Green Valley Speedway
McDowell earns $5,000 for Bama Bash victory
By Todd Turner
DirtonDirt.com chief writer
Brian Smith (115) and William Thomas (22) on the first lap. (DirtonDirt.com)
GLENCOE, Ala. (Feb. 24) — Dipping his toe into the crate Late Model pool, former World 100 winner Dale McDowell of Rossville, Ga., took the lead from Brian Smith on the sixth lap at Green Valley Speedway and raced to a time-limit-shortened 27-lap victory in the Bama Bash. McDowell, who started third, pulled away after frequent restarts and never allowed another veteran driver, Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, Tenn., to make a serious challenge.
Johnson, who started inside the third row, settled for second with Thomas of Phenix City, Ala., Eddie Rickman of Columbus, Miss., and John Llewellyn of Knoxville, Tenn., rounded out the top five in the event originally scheduled for 50 laps. Smith, last year's Limited Late Model champion at Green Valley, ended up 18th after being caught up in a frontstretch accident.
The race was plagued by a several cautions for a variety of wrecks, including a lap-26 accident when Gathan Burns got upside down in turn two in a multi-car collision. The race was red-flagged but no one was injured.
Finish: (1) Dale McDowell, (2) Ronnie Johnson, (3) William Thomas, (4) Eddie Rickman, (5) John Llewellyn, (6) Don Jenkins, (7) Shane Hmeil, (8) Glen Nix, (9) Jason Wilson, (10) Jeff Smith, (11) Blake Stewart, (12) Don Farmer, (13) Jim David, (14) Ben McCreary, (15) Doug Stevens, (16) Dale Thurman, (17) Johnny Stokes, (18) Brian Smith, (19) Gathan Burns, (20) John Ownbey, (21) Dillon Crim, (22) Kasey Hall, (23) Jeff Fortner, (24) Chuck Padgett, (25) Brian Rickman.
