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7-6-07
Five Flags Mike Williamson wins pro late models
Mike Williamson saw open track in front of him, but his rearview mirror was filled
with crashes as he won the 40-lap Pro Late Model feature Friday night at Five
Flags Speedway.
The Pensacola driver led all 40 laps for his first feature win of the season.
In front of the pack was the place to be. That's because crashes and spins took out
many drivers before the race ended.
"I really hate a lot of people got crashed, but it worked out for me," Williamson said.
He led Dennis Reno for the first 10 laps of the race.
Logan Boyett moved into third place on Lap 11, passing Keith English. Four laps
later, Boyett tapped Reno going into Turn 1. Reno spun, taking out Boyett and
English.
Brandon Carlson also suffered some damage, but was able to continue and was
second behind Williamson on the restart following a red-flag period.
Carlson had some hood damage and as he came out of Turn 4 following the
restart, spun in front of several cars. Hal Martin drove over Carlson's front and
almost flipped. Keith Thorpe and Ronnie Smith were also caught up in the wreck,
although Thorpe was able to continue.
Points leader Sammy McMullen slipped between the wrecked cars to take over
second place.
"What a night," McMullen said. "I couldn't believe all the cars that were tore up."
The next big incident came on Lap 28 as Vance Norland of Zachary, La., was
battling Brent Seeley of Plano, Texas, for third place. Norland tried to go low past
him in Turn 1, but spun and Thorpe smacked into him hard, bringing out the sixth
caution.
After that, it was a two-car battle between Williamson and McMullen.
On Lap 36 as they came out of Turn 4, they came up on a slow car. Williamson
went low around the car, while McMullen went high and Williamson protected his
lead to the checkered flag.
"As hard as this track is on old tires, I wasn't giving up the bottom," Williamson said.
Following McMullen in third was Martin, who managed to work his way back up,
despite almost flipping. Eric Courville was fourth and Seeley finished fifth.
"We had an interesting night," Martin said.
In was Military Appreciation NIght at the track, which saw a short delay after an
afternoon rain shower delayed practice.
Greg Young took advantage of a flat tire by leader Chris Cotto to win his first Super
Stock feature of the season.
Cotto appeared set to wrap up his fifth win of the season, but on a restart on Lap
22 appeared to slow. Young, third on the restart, zoomed to the outside and
passed Cotto for the lead in Turn 3.
Points leader Thomas Praytor spun on Lap 6, but worked his way back to second.
Mike Moore finished third, Steve Campbell was fourth and Cotto took fifth, spinning
out on the final lap.
Jim Pokrant started on the pole and led all 20 laps to win his first Sportsman
feature of the season.
It was an exciting finish as he held off Randy Thompson at the finish line.
Thompson started last in 14th place since he arrived late at the track and did not
make the heat race. He was almost side-by-side with Pokrant at the line.
Shanna Ard finished third, while Billy Hoover was fourth and Tina Davidson fifth.
Mike Kitchen won his first feature of the season, taking the 15-lap Bomber race.
Points leader Brannon Fowler started on the pole and led the first six laps until
Daniel Webber got past him on Lap 7. A caution came out on Lap 12 and on the
restart, Webber started getting loose.
Kitchen passed him for the lead, then Webber got loose again, spun and was hit by
several cars.
Kitchen held off his brother, Pete Kitchen, for the win. Danny Burns was third,
followed by Fowler and Shannon Warren was fifth.
The next action will be July 20 with the third Super Late Model Blizzard race.
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