Photo Courtesy of Odell Turner/PBO Media Productions
Parker takes the win in Ken Ten opener
By Rob Spires/ Ken Ten PRCORBIN, Ken. (June 5)- A hot day at the track turned into a hot night of action as the Ken Ten Pro Late Model series opened its 2010 season with the Some Gave All 100 presented by American Mortgage Lenders at Corbin Speedway. Roger Parker, from nearby London, Ken., took the victory from the pole, leading all 100 laps of the race. That stat is misleading; however, as Parker never had more than a three-car-length lead, and had to hold off multiple challengers en route to victory.
“This was an unbelievable race,” Parker said. “The Ken Ten series brings a good group of cars every time, so it’s a career highlight to be able to beat those guys.”
Davey Coble, from Madison, Tenn., had the AR Bodies quick qualifying time of the night, but pulled a 2 in the re-draw for starting positions, putting him on the outside of the front row. As the green flag dropped, Coble was able to move around Parker to take the lead down the backstretch. That lead disappeared, however, when Coble got loose in turn 4 of the tight quarter-mile track. Parker slipped into the lead as several cars worked their way under Coble.
On lap 17, Blake Hillard went for a spin in turn 3. As the cars slowed for the caution, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place cars of Chad Willis, Robbie Brown, and Coble all made contact on the backstretch. The incident ended Willis’ night, though it did give him the AR Bodies hard luck award. Brown and Coble only received cosmetic damage, and continued in the race.
As the cars lined up for the restart, Brian Royalty inherited 2nd position, pulling alongside Parker. On the restart Royalty challenged Parker, moving up to his door, before eventually having to relinquish the position and fall into second.
Royalty put up ferocious challenges on each of the next two restarts, but each time Parker was able to use the inside line to his advantage and slide in front of Royalty to maintain the lead.
As the cars worked through turn 2 on a lap-66 restart, the 3rd place car of Brown made contact with Royalty, sending him spinning into the infield. Brown was put at the rear of the field for his part in the incident. Jason Jones inherited the 2nd position as the next in a line of drivers to challenge Parker.
On the restart, Jones was able to hold Pace with Parker for the first lap, but got loose in turn 2 the next time around and caught Parker in the right-rear quarter panel. Both drivers got out of shape, but were able to keep their cars pointed in the right direction, though Jones did fall out of contention as he fought to keep his car under control.
While the leaders were beating on each other, Brown was quickly working his way back to the front. With the help of cautions for a couple of minor incidents, Brown found himself in 2nd as the race neared conclusion.
On the final restart of the race, on lap 82, Brown was lined up next to Parker and battled on his outside for numerous laps, but as it had all night, the inside line proved to be the quick way around the track, and Parker was able to withstand yet another challenge.
Parker managed to briefly stretch his lead, but by lap 98 Brown had caught up to his rear bumper. However, Parker proved to be too strong and Brown had to settle for 2nd, one-car-length behind Parker. Jones, Coble, and Tim Hollis rounded out the top five. Seventh place finisher Gregg Carby gained six positions during the race and won the whiplashgear.com hard charger award.
“These double-file restarts were intense,” said an ecstatic Parker following the race. “It was all I could do to hold them off. Every time something would happen to one of them, another one would come along that was just as tough. After (Jones) got into me, something wasn’t quite right, but we were still good enough to hold them off.”
Parker was quick to point out that his efforts as the driver were only a part of the puzzle and that his crew was the reason that he was able to win the race.
“My crew is awesome, they deserve all the credit,” he said. “I especially want to thank Steve Brock, my brother Benny Parker, and Ritchie Alexander,” Parker said.
The next stop for the Ken Ten series is the high banks of the Salem Speedway in Indiana, where the action is sure to be just as intense as what Corbin Speedway fans were treated to in the opening round!
Final Results:
1. Roger Parker
2. Robbie Brown
3. Jason Jones
4. Davey Coble
5. Tim Hollis
6. Marty Taylor
7. Gregg Carby
8. Blake Hillard
9. Mike Masters
10. Brian Royalty
11. Steve Brock
12. Jerrod Foley
13. Hunter Willis
14. Mike Bargo
15. Chad Willis
16. Wayne Jones
Point Standings:
1. Roger Parker- 120
2. Robbie Brown- 116
3. Jason Jones- 112
3. Davey Coble- 112
5. Tim Hollis- 104
6. Marty Taylor- 100
7. Gregg Carby- 96
8. Blake Hillard- 92
9. Mike Masters- 88
10. Brian Royalty- 84
