Lancaster Speedway
Parker earns $3,000 for Carolina Crown Crate win
Ron Parker celebrates his $3,000 NDRA victory at Lancaster. (DirtonDirt.com)
LANCASTER, S.C. (April 7) — Reigning NDRA Heintz Bros. Performance Road Show champion Ron Parker of Lawndale, N.C., added another major Crate Late Model win to resume Saturday night at Lancaster Speedway, picking up a $3,000 victory during the Crate Late Model portion of the inaugural Carolina Crown.
Parker, who won 23 NDRA-sanctioned events last season on his way to earning the organization’s weekly and touring series titles, led the entire distance of the 30-lapper, fending off multiple challenges from Dennis Franklin of Gaffney, S.C., on his way to winning in front of a large crowd at the half-mile oval.
Franklin pulled alongside Parker a number of times throughout the race with the two racing side-by-side for a number of laps. But Franklin faded in the closing laps, allowing Dan Breuer of Troutman, N.C., to overtake him in a close finish for the runner-up position.
Franklin settled for third with Donnie Austin of Gable, S.C., fourth and Anthony Sanders of Spartanburg, S.C., fifth on a night when Scott Autry of Fayetteville, N.C., earned $20,000 for winning the event’s 75-lap Super Late Model feature.
With his victory, Parker took over the points lead on the NDRA tour, which is slated to compete again until a $3,000-to-win event Oct. 21 at Carolina Speedway in Gastonia, N.C.
Among the race’s cautions was a scary incident for hometown driver Brandy Baker, whose car went up in flames. Track safety crews extinguished the fire without any injuries.
NDRA @ Carolina: (1) Ron Parker, (2) Dan Breuer, (3) Dennis Franklin, (4) Donnie Austin, (5) Anthony Sanders, (6) Timbo Mangum, (7) Steve Cook, (8) Gib Gibbons, (9) Jeff Graves, (10) Chris Hargett, (11) Kevin Wilson, (12) Michael Brown, (13) Ted McDaniel, (14) Tler Piercy, (15) Brandon Blackmon, (16) Jeff Smith, (17) Cameron Norris, (18) Travis Steele, (19) Brandy Baker. Fast qualifier: Brown.
