East Alabama Motor Speedway
Pennington becomes youngest Alabama champ
From track reports
Pennington celebrates his $7,000 victory. (ronskinnerphotos.com)
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (Sept. 28) — Travis Pennington of Winston, Ga., topped a trio of young guns at East Alabama Motor Speedway to become the youngest winner of the Super Late Model portion of the Alabama State Championships. The 17-year-old Pennington, son of Hall of Fame driver and EAMS veteran Jack Pennington, started on the pole and led every lap for a victory worth $7,000. | Slideshow
Jake Knowles of Tyrone, Ga., and William Thomas of Phenix City finished second in third as youth prevailed at the 3/8-mile oval. Hometown driver Terrance Nowell was fourth and tail-starting James Ward of Lettsworth, La., rounded out the top five.
While Thomas was denied a Super Late Model victory, he won the sportsman and Crate division features; both paid $5,000 to the winner. Pennington finished second in the Crate feature.
Notes: The event featured racing in nine divisions, including the three Late Model-style cars. ... Pennington's 14.32-second qualifying lap was a daytime record at EAMS. ... Former race winner Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., ran second early, but he headed pitside on the 19th lap after showing smoke from his No. 44. ... Dana Eiland also had a flat tire on lap 19 and parked his No. K9. ... Aaron Ridley, who piloted Clint Smith's backup car, was out after getting into the guardrail. ... Gar Dickson went for a wild ride off turn one on a restart, but he returned to finish sixth. ... Ronnie Johnson and Dennis Hale got together on lap 44, knocking both out of the race; that left 16 of 24 starters running.
Super Late Model: (1) Travis Pennington, (2) Jake Knowles, (3) William Thomas, (4) Terrance Nowell, (5) James Ward, (6) Gar Dickson, (7) Jeff Fortner, (8) Brian Smith, (9) Riley Hickman, (10) Frank Wilson, (11) Ricky Williams, (12) James Ussery, (13) Steven Endicott, (14) Chuck Smith, (15) Devin Jones, (16) Stacy Holmes, (17) Ronnie Johnson, (18) Dennis Hale, (19) Aaron Ridley (20) John Greene, (21) Dana Eiland, (22) Clint Smith, (23) Benji Cole, (24) Dewayne Johnson.
Sportsman: (1) William Thomas, (2) Bobby Thomas, (3) Ronnie Johnson, (4) Terrance Nowell, (5) Jordy Nipper, (6) Ricky Williams, (7) Tod Darda, (8) Parker Herring, (9) Steven Endicott, (10) Marvin Cook, (11) Glenn McWaters, (12) J.R. Moseley, (13) Cale Simons, (14) Stephen Segars, (15) Larry Eldridge, (16) Larry Harrod, (17) Bobby Eiland, (18) Mike Parkerson, (19) Mitch Fulford, (20) Ryan Law, (21) Mike Nasworthy, (22) Oliver Gentry, (23) Glenn Morris, (24) Chad Marchman.
Crate: (1) William Thomas, (2) Travis Pennington, (3) Blake Stewart, (4) Bobby Eiland, (5) Dana Eiland, (6) Billy Franklin, (7) Frank Ingram, (8) Jeff Fields, (9) Ronnie Johnson, (10) Larry Boutwell, (11) Royce Bray, (12) Jake Knowles, (13) Tony Head, (14) Mike Parkerson, (15) Kelly Leonard, (16) Derrick Rainey, (17) Montana Dudley, (18) Chad Scrimpshire, (19) Pat Wall, (20) Chase Edge, (21) Mike Head, (22) Mark Sims, (23) Jordy Nipper, (24) Richie Stephens.
