Green Valley Speedway
R.J.'s smooth move leads to $2,500 at GVS
Ronnie Johnson emerges in victory lane at Green Valley. (Mitchell Jenkins)
GLENCOE, Ala. (April 26) — Taking advantage of a breakdown by race-long leader William Thomas, Hall of Famer Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, Tenn., went from third to first with a turn-four move on lap 31 Friday to take a lead he’d never give up at Green Valley Speedway’s Crate Nationals. | Video | Slideshow
“Sometimes when you’re out there racing, that stuff just happens so quick you don’t even realize what’s happening — you just react,” Johnson said. “Something happened there on that restart with William — I don’t know if he had a flat or what — and got everybody jumbled up.”
Johnson earned $2,500 for the victory over Montana Dudley of Phenix City, Ala., who rallied back to second after an early spin. Austin Kirkpatrick of Ocala, Fla., was third followed by Josh Adkins of Talladega, Ala., and Kennie Compton Jr. of Bland, Va.
Thomas dominated most of the 40-lapper, but when he pulled up lame in turn four shortly after a restart, Johnson went under Compton and Thomas to take command.
Thomas, of Phenix City, rebounded with a victory in the night’s Sportsman division feature, earning $2,500 in taking the checkers ahead of Joe Armistead Jr. of Sharpsburg, Ga., and Heath Hindman of Signal Mountain, Tenn.
Green Valley was scheduled for two more $2,500-to-win for both divisions on Saturday, but rain cancelled the action.
Crate Late Models: (1) Ronnie Johnson, (2) Montana Dudley, (3) Austin Kirkpatrick, (4) Joshua Adkins, (5) Kennie Compton Jr., (6) Kasey Hall, (7) Kyle May, (8) Chase Edge, (9) Rodgerick Dykes, (10) Jim Manka, (11) David Pettus, (12) Trevor Thompson, (13) Jimmy Dean, (14) Bobby Bartlett, (15) Randy Holder, (16) Tommy Smith, (17) William Thomas, (18) T.J. Alford, (19) Chris Wilson, (20) Pete Cochran, (21) Marcus Minga, (22) Craig Scott, (23) Dana Eiland, (24) Rusty Harmon.
Sportsman: (1) William Thomas, (2) Joe Armistead Jr., (3) Heath Hindman, (4) Gar Dickson, (5) T.J. Alford, (6) T.J. Brittain, (7) Bobby Pruitt, (8) Dallas Cooper, (9) Brian Smith, (10) Mark Haddon, (11) Dillon Tidmore, (12) Jammie Gowers, (13) Brad Malone, (14) Travis Kress, (15) Brad Berry, (16) James Lay, (17) Kennie Compton Jr., (18) Ryan Law, (19) Brian Qualls, (20) Dusty Jones, (21) D.J. Jayes.
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