Tanner English of Benton, Ky. dominated the last half of the "Labor Day Extravaganza 50" Saturday night at Fort Payne Motor Speedway, winning the $4,000 XL prize money for the Unsanctioned Super Late Model Main Event.
English gained a lot of new fans (during a UCRA early evening Autograph Session) many of who watched his father dominate dirt tracks for 40+ years.
Twenty teams entered the event, including track record holder Jadon Frame of Winchester, Tn., the defending race winner last September. Fast time of the night would be Jason Heitt of Oxford, Al.(13:535) - just one-tenths off Frame's (13:480) track record. Heats went down with all winners coming from the pole in Hiett, English and Sam Seawright of Rainsville, Al.
The feature was a "Whooliebooger" to get started, as the Front Row Joe's couldn't get it done and hence regulated Seawright and Lil John Ownbey to the front row. Ownbey strutted past Seawright from the "Cat-Birds Seat" and began to look like the dominate racer. Seawright would challenge til English found the outside line to his liking. At nearly halfway, English would get by Ownbey to hold off the rest to the checkers. Behind the # 96 "Saey Motors, M&S Concrete, Pope Construction, Jackson Auto Auction" sponsored Rocket/Jay Dickens Race Engine powered machine was Ownbey, Seawright, Dillon Tidmore and Hiett.
UCRA 602/Sportsman didn't disappoint as local racer Danny Whitten # 33, of Gadsden, won a "Psycho Thriller" 30 Lap $800 A-Main. Ryan King had it won until Whitten and he collided on a lap 27 restart. King drilled his innocent accuser 2nd running and UCRA 602/Sportsman points leader Colten Jackson, destroying both cause and causing an official banishment of King, as apprised by Dekaln Co. Sheriffs Deputies on the scene. Racing resumed with Whitten shown as leader and able to lead the final three circuits ahead of last week's UCRA 602/Sportsman winner Matt Steward of Ooltewah.
UCRA Crate Late Models return to action Monday Night, Labor Day, in nearby Brasstown, NC at Ray Cook's Tri-County Race Track for a $2,000 to-WIN Round # 7 of the $16,000 Championship Season.