Old No. 1 Speedway
Sullivan claims $3,000 in Rockabilly 45
HARRISBURG, Ark., (Sept. 8) — Jack Sullivan of Greenbrier, Ark., raced to his second straight Comp Cams Super Dirt Series victory in Saturday night’s Rockabilly 45 at Northeast Arkansas Speedway, earning a $3,000 payday and a custom guitar trophy.
Sullivan was followed at the finish by Tanner English of Benton, Ky., in second and reigning series champion Brandon Smith of Floral, Ark., in third with Wendell Wallace of Batesville, Ark., and Jon Kirby of Russellville, Ark., rounding out the top five.
Todd Hall of Charleston, Mo., started from the pole with series points leader Jon Mitchell of Texarkana, Ark., to his outside. Hall paced the opening circuit before Mitchell shot to the lead on lap two.
As Mitchell led the way, fifth-starting Robert Baker of Bryant, Ark., found his way into second and set his sights on the leader. Baker took the top spot on lap nine, but bad luck struck one lap later when the leaders caught slower traffic.
As Baker and Mitchell looked to navigate the slower car of Kenneth Jackson of Beebe, Ark., the lead duo made contact causing both to spin to draw the caution. Both drivers rejoined the tail of the field as Wallace inherited the lead.
Wallace's stint out front lasted until lap 15, when Kyle Beard of Trumann, Ark., bolted to the lead. Beard took control of the lead for the next several laps, while great two- and three-wide battles waged throughout the field.
As the race approached the closing laps, it appeared that Beard was on his way to his first series' triumph of the season, before a flat right-rear tire ended up his hopes.
With Beard at the tail of the field, English inherited the lead, but was at the point for just one lap before eighth-starting, Sullivan jumped ahead on lap 43. Sullivan held the lead through a final-lap caution to score the victory.
The event was part of a scheduled doubleheader weekend for the Comp Cams tour at Northeast Arkansas, but Friday’s race was rained out. Friday’s storms brought more than two inches of rain on the facility, but track officials worked through the day Saturday to whip the track surface into shape.
Notes: Sullivan's GRT Race Cars house car is sponsored by Bryant Motorsports, Central Arkansas Pest Services, Triple A Diesel Service and DSI Motorsports. ... Sullivan's second straight series victory is the fifth of his career on the series. ... Sullivan previously won Aug. 11 at Diamond Park Speedway in Nashville, Ark. ... The series moves to Malden Speedway and I-30 Speedway on Sept. 14-15.
Rockabilly 45: (1) Jack Sullivan, (2) Tanner English, (3) Brandon Smith, (4) Wendell Wallace, (5) Jon Kirby, (6) Todd Hall, (7) Kyle Beard, (8) Justin Asplin, (9) Jamie Dacus, (10) Chandler Petty, (11) Jon Mitchell, (12) Jerry Buck, (13) Tommy Surrett, (14) Tony Jackson Jr., (15) Dane Dacus, (16) Kenneth Jackson, (17) Jeff Floyd, (18) Allen Murray, (19) Gary Christian, (20) Robert Baker. Heat race winners (among 30 cars): Mitchell, Jackson, Hall, Wallace. Consolation race winners: Petty, Dacus.
