Friendship Motor Speedway
Hoover pulls off $2,000 surprise at Friendship
From track reports
ELKIN, N.C. (Aug. 16) — Ronnie Hoover of China Grove, N.C., scored an upset at Friendship Motor Speedway with a $2,000 victory in a 40-lap Super Late Model special.
Fast qualifier and polesitter Gary Mabe jumped into the early lead while fellow front-row starter Justin Labonte slipped back to fifth in the early going. Ray Tucker of Greensboro, N.C., charged to the front to challenge Mabe, but as the leaders battled side-by-side, a slower car that spun collected Tucker, ending his night.
Mabe resumed the lead, but Hoover was on his tail. Mabe eventually dropped back with Hoover taking command as G.R. Smith looked for an opening. Noel Tucker and Brian Moody battled for third behind them, but Tucker, spun in turn three to fall from contention.
Smith worked his way past Hoover for a few laps, but Hoover regain command and raced to the finish for his first victory of 2008. Smith was second followed by Moody, Mabe and Labonte.
Coca-Cola Classic: (1) Ronnie Hoover, (2) G.R. Smith, (3) Brian Moody, (4) Gary Mabe, (5) Justin Labonte, (6) Barry Arnold, (7) Dan Breuer, (8) Greg Williams, (9) Tommy Taylor, (10) Mickey Flinchum, (11) Ricky Neal, (12) Raymond Brown, (13) Raymond Pennington, (14) Bruce Hall, (15) Tommy Jones, (16) Keith Walker, (17) Ronnie Poole, (18) Ronnie Boykin, (19) Noel Tucker, (20) Chris Meadows, (21) Wayne Quesinberry, (22) Ray Tucker, (23) Gary East, (24) Randy Harmon. Scratched: Jimmy McCormick.
Correction: In a previous version of this story, the winning purse was incorrectly listed as $5,000. It was $2,000
