James Horner Prevails in Street Stock Thriller at Carteret County Speedway
James Horner Prevails in Street Stock Thriller at Carteret County Speedway [image: Inline image 1] *James Horner (21) and Jonathon Belfiore (80) battle for the lead and the win at Carteret County Speedway. (Photo credit: Alicia Hackett/Frameworks Photography)* SWANSBORO, NC – James Horner and Jonathon Belfiore stole the show at Carteret County Speedway on Saturday night and it was Horner who stole the victory. Belfiore and Horner had the fastest cars all day long in practice and qualifying, with both drivers starting on the front row. Belfiore, who started on the pole, led the early laps of the race before surrending the lead to Horner on lap four. Belfiore spent much of the race trying to get by Horner who held a defensive line. Belfiore finally made the move with five laps to go, making the pass on Horner but Horner recaptured the lead with a crossover move in the very next corner. The next lap, Horner spun off the front bumper of Belfiore. With two laps remaining, Belfiore had retaken the lead but a slip coming to the white flag allowed Horner to get by him and score his first win of the season. “We worked very hard for this,�?? Horner said. “My dad, my mom, my little brother and everybody that helps out, I couldn’t do this without them. We work on this thing five days a week. Belfiore got into me there and tried to come back, he slipped up in the corner and I took my chance. Good night overall.�?? Throughout the race, it appeared as though Belfiore had the faster car but Horner held a defensive line, fending off challenge after challenge. “I think overall, Jonathon had a better car than us but we wanted it bad.�?? Belfiore, who has two wins in the Street Stock division this season, made one mistake all race and it would ultimately cost him the win. “Jimmy’s strong for sure,�?? Belfiore said. “He’s a good competitor and I enjoy racing with him. I don’t care what anybody says, I did not intentionally spin him out. It was a good race and I’m happy to be here. I’d like to thank my family and the great Lord above.�?? Gary Rochelle, Jr., who inherited the lead after the incident with Belfiore and Horner before getting passed immediately on the restart, finished third. “We just didn’t quite have enough,�?? Rochelle said. “We have to get the car loosened up. It was tight but we keep getting better every week.�?? Billy Slater finished fourth while Jamie Tucker rounded out the top five. Chris Burns Scores Second Career Win Joshua Yeoman dominated in the late stages of Saturday night’s Late Model race but Chris Burns came away with his second career Late Model victory and his second win of the year. Yeoman spun while leading with four laps to go, bringing out the caution. Race control penalized Burns for the incident, despite Burns’ insistence that very little or no contact was made between the two. On the restart, Burns was able to race his way around Zach Henshaw to score the win, becoming the first repeat winner in the Late Model division at Carteret County Speedway. “Sucked to be put to the back,�?? Burns remarked. “I barely touched him, like barely touched him … We’ve had a lot of motor problems. We worked our tails off on this car to get it as good as we can get it. It’s still not right but it paid off tonight.�?? Burns celebrated his victory with a John Force burnout on the frontstretch before pulling into victory lane. “I love doing a burnout,�?? Burns stated. “Every time I’ve ever won, I’ve tried to do one. I know everybody loves it.�?? Yeoman raced his way back up to the runner-up spot while Zach Henshaw finished third. Irving Upsets Ford in Legends Race Intense racing was the theme of the night at Carteret County Speedway and the Legend Cars were no exception. Stephen Ford dominated the 15 lap dash but Brent Irving came away with the win, his second Carteret County Speedway win. “It was fun,�?? Irving said. “It was very hot. Sometimes you would rather be lucky than good and I had luck on my side tonight. [Ford] had a faster car so I had to give it all I had.�?? Ford held the lead throughout much of the race but, in the closing laps, Irving closed in and made the move. With seven laps remaining, Irving jumped to the outside and drew even with Ford. The two made contact, resulting in Irving going back around. Irving looped his car around again coming to the white flag, setting up a Green-White-Checkered finish. On the restart, Ford’s car did not get going allowing Brent Irving and his father, Shane Irving, to get by. Ford went on to finish third. “I had a very fast car,�?? Ford commented. “On the restart, just went to go shift and it wouldn’t shift. It sucked. My dad, mom and sister worked hard all week.�?? Clements and Reimer Score Second Wins Brandon Clements led wire-to-wire in the Mini Stock feature to score his second consecutive victory and his second win of 2016 over Jimmy Odum and Gary Murphy. Meanwhile, United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sargeant Zac Reimer scored his second win in the U-CAR division after starting in the sixth position. Reimer took the lead three laps in and drove away from the field, almost lapping the entire field en route to victory. Labor Day Classic to Celebrate One Year of Racing Carteret County Speedway will be back in action on Sunday, September 4th with the Kitrell’s Carquest/Advance Auto Parts Labor Day Classic, featuring racing for Late Models, Mini Stocks, Street Stocks, U-CARs and Legends. The race will celebrate one year of racing at Carteret County Speedway. The first ever race was held on Labor Day Weekend in 2015. *For more information about Carteret County Speedway, visit the track’s official website at **www.carteretspeedway.com* <http://www.carteretspeedway.com/>*, “like�?? Carteret County Speedway on Facebook (**www.facebook.com/carteretcoswy* <http://www.facebook.com/carteretcoswy>*) or follow @carteretcoswy on Twitter (**www.twitter.com/carteretcoswy* <http://www.twitter.com/carteretcoswy>*).* Race Results *Late Model (50 laps)* 1. #19 Chris Burns 2. #2 Joshua Yeoman 3. #99 Zach Henshaw 4. #K7 Jim Kelley 5. #55 Gerald Benton 6. #2w Carl Yeoman *Street Stock (30 laps)* 1. #21 James (Jimmy) Horner 2. #80 Jonathon Belfiore 3. #22 Gary Rochelle, Jr. 4. #88 Billy Slater 5. #77 Jamie Tucker 6. #28 Dennis (Wile E) Woehrle *Mini Stock (30 laps)* 1. #7 Brandon Clements 2. #11 Jimmy Odum 3. #35 Gary Murphy 4. #99 Mickey Connor 5. #53 Chris Burns 6. #01 Duston Yeoman *U-CAR (15 laps)* 1. #23 Zac Reimer 2. #15 Dustin Johnson 3. #07 Stacy Rhodes 4. #09 Andrew Jackson 5. #99 Mickey Connor 6. #6 Joe Newburn *Legends (15 laps)* 1. #B1 Brenton Irving 2. #20 Shane Irving 3. #86 Stephen Ford 4. #21 Joel Carlyle
