Mansch Finds his Way Back to Victory Lane at Hickory Motor Speedway
Media Contact: Jill Frischmann /Hickory Motor Speedway PR
828.464.3655 – Track 704.728.3182 – Cell hickorymotorspeedway@gmail.com
Photos Courtesy of L&D Photography
( Newton, NC - - June 19, 2010 ) The drivers of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series certainly didn't disappoint as the Bojangles Late Models, the Advance Auto Parts Limiteds, the Everything Attachment Super Trucks, the Hickory Street Stocks and the Hickory 4-Cylinders took to the track for some intense and action packed racing. The night began with the Hickory Motor Speedway Fan Experience, with the No. 92 of Bojangles Late Model driver, Candace Muzny giving fans a full speed ride around the track in a real late model stock car. The night came to a close with flames from a special appearance by the Green Mamba Jet Car, with operator Doug Rose melting down a car on the infield of the track.
The Bojangles Late Models pulled onto the asphalt in full force for their 50 lap feature event, with the No. 88 of Kyle Mansch leading the pack to the green flag. On lap three the No. 7 of Ashley Huffman pulled under the No. 5 of Dexter Canipe Jr. for the second place position. Coming out of turn four, on lap seven, the No. 43 of Jesse LeFevers took it three wide with Huffman and Canipe Jr. The three drivers traveled three wide until Huffman was forced to back off to avoid being run up into the outside wall. The first caution flew on lap 29 when the No. 92 of Candace Muzny got into the back of the No. 28 of Chris Chapman. At the restart the No. 51 of Josh Wimbish flew into the second place position, leaving LeFevers and Canipe Jr. to battle for third. LeFevers and Canipe Jr. raced door-to-door until lap 32 when Canipe Jr. got loose coming out of turn two, allowing LeFever to settle into third and the No. 2 of Jason Romero to move around him and take over the fourth, pushing Canipe Jr. into fifth.
The No. 10 of Andy Mercer spent the first portion of the race patiently working his way into the top five, taking over fifth place from Canipe Jr. on lap 37. The second caution fell on lap 44 after Romero got loose coming off of turn three, causing his ride to go for a spin heading into turn four. Muzny also went for a spin heading into turn four, as she tried to avoid Romero. With five laps to go Mercer had secured the third place position, pushing LeFevers back to fourth. Romero and the No. 3 of Jessica Brunnelli went for a spin heading into turn one, bringing out the third caution on lap 48. The fourth and final caution fell during the restart after the No. 95 of Michael Buckner got into the No. 15 of Chazz Anderson heading out of turn two, sending Anderson spinning. It was an intense final lap as Huffman shot to the outside line sliding past Canipe Jr. to grab a top five finishing position. Mansch, Wimbish, LeFevers, Mercer and Huffman made up the top five respectively. 
The action during the Advance Auto Parts Limiteds race started quickly after the No. 5 of points leader Dexter Canipe Jr. pulled into the lead on the first lap, taking over the spot from the No. 35 of pole sitter Chris Lewis. The first caution waved on lap ten after the No. 15 of Sheflon Clay and the No. 37 of Landon Huffman made contact in turn two sending Huffman for a spin. A second caution fell on lap 15 after the No. 66 of Travis Byrd went for a spin in turn two. During the restart a third caution was called for debris on the track. The No. 07 of Tyler Church was on the move, as he worked his way into second place on lap 17. A fourth caution waved on lap 26 after the No. 97 of Brandon Lynn went for a spin heading into turn four. The fifth and final caution came out on lap 28 when the No. 24 of Anthony Flannery and Lynn connected headed into turn one, sending Flannery for a spin and Lynn into the outside wall. The battle for second was intense during the final lap. Church, Lewis and the No. 12 of Austin McDaniel went three wide coming out of turn four to cross the finish line only inches apart. Canipe Jr. brought the field to the checkers with Church, Lewis, McDaniel and the No. 69 of John Hilliker in tow to round out the top five.
The Everything Attachment Super Trucks put on an exciting show during their 35 lap race. The No. 33 of Jeremy Birch was quick to work towards the front after moving into the third place position within the first five laps. On lap eight, the No. 7 of Just Crider drove up alongside Birch looking to regain the third place position, taking back the spot on lap 20. The first and only caution fell on lap 22 after the No. 15 of James Kirkham and Birch went for a spin in turn four. With five laps remaining the No. 16 of pole sitter, Clint Fields continued to increase his lead over the field, while Crider stayed tight to the bumper of the No. 11 of Thomas Beane looking for a chance to move into second. On the final lap Crider was finally able to pull under Beane as they came off of turn four. Beane put up a fight and was able to hold off Crider as they came to the finish line, coming home second to Fields, leaving Crider to finish third. The No. 05 of Kyle Wilson and the No. 6 of Brandon Sezter completed the top five.
The competition during the Hickory Street Stock 30 lap event was intense with several battles for position throughout the race. On lap three the No. 9 of Charlie Watson, the No. 64 of Marshall Sutton and the No. 03 of Kevin Eby entered into a heated battle for third, with Eby capturing the position on lap six, leaving Watson and Sutton to compete for fourth. On lap eight, Sutton drove under Watson to take over fourth, but Watson kept his eye on Sutton being sure that he didn't get too far away. On lap ten Watson had pulled back up on Sutton and the two continued to inch ahead of one another trading the position back and forth, until lap 15 when Sutton secured the fourth place spot.
With five laps to go, the No. 1 of Taylor Stricklin began to reel in the No. 21 of pole sitter Roger Pitts. The first and only caution of the event fell on the final lap after Pitts got loose coming out of turn two as he headed down the back stretch. Just as Pitts and Stricklin headed into turn three, Pitts' ride spun around bringing out the caution, causing a green-white-checkered finish, with Stricklin in the lead. There was a tight battle for second on the final lap as Eby, Stutton, and Pitts come out of turn four running three wide, to finish second through fourth. Watson secured a fifth place finish.
The Hickory 4-Cylinders put on a relatively tame race in comparison to their fellow divisions, as they took on the historic short track for a 25 lap event. The first and only caution came out on the first lap after the No. 52 of Michael Issacs and the No. 22 of Dan Moore went for a spin as they entered turn four. The No. 4 of pole sitter Adam Beaver had led the field around the track for the entire 25 lap event, using lap traffic as a pick to grow his lead over the field by lap ten. The No. 16 of Randy Freeze kept close tabs on Beaver as he looked for any chance to get around Beaver for the lead. Beaver ran a strong race, bringing the field to the checkers leaving Freeze, the No. 17 of Curtis Pardue, the No. 09 of Randy Canipe and the No. 59 of Donn Wardo to make up the top five.
About Hickory Motor Speedway:
Known as the Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars, Hickory Motor Speedway celebrates its 59 th season of stock car racing in 2010. Opening the gates in 1951, Hickory Motor Speedway is the oldest professional sporting venue in Catawba County (N.C.), and has been credited as the longest continually operating motor speedway in the country. Producing drivers like Ned and Dale Jarrett, Bobby Isaac, Harry Gant, Ralph Earnhardt and Dennis Setzer, it's easy to see why Hickory Motor Speedway is filled with such rich stock car racing history and has earned the title of, Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars.
Upcoming Events:
Drivers of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series take a weekend off as the UARA Stars invade the historic short track for the Banjo Matthews Memorial Race featuring the UARA Stars, the Carolina Vintage Stockcars and the INEX Legends. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students (13-17) with kids 12 and under FREE! Grandstands open at 5 PM, with qualifying at 5:30 PM and UARA Racing at 8 PM. For more information about this event please visit www.uara-stars.com.
Pole Award Winners:
Bojangles Late Models:No. 88 – Kyle Mansch – 15.411 seconds
Advance Auto Parts Limiteds:No. 35 – Chris Lewis – 16.010 seconds
Everything Attachment Super Trucks:No. 16 – Clint Fields – 16.302 seconds
Hickory Street StocksNo. 21 – Roger Pitts – 17.227 seconds
Hickory 4-Cylinders: No. 4 – Adam Beaver – 16.634 seconds
Official Race Results:
Bojangles Late Models 50
1. (88) Kyle Mansch
2. (51) Josh Wimbish
3. (43) Jesse LeFevers
4. (10) Andy Mercer
5. (7) Ashley Huffman
6. (5) Dexter Canipe Jr.
7. (92) Candace Muzny
8. (5) Katie Hagar
9. (2) Jason Romero
10. (25) Allison Macleod
11. (3) Jessica Brunnelli
12. (95) Michael Buckner
13. (15) Chazz Anderson
14. (28) Chris Chapman
Advance Auto Parts Limiteds 35
1. (5) Dexter Canipe Jr.
2. (07) Tyler Church
3. (35) Chris Lewis
4. (12) Austin McDaniel
5. (69) John Hilliker
6. (15) Sheflon Clay
7. (37) Landon Huffman
8. (13) Dakota Slagle
9. (97) Brandon Lynn
10. (24) Anthony Flannery
11. (66) Travis Byrd
12. (11) Matt Piercy
Everything Attachment Super Trucks 35
1. (16) Clint Fields
2. (11) Thomas Beane
3. (7) Justin Crider
4. (05) Kyle Wilson
5. (6) Brandon Setzer
6. (69) Trevor Hignutt
7. (33) Jeremy Birch
8. (0) Jody Church
9. (15) James Kirkham
Hickory Street Stocks 30
1. (1) Taylor Stricklin
2. (03) Kevin Eby
3. (64) Marshall Sutton
4. (21) Roger Pitts II
5. (9) Charlie Watson
6. (84) Jared Broadbent
7. (71) Robert Divanna
8. (55) Arrin Matthews
Hickory 4-Cylinder 25
1. (4) Adam Beaver
2. (16) Randy Freeze
3. (17) Curtis Pardue
4. (09) Randy Canipe
5. (59) Donn Wardo
6. (51) Nathaniel Kanupp
7. (98) Rob Lewis
8. (52) Michael Issac
9. (6) Caleb Sisk
10. (22) Dan Moore