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Steifle Victorious In GM Performance Crate LM Race
By Tony M. Suttles

Ernest Steifle claimed the official victory in the GM Performance Crate Late Model race ran at the Travelers Rest Speedway on Saturday night July 5, 2008. Steifle led every lap of the race and was never challenged for the top position throughout the race. Steifle grabbed the lead as soon as the race started and pulled away from the field immediately. Several cautions kept the cars bunched together closer than they would have been. The most excitement of the race was provided by a couple of drivers whom made contact on the final lap and sent the car driven by Keith Pilgrim on its roof at the start finish line. Hot Rod LaMance finished second. Johnny Raines finished third. Gary Collins finished fourth. Tyler Harvey finished fifth.


Michael Barbare claimed the official victory in the Limited Sportsman race. Nathan Hughes led the first half of the race before he relinquished the top position to Barbare. On the following lap Hughes spun and had to restart at the rear of the field. Adam Yarborough took over the second position. For the next three laps Barbare was able to pull away while Yarborough had his hands full trying to hold off Scott Galloway. Then there was a couple of mishaps which brought out several cautions and removed some of the drivers from contention. Once the race went back to green flag conditions Barbare was pressed by Yarborough for a couple of laps before Barbare pulled away and received the checkered flag. Adam Yarborough finished second. Scott Morgan finished third. Josh Wilkerson finished fourth. Nathan Hughes finished fifth.


Timmy Smith claimed the official victory in the Stock Eight race. Smith led every lap of the race and was never seriously challenged during the race. John McElrath held the second position throughout the race but failed to maintain the pace set by Smith. John McElrath finished second. Mike Gantt finished third. John Weston finished fourth. Chris Harvell finished fifth.


Donnie Atkins claimed the official victory in the Renegade race. Atkins led every lap of the race and was never challenged for the top position. Several cars battled for positions behind him but no one ran close to Atkins during the race. Donnie Leonard finished second. Dwight Smith finished third. Greg Dodgens finished fourth. John McElrath finished fifth.


Nick Adams claimed the official victory in the Pure Stock race. Three drivers led the race before a victor was determined. Mike Watson led the first couple of laps with Nick Adams all over him. The two got tangled up together and almost spun. This allowed Barry Thornton to pass both of them and take over the lead. Thornton began to pull away while Watson and Adams resumed their battle. Adams finally took over the second position at the half way mark in the race. Adams chased down Thornton and took over the lead on the tenth lap of the race. Mike Watson and Shawn Gibbs also bypassed Thornton before the race ended. Mike Watson finished second. Shawn Gibbs finished third. Barry Thornton finished fourth. Jason Phillips finished fifth.


Matthew Gilbert claimed the official victory in the Stock Four race. Gilbert and Kevin Kelley battled the first lap of the race with Gilbert taking the lead at the end of the lap. Once out front Gilbert began to pull away immediately. During the race Gilbert held as much as a ten car length advantage before Kelly closed in before the end of the race. Kelley closed the distance by a couple of car lengths before the race ended but Gilbert easily out distanced the field. Following the race Kelly protested Gilbert’s car and Gilbert passed the protest. Kevin Kelly finished second. Joey Kelly finished third. Newman Presnell finished fourth. Darrell Gilbert finished fifth.


Chris Goodman claimed the official victory in the Young Guns race. Goodman led every lap of the race on his way to the victory. Zeke Whitman pressed Goodman the first couple of laps before he spun and had to restart in the rear of the field. Whitman managed to return to the second position before the race concluded but he failed to get close enough to Goodman before the race ended. Zeke Whitman finished second. Mitchel Marcas finished third. Spencer Pridgen finished fourth. Brent Bassett finished fifth.
Posted by Wayne Clayton