East Alabama Motor Speedway
Thomas sweeps 525 tour's opening weekend
By Roby Helm
Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series
William Thomas celebrates with son Nolan in victory lane. (Eric Gano)
PHENIX CITY, Ala.(Aug. 3) – William Thomas of Phenix City, Ala., made it two-for-two in Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series competition, backing up his win in Friday’s inaugural series event with another victory Saturday night at East Alabama Motor Speedway.
Thomas, who recorded his fourth consecutive victory with his second straight two-victory weekend. earned $3,000 on the tour for Late Models powered by Chevrolet Performance CT 525 crate engines. | Slideshow
Unlike Friday’s victory at Penton (Ala.) Raceway where he set fast time and led all 50 laps, Thomas had to work hard for his win Saturday night, advancing from the fifth starting spot and benefitting from another’s misfortune to claim the victory.
Thomas took the lead on lap 43 after early leader Tim Busha of Boaz, Ala., cut down a right-rear tire under his Kilpatrick Racing GRT. Thomas then led Richie Stephens of Phenix City, Ala., in the last eight laps of the race, crossing the finish line with a 2.368-second lead.
“It’s been an amazing week with this new Chevrolet Performance Engine,” said Thomas, who has now won a total of $15,300 in only four races on the CT 525 engine in his 8-year-old Alexander’s Industrial Service GRT. “I could run down Busha in the long green flag runs, but I don’t know if I could have got around him for the win, if he hadn’t have had a cut tire. He was strong tonight.”
Stephens finished second after a busy day just to make it to the racetrack. Stephens took delivery of his all-aluminum 525 engine at 7 Saturday morning from NeSmith Chevrolet in Claxton, Ga., installed it in the race car, and was ready to go by 4 p.m.
Chase Edge of Lafayette, Ala., finished third for the second straight night with Hall of Famer Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, Tenn., took the fourth and Brent Barrett of Cleveland, Miss., fifth. Busha recovered from his flat tire to finish sixth.
Thomas now holds a 12-point lead over Johnson and Chase Edge, who are tied for the second spot in the battle for the $10,000 Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series Championship on the ten-race series.
Notes: The winning GRT Race Car's sponsors include J.W. Miller Land and Timber, Alexanders Industrial Services, LKS, Austin Trucking, Valken Racing and Stealth Carburetors. ... Thomas’ previous two victories came in Southern All Stars action at Talladega Short Track on July 27 and Rome Speedway’s Schaeffer Oil Southern Nationals event July 28. ... The next Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series race is a $3,000-to-win event scheduled for Aug. 10 at Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway.
Chevy Performance Series @ EAMS: (1) William Thomas (2) Richie Stephens, (3) Chase Edge, (4) Ronnie Johnson, (5) Brent Barrett, (6) Tim Busha, (7) David Brannon, (8) Matthew Turner, (9) Brad Smith, (10) Frank Wilson, (11) Ross Martin, (12) Adam Martin, (13) Carlton Freeman, (14) Jeremy Britton. Fast qualifier (among 14 cars): Busha, 15.024 seconds.
