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Southern All Stars Asphalt Series: Report from Huntsville Speedway

9 September 1997

Huntsville, AL - The final trip of the Southern All Stars Asphalt Series to Huntsville Speedway for 1997 may well have brought some memories flooding back for many of the older fans. In the 1980's Buddy Broome was a regular competitor at the track and he made a triumphant return as he took the win in the Taylor Farms/WHNT-TV 150. Broome, who has been racing at 411 Speedway in Knoxville, TN, has teamed with car owner Rick Coulter to run a limited Southern All Star schedule, and in his fifth start he garnered his first win. Gary Wade Finley followed Broome across the line with Casey Bishop in third.

Tim Fryar of Chattanooga, TN was awarded the fast Qualifier award after three cars set identical times of 12.734 seconds around the tight 1/4 mile oval in Quickcar Qualifying. Fryar was the first of the three cars to make his qualifying run. Fryar then drew a '6' for the inversion, putting two-time winner Russell Bearden on the pole with Huntsville Speedway points leader Casey Bishop on the outside of the front row.

When the green flag flew, Bearden took the point with Broome making a good move into second. Bishop fell into third and Dan Beddingfield nabbed the fourth spot as the cars completed the first lap. Bearden would hold the lead until lap 52 when Broome was able to slide under him in turn two. Broome would then spend the rest of the race fending off challenges from Bearden and Gary Wade Finley. Bearden camped on Broome's rear bumper, waiting for the leader to make a mistake that would allow him to retake the lead. Finley had moved into the top three in the middle of the race and was trying hard to get round Bearden and try his hand at pressuring Broome. With less than ten laps to go, Finley and Bearden made contact in turn one, with Bearden spinning and everyone else taking evasive action.

The final lap saw Finley right on Broome's rear deck and as the cars came off turn four and headed for the checkered flag Finley and Broome touched , but Broome was able to maintain control and take the win. Finley finished in second for his best career finish with the SAS tour. Third place went to Casey Bishop despite having lost a cylinder during the race.1996 SAS Champion Johnny Brazier made a steady run into fourth after an early spin and took over the series points lead. Another former SAS Champion, Dan Beddingfield finished in fifth.

TAYLOR FARMS/WHNT-TV 150 RESULT

1.  Buddy Broome
2.  Gary Wade Finley
3.  Casey Bishop
4.  Johnny Brazier
5.  Dan Beddingfield
6.  Kevin Gillum
7.  Russell Bearden
8.  Ronald Walls
9.  Brian Bentley
10. Shannon Berry
11. Brad Stell
12. Trab Crews
13. Gary Jones
14. Roger Scott
15. Edwin Gurley
16. Johnny Wall
17. Heath Hindman
18. Tim Fryar
19. Andy King
20. Shad Hodgin
21. Terry Mason Jr
22. Warren McMahan

1997 SAS POINTS STANDINGS
1. Johnny Brazier        1230
2. Tim Fryar             1218
3. Russell Bearden       1176
4. Kevin Gillum          1128
5. Roger Scott           1034
6. Shannon Berry         1034
7. Warren McMahan         982
8. Ranoald Walls          848
9. Trab Crews             808
10.Curtis Gattis          744

John Kaiser -- The Autochannel