HMS NEWS

( Newton, NC - - May 8, 2010 ) It was the perfect night for racing as the Kid Scoop News presented Kid's Night at the races featuring the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. The night not only included 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, but mascots from local business also came out to entertain kids of all ages. Woodward from the Kid Scoop News, Ticker from Hickory Dickory Dock, Andy the Armadillo from Texas Roadhouse and McGruff the Crime Dog all headed out to the track for some fun with the kids and drivers during the weekly On Track Autograph Session. It was a great night on the track for the No. 88 of Kyle Mansch, as he fought a tough battle to come home with the checkers during the Bojangles Late Model feature.

The action was intense as the Bojangles Late Models took on America's Most Famous Short Track for their 50 lap feature. The first caution of the feature waved early after the No. 66 of Steven Wallace got into the back of the No. 2 of Jason Romero as the field headed down the back-stretch on lap six. After the incident, Wallace was sent to the back of the pack, but he was determined not to stay there for long. Wallace picked off cars one by one as he worked his way to the front. The No. 43 of Jesse LeFevers and the No. 92 of Candace Muzny had a tight battle for third, until Muzny slid under LeFevers on lap 21 taking over the position. By the mid-point of the feature the No. 88 of 2009 Limited Late Model Champion Kyle Mansch had began to put pressure on the No. 10 of pole sitter Andy Mercer for the lead. Mansch was able to maneuver around Mercer and take over the top spot by lap 30.

Unfortunately for Muzny, her ride up front didn't last long as LeFevers got into the back of her as the field headed into turn two. The impact sent Muzny for a spin and brought out the second caution of the feature on lap 33. It took two attempts to restart the race, after Mercer jumped the first restart. The third and final caution would soon fall as the field bunched up on the back-stretch during the restart. The No. 36 of Neil Meredith got under the No. 19 of Kyle Moon, causing Moon to make contact with outside wall. Wallace continued his mission to the front at the restart as he slid under Mercer for second, bringing with the No. 7 of Ashley Huffman to take over third leaving Mercer to ride around in fourth. Huffman slightly fell off the pace allowing Mercer to regain the third place position. With only ten laps remaining Mercer began to reel Wallace in, as he attempted to settle back into second. Time ran short for Mercer causing him to settle for a top three finishing position. Mansch, Wallace, Mercer, the No. 2 of Ty Dillon and the No. 5 of Katie Hagar made up the top five.

The Advance Auto Parts Limiteds ran a smooth show during their 35 lap event. It was a tight battle for the lead during the beginning laps as the No. 35 of Chris Lewis pulled ahead of the No. 5 of pole sitter Dexter Canipe Jr. Canipe Jr. was able to regain his lead, but the two ran door to door until lap nine when the Lewis spun out heading into turn four. Lewis' misfortune brought out the first caution of event. As the field went back to green flag racing the No. 07 of Tyler Church stayed glued to Canipe Jr. until lap 14 when the No. 60 of Evan Cupples went for a spin heading out of turn four bringing out the second and final caution. Canipe Jr. and Church continued to run side by side, until lap 16 when Church fell into line behind Canipe Jr., allowing Canipe Jr. to slowly pull away from the field.

With ten laps remaining the No. 97 of Brandon Lynn pulled up along-side Church and began to battle for second. Lynn quickly cleared Church for the position and began to sail away. Canipe Jr. would take home the checkers with Lynn, Church, the No. 8 of Mark McIntosh and Lewis in tow to round out the top five.

The Everything Attachment Super Trucks kept the excitement flowing as they hit the track for their 35 lap event. The No. 99 of Coy Beard had a hot ride as he quickly began to pressure the No. 16 of pole sitter and current division point leader Clint Fields, as he looked to move into the lead. The first caution fell on lap ten after the No. 15 of James Kirkham spun around in turn three. Beard used the restart to his advantage as he continued to look for an opportunity to move out front. Beard went to the high side of Fields and grabbed the top spot on lap 11. Fields looked for a chance to move back out front, but Beard continued to inch away leaving Fields to ride around in second.

The No. 69 of Trevor Hignutt pulled up on Fields looking to move into second. Hignutt gained momentum as shot passed Fields, settling into second on lap 25. The second caution fell on lap 32 after the No. 33 of Jeremy Birch spun out in turn four. With two laps to go Beard and Hignutt were neck to neck coming out of turn four, beating and banging as they headed out of the turn. As they led the field to the front-stretch Hignutt got loose causing the No. 11 of Thomas Beane to get into the back of him. After the two made contact Hignutt found himself heading towards the outside wall in turn one, bringing out the third and final caution. It was a green-white-checkered finish with Beard in the lead. The final laps were clean racing as Beard led the field to the checkers leaving Fields, Thomas Beane, the No. 7 of Justin Crider and Birch to complete the top five.

The drivers of the Hickory Street Stocks kept it clean and exciting as they made their way onto the historic asphalt for their 30 lap race. The racing had gone three wide by lap two, when the No. 03 of Kevin Eby, the No. 21 of Roger Pitts and the No. 64 of Marshall Sutton went side, by side, by side heading into turn three as they all battled for the second place position. The No. 1 of pole sitter Taylor Stricklin pulled away from the field in the beginning laps, but Eby quickly found his way to the bumper of Stricklin as he hunted for a shot to move into the top spot, taking over the position on lap 14. Sticklin wasn't about to give up easily, as he got a nose under Eby on the final lap. Time ran short and Eby powered on grabbing the win leaving Stricklin to settle for second. Pitts, Sutton and the No. 25 of Jeremy Pelfrey rounded out the top five respectively.

The excitement didn't stop when the Hickory 4-Cylinders hit the track. The 25 lap race was caution filled with the first of five cautions coming out on lap eight after the No. 59 of Donn Wardo spun out in turn two. On lap nine the No. 21 of Todd Harrington pulled under the No. 4 of pole sitter Adam Beaver looking to take over the lead. Beaver held on strong as the two continued to ride around side by side, until lap 12 when the second caution came out after the No. 6 of Caleb Sisk went spinning in turn four. Caution number three soon followed on lap 14 when Wardo and the No. 51 of Nathan Kanupp connected heading into turn four spending both for a spin. It took two attempts to go back to green flag racing, after Harrington jumped the initial restart.

Just as the field went green, the fourth caution came out after Wardo and Kanupp connected for a second time in turn four on lap 15. The fifth and final caution came out on lap 16 after the Kanupp and Sisk hooked up heading into turn four. In the final laps Harrington was back along-side Beaver looking for a chance to get back out front. Harrington kept the action intense as he slid ahead of Beaver grabbing the top spot on the final lap. Beaver, the No. 09 of Randy Canipe, the No. 28 of Kyle Pierce and the No. 18 of Devon Haun completed 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.

Join us Saturday, May 15 th for Military Appreciation Night. Hickory Motor Speedway is taking a night to show their appreciation to all of the great men and women who have severed and are currently serving our country proudly. Show you Military ID, past or present, and get in FREE. The Night will feature the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series with appearances by the Bojangles Late Models, the Advance Auto Parts Limiteds, the Everything Attachment Super Trucks, the Hickory Street Stocks and the Red Baron Race Parts Hobby Stocks. 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, $5 for kids ages 7-12, with kids 6 and under are FREE!!!

Everything Attachment Super Trucks: No. 16 – Clint Fields – 15.978 seconds

April Advance Auto Parts Limited Late Model “Keep the Wheels Turning” Award:

Race Results (All results are official except for the Everything Attachment Super Trucks):

(88) Kyle Mansch
(66) Steven Wallace
(10) Andy Mercer
(2) Ty Dillon
(5) Katie Hagar
(92) Candace Muzny
(7) Ashley Huffman
(2) Jason Romero
(51) Josh Wimbish
(43) Jesse LeFevers
(21) Roger Powell
(97) Dave Hutto
(47) George Miedecke
(5) Dexter Canipe Jr.
(1) Megan Reitenour
(36) Neil Meredith
(19) Kyle Moon

The No. 16 was disqualified due to failure to pass post race technical inspection.

Mansch Rides to the Top