KYLE HALL SQUEAKS OUT WIN AT SOUTHERN NATIONAL

Godsey, Strickland Split at SNRP; Strickland Retains Points Lead
 

Kenly, North Carolina (May 31, 2008) – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Doug Godsey and Corey Strickland were both the class of the field Saturday night at Southern National Raceway Park, and both scored wins for their efforts. 

Godsey put forth the fastest time in qualifying, posting a 14.957 around the 4/10 mile high banked track.  Strickland qualified second, but would start on the pole in the first race thanks to a two-car inversion.  Strickland would lead the first five laps until Godsey made it underneath and past him coming off of turn four.  The race would stay green, and Strickland would hang with Godsey until a spinning Michael Rouse brought out the race’s only caution.  In the two lap sprint to the finish, Godsey would maintain the lead, with Strickland on his bumper the entire time, all the way until the finish.  The win is Doug Godsey’s second of 2008.  Strickland would finish second, less than a car length behind.  Matt McCall, Kyle Hall, and Sherman Davis Jr. rounded out the top five.  Davis Jr. managed a top-five despite a sixth row starting spot.

In the second race, Matt McCall took the pole with the help of a three-car invert based on the previous race’s finishing order.  McCall led the first 48 laps until Corey Strickland got underneath.  The next 15 laps proved to be the hardest fought of the race season, as the lead changed hands five times in 15 laps between McCall and Strickland, with Strickland finally getting the spot.   A lap 62 caution would cool off the drivers, and the restart allowed Strickland to pull away to win his fourth race of 2008.  McCall would finish second, with Kyle Hall, Sherman Davis Jr. and Doug Godsey rounding out the top five.

After ten Late Model Stock races through May 31, Corey Strickland holds the lead in points.  Kyle Hall is second, just 25 points out.  Twenty-five points separates third through fifth, with Sherman Davis Jr., Ryan Rhodes and Doug Godsey rounding out the top five.

John Whaley came out of retirement to take the pole in the Bobby Murray Chevrolet GM Performance Parts Limited Late Model.  He would fall back to fifth due to a five-car invert, moving Paul Bryant to the pole.    Bryant missed a shift on the opening flag, allowing Adam Murray to the point.  Previous race winner Taylor Howard would make a pass on lap three and hold onto the lead until lap 38.  Lap 38 would see John Whaley diving underneath Taylor Howard to make the pass and hold onto the win.  Howard would finish second, with Brad Arthur (in his first Limited race at SNRP), Melvin Langley and Paul Bryant rounding out the top five.

In 4 Cylinders, Justin Gill took the pole after a five-car invert.  Fast-qualifier Kevin Pierce would make quick work of the four cars in front of him, moving to the lead on lap four and staying there for the rest of the race.  Behind Pierce, Lee Kozikowski and Greg Whitley ran second and third for the majority of the race until wrecking on lap 31.  Both cars were sent to the back for bringing out the caution, and John Whaley Jr. and Jeremy Bohne would hang on to finish second and third, with Bohne getting there from a shotgun start on the field.

Tracy Banks would win from the front row in Papa Jack’s Store and Grill Street Stocks with Kevin Benton and Andy Carter both coming close but not quite able to make it past Banks to finish second and third.  In UCARs, Albert Lamont would better Wayne Boone and Davey Lamont to win his second race of 2008.

Southern National Raceway Park is off this coming weekend, but will return on June 14 for Whelen Night at the Races presented by Harris Wholesale.  June 14 also marks the 15^th anniversary of Southern National Raceway Park.   The night’s racing will feature twin 75 lap Nascar Whelen All-American Series Late Models, as well as Bobby Murray Chevrolet GM Performance Parts Limited Late Models, Papa Jack’s Store and Grill Street Stocks, 4 Cylinders, and UCARs, as well as the INEX Legends Series.  The night will also feature double points for all divisions.

As a part of the Raceway’s birthday celebration, the race Grand Marshall will be Roy Hendricks, winner of the first ever Late Model Stock race at SNRP, fireworks provided by Piedmont Pyrotechnics, as well as $5 admission for all Fire, Police and Rescue workers with a valid badge or ID.

Admission for the night’s events is $12 for adults, $8 for kids 8-17, with children 7 and under free.   All military personnel is $10 with a valid military ID.  For more information, call the track office at (919) 284-1114, or visit http://www.southernnational.net.