kenneth Headen who has a pair of wins this season already, is sitting a top the standings going into this race with just a 10 point advantage over Taylor Hosford. Hosford is also leading the Rookie Of The Year Points as well.
Brandon Setzer announced earlier in the week he would be piloting the #7 Dwight Huffman Racing truck normally driven by Ashley Huffman. "Anderson was all about going out and having a good time and getting back behind the wheel. It has been over a month since I’ve raced so it was nice to get some seat time" Setzer said. So with Setzer adding his name to the list of already top talented drivers it was sure going to be a exciting night. As many of the teams observed all day long, the current points champion wasn't no where to be seen. Little did we know Headen and the team were at the shop thrashing on the #22 truck and would arrive just a little while before the race would start. "Well we tore the ole 22 up pretty bad at Tri-County a lot worse then we thought and due to getting parts made etc., it put us getting our stuff Wednesday so with Allen’s determination and with the help of Ricky Raymond and my dad we barely made it" Headen said.
Meanwhile young super star Ashton Higgins who has already picked up one win this season, topped both rounds of Practice. As the teams mounted the race tires on their machines and worked their way through the room of doom tech shed, they lined up and prepared for Qualifying. Higgins found his way to the top of the charts and captured the Renegade Race Fuels Pole Award, with Setzer setting the second fastest time, they were followed by Ralph Carnes (who also runs in the Gripp Energy Limited Late Models), Toby Hollfield, and Taylor Hosford. Higgins rolled a five on the invert dice which now set Hosford on the top spot for the race. "I felt like we really had a good piece for the race and knew if I could get out front and take care of my stuff we would be good in the race" Stated Higgins.
The drivers and teams prepared for the 75 lap feature to finish the night off. Hosford led the field to the green flag with Hollifield on her outside. She quickly jumped out front ahead of the field. After 10 laps in the race there was a new sherriff in town, as Ralph Carnes worked his way past Hosford and took over the top spot. Carnes brought Higgins with him, and held off the hard charging youngster for several laps. With just over a third of the way through the race, Higgins was finally able to capitolize and take the lead from Carnes. " I got out front and rode as much as I could to keep the tires under it for next week at Tri-County" Higgins said
The battle for second began to heat up as Carnes was trying to hold off Setzer, Headen and Hosford. "I had my hands full just trying to keep the #7 truck from passing me. I was fighting brake problems" stated Carnes. The first caution flew as Hollifield spun on the front stretch, this now allowed the field to regroup. Higgins paced the field back to the green, Headen quickly went to work on Setzer, the pair raced side by side giving it everything they had. Meanwhile Jamie Barbrey worked his way passed Hosford to take over the fifth position and set his sights on the top four. Setzer finally was able to pull away from Headen and tried several times to get around Carnes for second. The field worked their way inside the final ten laps of the race, Higgins managed to pull away to a straigh away lead over Carnes, and went on to capture his second win of the season. Carnes followed in second, Setzer in third, Headen in fourth, and Barbrey rounding out the top five. "It definitely gave me a big confidence boost after having bad luck race 1,3,4 and I just can’t thank everyone enough" exclaimed a very excited Higgins.
"With only 5 laps of practice a 4th place finish, it was like a win, Our Team never gives up even if we’re winning we keep digging and that is where the saying I use “If you win the race the points will take care of them selves” " stated Headen. Headen maintains the points lead heading into the next race.
The Series will visit Tri-County Motor Speedway again on July 14. So make plans now to catch the action.
Official Results
1. 9 Ashton Higgins
2. 44 Ralph Carnes
3. 7 Brandon Setzer
4. 22 Kenneth Headen
5. 21 Jamie Barbrey
6. 3 Greg Nix
7. 5 Toby Hollifield
8. 13 Taylor Hosford
9. 66 Bennie Davis