Pena passed LaJoie To Take Checkered Flag

By Reese Fant Contributing Writer

As race car drivers from across these United States visited Greenville-Pickens Speedway to race in the Kevin Whitaker 140 race, Sergio Pena, out of Winchester, Va., brought the fastest car and took home the top prize.

While Pena only improved his position one spot in the 140 laps, the results were tremendous as he started on the front row, outside.

Pena passed Corey LaJoie on lap 60 for the lead, and was never headed. The last 100 laps of the reace was run without a caution. Brett Moffitt, who won the spring race here in this division, finished second. Chaes Elliott, who started third, faded to fifth at one point, but came back to finish third. Alex Bowman was fourth and Mas Gresham took fifth.

Darrelle Wallace was sixth, followed by Dylan Presselt, Brandon Gdovic, Eddie McDonald, and Matt DiBenedetto to complete the top ten.

Jeremy Burns took three-quarters of the Late-Model stock main event to take the top spot, while Anthony Anders was second and track championship points leader Randy Porter finifhed third. With only three laps to go, Toby Porter and Kenneth Headen were involved in a racing incident, and Headen spun. Trey Gibson could not avoid the collision and hit Headen.

On the restart, Anders got ahead of Burns, with Toby Porter being ahead of Randy Porter. But on the checkered flag lap, Burns got alongside Anders in the third turn and took the victory.

Randy Porter was up to third, with Scott Bishop fourth and Toby Porter fifth.

Randy Porter went into the race 48 points ahead of Headen, and goes into the 'Championship Night' Twin 50's scheduled for next week, with a commanding lead. All he has to do is start the Twin 50's main events to clinch his third championship.

We have been working hard on our car, testing, and our team has things worked out pretty well. We've been successful this last couple of races. I have been wanting to drive in a K & N East series race, and I wish I could have driven in their race here today, but we will continue to work hard and maybe one day we can race with those guys."

In the Trucks race, Kenneth Headen started third, but came up to take the lead on lap six, holding the top spot for the rest of the race. Headen has dominated the division all year and Saturday night was his 17th victory of the season. Randy Ballew was second and Gene Burnette was third. Michael Altop finished fourth and Randy Culpepper was fifth. Jamie Altop hit the third turn wall hard with one lap remaining and finished sixth.

Ricky Stephens took the win in the Charger main event, leading through several caution periods and jumping back out front as soon as the green flag flew. Bryan Davis was second, with James Johnson, Chuckie Greer and Danny Gilbert rounding out the tove five.

Travis Cox took the win in the first Renegade main, with Jeremy Drummond in second. Terry Hawthorne finished third, followed by Ryan Walker and Larry Nabors.     

In the second Renegade main event, Kyle Ballew picked up the win as he had a sizable lead over  Eric Stokes. Alex Guthrie was third, as Doug Miller and Jamie Burton rounded out the top five.