POSTED 4-21-09 THE NEW KEN-TEN PRO LATE MODEL SERIES WAS A SUCCESS

KEN-TEN PRO LATE MODEL SERIES

Photo by Odell Turner

The weather forecast called for rain on Saturday night. Saturday night was also the debut for the new Ken-Ten Pro Late Model Series. The rain held off and the stars came out. Local driving stars from three states, Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana. Twenty six cars where on hand for the first race of the new series at Highland Rim Speedway. Greenbrier, TN. Davey Coble set fast time and was dq’d in post qualifying tech, however Coble was able to bolt on four new tires and start shotgun on the field. Mike Barrett gets the ARP Bodies fast time award with a lap of 12:982. Mike rolled a five for the invert putting Robbie Brown on the pole. The first caution of the race was for driver Tony Ussery as he got jacked up and into turn one wall. The race restarted as the green flag waves and driver Robbie Brown leads until lap 15 as the yellow comes out for Hunter “The Hitman” Willis who hit the wall. This caused Kevin Willis to spin his car. The restart had Robbie leading until the caution flew on lap 25 for Mike Barrett (ARP Bodies fast time award) hitting and climbing the backstretch wall. On the restart Robbie Brown keeps the lead, Ricky Sanford 2nd and Chad Willis moves from his starting spot of 6th to 3rd. Lap 70 we had a lead change, Ricky Sanford takes first and Robbie slips back to 2nd with Chad Willis 3rd where they ran until lap 77, the caution is out for Josh Brock one of the rookie contenders with a flat right rear. On lap 82 Robbie Brown in 2nd hits turn one wall hard with brake failure, killing the front clip. Robbie stated that it was the hardest hit he had ever taken!! Lap 93 restart and Ricky Sanford is 1st, Chad Willis 2nd, Austin Brawley (R) 3rd, Jason Jones 4th, Josh Byrns 5th and Sammy Sanders 6th. Lap 98 caution comes out again with Kevin Willis against the turn two wall and Chris Harmon in turn three with a flat tire (right front). Last five laps must be ran under green, so they restarted the race and Ricky Sanford took the checkers. Ricky gets the win for car owners Jimmy Rippy and David Sanford. Ricky had a Renegade Race Cars chassis , ARP Body, Carrera shocks and a 604 crate engine. Ricky is sponsored by Greenbrier Auto Sales, Rippy Masonary and ARP Bodies. Renegade Race Cars Long Haul Award went to Brian Royalty. B & D Landscaping Hard Charger Award goes to Davey Coble, 26th to 7th. DBV Properties Rookie of the Race went to Austin Brawley driving for Bobby Hamilton, Jr. finished in the 3rd spot. ARP Bodies Hardest Hit Award went to Robbie Brown, he’ll need a bunch of parts. Overall it was a very good debut for the new series, Ken-Ten Pro Late Models.