BEN TUNNY BAGS TITLE AND THOMPSON MEMORIAL FIGURE 8

Sponsor Links

It was the 41st championship night Saturday August 24th for the Brown’s Oil Service Late Model division. And for the first time ever, the Sonny Thompson Memorial was the season decider. Point leader Ben Tunny set quick time in qualifications at 17.014 seconds then drew a challenging 15-car invert for the starting lineup. Defending championship night race winner Chad Sizemore led initial 41-circuits of the 100-lapper before steering damage ended his day. The big moment early came via crossover contact between Bobby Whitaker and Eddie VanMeter.

Tommy St John grabbed the lead off the restart and was soon challenged by Mike Hadley Jr and Tunny. The trio worked through heavy lapped traffic nearing the final third. St John and one of those machines made contact giving Ben the opening to slide to first. He went on to win his third career Thompson race and take home his second Speedrome track championship. Brother Austin Tunny finished second in the race followed by St John, VanMeter, Hadley, Mark Tunny, Jeffrey Shackelford, Brad Brooks, Mike Riddle Jr, and Steve Durham

The Shelbyville Auto Parts Thundercars had a spiced-up feature purse thanks to the series sponsor. Dallas Green took home the checkered flag and the $1,000 check besting Nate Canter, Joe Gonder Jr, Dale Harper, and Herbie Conrad. Jordan Gonder and Billy Bartholomew won heats. The Last Chance Wrecker Factory Front Wheel Drive main saw point leader Nigel Peters rally late to triumph over Barry Turner, Jeremy Tunny, Andrew Brown, and Don VanValkenburg III. Prelim winners were Jess Holliday, Tylar Brown, Turner, Peters, and Jimmie Burkhead. The Sherley Unlimited Snow Company Stocks saw point leader Larry Hahn top a podium that included former champions Doug Greig and Greg Snow. Heat winners Jordan Han and Robert Fox Jr rounded out the top five.

Sponsor Links