ArkLaTex Speedway
McCool tops foes, claims $10,000 at Pelican 100
Bub McCool celebrates his $10,000 Pelican 100 victory. (R&R Motorsports Photography)
VIVIAN, La. (March 9) — Polesitter Bub McCool of Vicksburg, Miss., survived a host of challengers Saturday night at ArkLaTex Speedway on his way to claiming his first victory of the season in the quarter-mile oval’s third annual Pelican 100. McCool earned $10,000 in an event that ranks as one of Louisiana's biggest dirt races of the year.
After finishing second in the first two editions of the ArkLaTex unsanctioned special event, McCool fought hard throughout the 100-lapper to make sure he didn’t again come up short this year. | Prelims | Video | Slideshow
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series regular topped an early lead-swapping battle with fellow front-row starter Chris Wall of Holden, La., early in the unsanctioned 100-laper and later turned back a mid-race challenge from Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind. He then survived a late charge by Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., on his way to claiming the victory.
The $10,000 victory, which marked his first top five of the season after 10 Speedweeks races produced a best finish of sixth, matches McCool’s career-best payday after he also earned $10,000 in a World of Outlaws event at Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway last season.
The fourth-starting Moyer came alive during the second half of the race and put pressure on McCool in the late stages. Moyer made his most serious bid for the lead during the final 10 laps of the race, pulling alongside McCool three times at the flag stand. But Moyer couldn’t find the momentum to edge ahead of McCool and ultimately settled for the runner-up finish.
Quiet for most of the race, Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., also rallied late, racing into the top five and challenging Moyer for second. Phillips made his way by Moyer as the leaders raced through lapped traffic on lap 70 before Moyer reclaimed the spot around lap 85 and forced Phillips to settle for third.
O'Neal, the MasterSbilt Race Cars house car driver who was making a guest appearance in a Childress Racing MasterSbilt, faded to fourth at the finish, while Wall, O’Neal’s Childress Racing teammate, came home fifth.
The race featured a total of six lead changes among three drivers with McCool, who led on four occasions for a total of 85 laps, spending the most time out front. Wall led laps 12-17, while O’Neal took two turns at the point in leading laps 58 and 60-66. Three cautions slowed the pace with yellow flags waving on laps 10, 23, and 66.
Notes: McCool drives a Victory Circle Race Car from Billy Moyer’s shop with a Jay Dickens Racing Engine and sponsorship from McCool Logging, Southern Belle, Henderson Motorsports, MSR Mafia and Good Hope. ... The 100-lapper finished around 9:30 p.m. local time. ... Defending race winner Jesse Stovall of Galena, Miss., did not enter this year’s event. ... McCool’s most recent victory came Oct. 6 at Greenville (Miss.) Speedway’s Gumbo Nationals. ... The event was advertised to pay at least $800 to each starter, but ended up paying $1,000. ... The starting field was also expanded from 22 to 24 cars. ... Phillips was coming off a $10,000 open-wheel modified victory March 3 at Southern New Mexico Speedway’s Winter Meltdown. The veteran driver will return to modified action for his next event March 22-23 at Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway. ... ArkLaTex’s next Late Model special is scheduled for May 4 when the Comp Cams Super Dirt Series visits the quarter-mile oval.
Pelican 100: (1) Bub McCool, (2) Billy Moyer, (3) Terry Phillips, (4) Don O’Neal, (5) Chris Wall, (6) Wendell Wallace, (7) Robbie Stuart, (8) Tanner English, (9) B.J. Robinson, (10) Timothy Culp, (11) Billy Moyer Jr., (12) Ray Moore, (13) Morgan Bagley, (14) Shane Hebert, (15) Tyler Erb, (16) Zach McMillan, (17) Trey Beene, (18) Eric Turner, (19) Jack Sullivan, (20) Rob Litton, (21) Kyle Beard, (22) Ross Camponovo, (23) Gary Christian, (24) Dane Dacus. Fast qualifier (among 47 cars): McCool, 14.234 seconds. Heat winners: McCool, Wall, O’Neal, Moyer. Consolation winners: Turner, Hebert.
