HMS NEWS

( Newton, NC - - April 25, 2010 ) The rain may have postponed the festivities schedule for Everett Chevrolet Night at the Races, but it couldn't stop the excitement fans experienced from the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Sunday afternoon. Inclement weather certainly put a damper on the Saturday night racing action, but drivers from the Bojangles Late Models, the Advance Auto Parts, the Everything Attachment Super Trucks, the Hickory Street Stocks and the Hickory 4-Cylinders proved there is nothing better than good old fashion stock car racing on a Sunday afternoon.

The Bojangles Late Models hit the track for their second 100 lap feature of the season, with the No. 51 of pole sitter Josh Wimbish leading the field to green flag. After a strong run the week prior, the No. 88 of Kyle Mansch, kept his momentum going by grabbing the lead from Wimbish on lap two. On lap 15 the No. 5 of Dexter Canipe Jr. got his nose under the No. 10 of Andy Mercer as he worked to take over the fifth place position, capturing the spot only three laps later. Canipe Jr. continued his move towards the front as he slid by the No. 12 of Ryan Wilson moving into fourth on lap 31. By lap 35 Mercer was on fire as he began to reel in Wilson. Mercer patiently tried both the high and low lines looking for an opportunity to get around Wilson and move into fifth. On lap 40 Mercer had made his move grabbing fourth, pushing Wilson back into sixth. Within the next eight laps Mercer was tight on the back bumper of Canipe Jr., Mercer continued using the high line to his advantage riding by Canipe Jr. and the No. 43 of Jesse LeFevers moving into third by lap 52.

By the mid-point of the race Mansch was using lap traffic to help grow his lead over the field, creating a full straight-away lead over second place by lap 64. Mercer continued to take charge, working his way up to Wimbish, and taking over second place on lap 72. By lap 73 Canipe Jr. had also made his way around LeFevers, moving into the fourth. The lap traffic that was helping Mansch earlier started to work against him as Mercer was continuing to inch closer to the race leader. The only caution of the feature fell on lap 83 after official spotted debris on the front stretch. The caution was just what Mansch dreaded and what Mercer needed, as Mercer took over the lead restart. Mansch held on tight trying to catch Mercer and regain the top spot. Time ran short for Mansch, leaving him to settle for a second place finish. Canipe Jr., Wimbish and the No. 19 of Kyle Moon rounded out the top five.

The excitement didn't stop for the Advance Auto Parts Limiteds as they hit the track for their 35 lap event. It was a smooth start to the race as the No. 07 of Tyler Church slid ahead of the No. 11 of Matt Piercy, taking over third during the first laps of the race. After Piercy fell into fourth the No. 35 of Chris Lewis began putting pressure on Piercy looking to grab the position. The first caution waved on lap 12 for debris on the track. Lewis continued on his mission to move to the front of the field as he pulled under Piercy trying once again to move into the fourth place spot, but Piercy pulled ahead holding on tight to his spot. The No. 66 of Travis Byrd spun around heading out of turn two onto the back stretch, bringing out caution number two.

The restart proved to be beneficial for Lewis as he was able to get by Piercy and move into fourth. The third caution of the race quickly followed after the No. 8 of Mark McIntosh spun around in turn four on lap 27. Caution number four fell during the restart when the No. 28 of Sam Jasper stalled in turn two. Just as the yellow flag came out the No. 44 of David Parks and the No. 45 of Kenneth Pardue made contact in turn four, causing major damage to Parks bringing his day to an early end. The fifth and final caution fell on lap 29 after Pardue got into the No. 72 of Brad Eddy as the field headed out of turn four. With only four laps to go the No.97 of Brandon Lynn put major pressure on the race leader and pole sitter, the No. 5 of Dexter Canipe Jr. Canipe Jr. held on strong as he pulled ahead of Lynn grabbing the checkers leaving Lynn to come home second. Church, Piercy and Byrd would complete the top five.

The Everything Attachment Super Trucks ran a smooth 35 lap race, with the No. 16 of pole sitter, Clint Fields, bring the field to the green. Using the high line, the No. 69 of Trevor Hignutt pulled ahead of Fields on lap four taking over the lead. The first and only caution of the race came out on lap nine for debris on the track. The No. 5 of Mark Johnson jumped into the lead form the restart. Hignutt wasn't about to let go of the top spot easily, as he and Johnson battle for the position until lap 18 when Hignutt moved back out front. Fields wasn't happy riding around in third, so he set out on a mission to move back out front. By lap 22, Fields had taken over the second place position from Johnson. Fields continued to power ahead regaining the lead on lap 27, causing Hignutt to settle for a second place finish. Johnson, the No. 11 of Thomas Beane, and the No. 05 of Kyle Wilson finished third through fifth respectively.

The excitement didn't stop as the Hickory Street Stocks took on the historic track for a 30 lap event. The first caution came out on lap 10 after the No. 5 of Mike Newton spun out heading into turn two. The restart put the No. 25 of Jeremy Pelfrey in prime position to take over the lead from the No. 1 of pole sitter, Taylor Stricklin. On lap 12 officials called for a second caution after debris was once again discovered on the track. The No. 64 of Marshall Sutton was able to slide around Stricklin during the restart moving into second, leaving Stricklin to ride around third. Stricklin didn't wait long before he pulled ahead of Sutton, regaining the second place spot on lap 17.

Caution number three came out on lap 19 after Sutton and the No. 21 o f Roger Pitts made contact on the back stretch sending both for a spin. With seven laps remaining, Stricklin pulled along-side Pelfrey as they headed down the back stretch. Stricklin shot by Pelfrey for the lead they exited turn four. The fourth and final caution fell on the final lap when Newton spun for a second time, this time going around in turn four. A green, white, checkered finish was called by officials. Pelfrey battled Stricklin for the lead, but time ran out for Pelfrey as Stricklin took the checkers, leaving Pelfrey to settle for second. The No. 03 of Kevin Eby, the No. 99 of Jonathan Smith and Sutton came home third through fifth.

The action during the Hickory 4-Cylinder event was a little calmer than the others, as the drivers completed their 25 laps on America's Most Famous Short Track. The No. 4 of pole sitter, Adam Beaver, led the field for all 25 laps. The No. 28 Kyle Pierce pulled up tight to the bumper of the No. 18 of Devon Haun within the first five laps trying to move into second, but Haun pulled away. The last 20 laps were smooth sailing as Beaver took the field to the checkers with Haun Piercy, the No. 09 of Randy Canipe and the No. 07 of Matt Laws in tow rounding out the top five.

Known as the Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars, Hickory Motor Speedway celebrates its 59 th season of stock car racing in 2010. Opening the gates in 1951, Hickory Motor Speedway is the oldest professional sporting venue in Catawba County, and has been credited as the longest continually operating motor speedway in the country. Producing drivers like Ned and Dale Jarrett, Bobby Isaac, Harry Gant, Ralph Earnhardt and Dennis Setzer, it's easy to see why Hickory Motor Speedway is filled with such rich stock car racing history and has earned the title of, Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars.

The USAR Pro Cup Series will be taking on the Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars for a special 250 lap feature event, Saturday May 1 st . The USAR Pro Cup Series will be bringing the ISCARS, the USAC Ford Focus Midgets, the Rolling Thunder Modifieds, and the Allison Legacy Series along to add excitement to the show. Grandstands open at 4 PM, with USAR qualifying scheduled to begin at 5:15 PM. Racing action beginning with the Ford Focus Midgets is slated to begin after qualifying. Advance tickets are on sale now at Hickory Motor Speedway for $15. Tickets the day of the event are $20 for adults, $10 for youth (10-15) with kids 10 and under free.

Hickory Motor Speedway will be back in action on Saturday, May 8 th as the Kid Scoop News presents Kid's Night featuring the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Kids can come on out and meet Woodward from the Kid Scoop News, Andy the Aardvark from Texas Roadhouse, Ticker from Hickory Dickory Dock and McGruff the Crime dog. The night will also include appearances by the Bojangles Late Models, the Advance Auto Parts Limiteds, the Everything Attachment Super Trucks, the Hickory Street Stocks and the Hickory 4-Cylinders. Grandstands open at 5 PM with qualifying immediately following. An On Track Autograph Session will take place at 6 PM with feature racing action at 7 PM. Tickets are only $10 for adults, $8 for teens and seniors and all kids 12 and under are FREE!!!

Everything Attachment Super Trucks: No. 16 – Clint Fields – 15.984 seconds

(10) Andy Mercer
(88) Kyle Mansch
(5) Dexter Canipe Jr.
(51) Josh Wimbish
(19) Kyle Moon
(2) Ty Dillion
(12) Ryan Wilson
(43) Jesse LeFevers
(6) Michael Cherry
(36) Neil Meredith
(1) Megan Reitenour
(47) George Midecke
(92) Candace Muzny
(7) Ashley Huffman

Andy Mercer Takes Charge at the Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars