NASCAR Late Models: Browning has fastest late model at Jax Raceways
27 July 1999
By: Donnie HelmlyJACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA--The NASCAR Winston Racing Late Model Division saw a pair of veterans up front and battling it out for the win in the 30 lap featured event last Saturday night at their half mile NASCAR sanctioned dirt track.
Former division champion David Browning set fast time in qualifying action with current points leader Jeff Godbee setting second fastest, but both drivers would be moved to the 7th and 8th place starting spots after the spin of the wheel stopped on an eight.
Chuck Meredith inherited the pole with former division champion Steve Whitener on the outside. Whitener would get the jump on the first fire, but the caution would wave before the lap could be completed. The second try ended in the same manner, causing officials to start the field in single file order.
Meredith would get the jump on the field, but wouldn't make it long when his power plant expired putting him in the pits for the night. Whitener would take over from there, leading for 17 laps before David Browning made his move to the front spot, where he would stay for the rest of the 30 feature event. Whitener would hold off Godbee for the second spot, with Godbee Chuck Chitty and Michael Murrer rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth was JO Nobles, Travis Burris, Fred Schell, Buster Delay and Meredith. Buddy Geiger lost his second place in point's position by not competing in the night's events.
The Pure Stock division saw a familiar face in victory lane Saturday night as Priscilla Yergy made it two in a row. Yergy took the front spot early in the 15-lap event, and held off Mark Whitener in the closing laps, to claim her third feature of the season. Whitener chased her across the line for second, with John Taylor, Windal Clark and Bill Burkhart making up the top five. Sixth through tenth was Chad Grogan, Hardy Jarvis, Vince Waters, Wade McBride and Darren Greenslet.
The Hobby Stocks once again saw post race inspection change the outcome of the event. David Ryals led the 20 lap event early, but was soon over taken by current points leader Eddie Holton. Holton's lead would be short lived, as Randy Clark Sr. made his way to the top, where he would stay to win the lap shortened race. Eddie Holton fell back to fifth, but filed a protest on the 00 car, driven by Joey Miller. Miller's car failed post race inspection, when the stroke of his motor was found in excess of the requirements, along with an unapproved clutch. This put David Ryals finishing in second, Gary Godwin moved up to third, Holton got fourth and Mark Beebe made up the top five. Sixth through tenth was James Jeffers, Marty Kelly, Jody Turner, and John Wood.
The Open Wheel Modifieds saw Keny Porter take his third feature event in a row, and his fourth of the year. Porter had the luck of the wheel stop in his favor, and placed him on the pole. Porter took off, and held off challenges from Steve Whitener throughout the 20-lap event, with Whitener settling for second. Kenny Bayless, Kevin Bayless and Mitch McCoy made up the top five. Sixth through tenth was points leader Bobby Balkcom, Steven Skipper, Ronnie Ponce, Wayne Meyer and John Byers. The win put Porter six points out of second, and ten out of first.
Point's leader Cindy Holton took the lead from fast qualifier and three-time division champion Karen Greenslet, and won her 5th feature event of the season in the Powder Puff division. Greenslet held on to finish second despite an ill handling car, Julia Callaway crossed the stripe in third, with Maudie Baker and Shelley Petteway making up the top five. Kim Lester, Patty Duren, Robin Wilson, Sandy McCoy and Tammy Stone made up sixth through tenth.
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