Southern Ohio Speedway
Francis captures tuneup at Southern 100
Steve Francis won $4,000 in Friday's preliminary Southern 100 feature. (rdwphotos.smugmug.com)
WHEELERSBURG, Ohio (May 3) — Steve Francis of nearby Ashland, Ky., led all 40 laps Friday at Southern Ohio Speedway in a preliminary victory at the track’s unsanctioned Southern 100 weekend. Francis earned $4,000 for his first victory of 2013. | Slideshow
Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., finished second with Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., third among two drivers making their first starts at the track that reopened in 2011. Doug Drown of Wooster, Ohio, rallied from his 15th starting spot to fourth and pole-starting Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, W.Va., rounded out the top five in a race slowed by a single caution for D.J. Wells.
Last year’s Southern 100 winner Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., was sixth.
Francis, Pierce and Carrier were among several Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series regulars on hand at Southern Ohio after that tour’s two-race weekend was scrapped by rain.
Notes: Francis drives the Barry Wright Race Cars house car for Clint Bowyer Racing with sponsorship from Georgia Boot and Peak. ... The event wrapped up just before 1 a.m. ... Fourth-finishing Doug Drown had to rally in the main event after spinning with a lapped car while leading a heat race. ... Third-place finisher Bobby Pierce’s father Bob is a former Southern 100 winner. ... A clock malfunction listed Donnie Moran’s quick lap as 15.2 seconds instead of 16.2, but his lap was quickest either way. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature event: Brad Neat, Jarrod Breeding, Devin Moran, Joe Ramey, Jared Landers, Kenneth Howell, Shannon Thornsberry, Paul Davis and former race winner Jackie Boggs. ... Saturday’s action is highlighted by a $12,000-to-win unsanctioned feature event.
Southern Ohio Speedway: (1) Steve Francis, (2) Jonathan Davenport, (3) Bobby Pierce, (4) Doug Drown, (5) Tim Dohm, (6) Eddie Carrier Jr., (7) Jared Hawkins, (8) Jason Montgomery, (9) Donnie Moran, (10) Mason Zeigler, (11) Ben Adkins, (12) R.J. Conley, (13) Steve Casebolt, (14) D.J. Wells, (15) Jacob Curnette, (16) Josh McGuire, (17) Scott Peltz, (18) Kevin Wagner, (19) Zack Dohm. Scratched: Rod Conley. Fast qualifier (among 39 cars): Moran, 16.236 seconds. Heat race winners: T. Dohm, Francis, Pierce, Davenport. Consolation winners: McGuire, Rod Conley.
