Ownbey win
Former Cleveland Speedway Track Champion Lil” John Ownbey of Cleveland, Tn., pocketed Thursday night's $3,000 victory in the “Freedom 40” event at the Winchester (Tn.) Speedway.
The Super Late Models veteran took his career biggest win against 27 other competitors of the 40-lap special event that kicked off a busy 4th of July Holiday racing weekend.
Seventh starting Ownbey piloting the Scott Ohms Racing #74 “Harrison Transmission, RV Park Palace, Truck Service Company, Arp’s Lawn Service, Stateline Fasteners, Auto Depot, Stealth Racing Carburetors, Waffle House, All-Star Roofing, United Guttering” Race Engine Design powered GRT overtook polesitter Ronny Lee Hollingsworth of Northport Ala., just prior to halfway thru the feature and set sail the rest of the way. Hollingsworth and fellow Bama racer Tim Busha of Boaz battled for second with Busha taking the spot eventually. Ownbey would hold on despite an 11th hour yellow on lap 38 for the victory. Robert Gant set fast time in qualifying in the unsanctioned event and heat race winners included Ownbey, Busha and Tennessee’s Andy Pickelsimer. Night #2 of the holiday race weekend is Friday in nearby Brasstown, N.C., with a second $3,000 to-WIN event at Ray Cook’s place.
The weekend wraps up Saturday night in Fort Payne, Ala., with the third and final $3K event for area racers.
Results (7/3/2014) Freedom 40:
1.John Ownbey, 2.Tim Busha, 3.Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, 4.Eric Hickerson, 5.Riley Hickman, 6.Mark Fields, 7.Josh Putnam, 8.Dylan Ames, 9.Andy Pickelsimer, 10.Davis Seibers, 11.Robert Gant, 12.Joseph Faulkner, 13.Tyler Adams, 14.Lamar Scoggins, 15.Josh Johnson, 16.Matthew Summars, 17.Jeff Walker, 18.Jay Scott, 19.Jerry Ashley, 20.David Jackson, 21.D.J Hays, 22.Jay Brinkley, 23.Gwynn Newby, 24.Robert Morgan