Whynot Motorsports Park
Boland earns $5,000 for repeat victory at Whynot
By Roby Helm
NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series
Boland crosses the finish line. (customcreationsgraphics.com)
MERIDIAN, Miss. (Aug. 29-30) — Polesitter Mike Boland of Cuba, Ala., won his second straight Labor Day Weekend Bash 75 for the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series at Whynot Motorsports Park. Boland held off hometown driver Jim McDuffie to lead all 75 laps and pick up the $5,000 top prize. Boland scored a sweep of weekend action by setting fast time, winning a heat race and grabbing the main event on a weekend when three Boland-designed Trak-Star cars finished among the top four.
“It was a great race because I knew Jim McDuffie was all over me late in the race,” Boland said. “I hated to see that caution flag with two laps to go, but everything worked out for us."
McDuffie, who started outside the front row, put heavy pressure on Boland in the closing laps in lapped traffic, but had to settle for second. Derrick Rainey of Powder Springs, Ga., was third followed by Cliff Williams of Star, Miss., and NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series points leader Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, Ga., who started 12th.
Notes: Boland's Trak-Star Chassis is sponsored by The Strength Center. ... Brindle has 1,144 series points to lead Larry Boutwell (1,048) and Scott Knowles (1,038). ... Heavy rain showers on Saturday night delayed racing two hours at the Rodney Wing-promoted track. ... More than $5,000 was collected for the American Cancer Society with race fans bidding for rides with Wing, Boland, McDuffie and Lucky Keeton in the Ride for Life two-seat car. Boland’s ride brought a record high bid of $2,500. ... Up next for the series is a Sept. 20-21 weekend in Alabama at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga and Fort Payne Motor Speedway.
NeSmith @ Whynot: (1) Mike Boland, (2) Jim McDuffie, (3) Derrick Rainey, (4) Cliff Williams, (5) Chip Brindle, (6) Larry Murphy, (7) Larry Boutwell, (8) Randy Boyd, (9) Scott Knowles, (10) Eric Cooley, (11) Talbert Goldman, (12) Blake Stewart, (13) Steve Bryan, (14) Hunter Peacock, (15) Chris Tays, (16) Stephen Brantley, (17) Danny Joe Thomas, (18) Lucky Keeton, (19) Jason Hiett, (20) Chad Thrash, (21) Jeffrey Walker, (22) Frank Ingram, (23) Rick Hasselle, (24) Curtis Cline. Fast qualifier (among 50 cars): Boland, 13.615 seconds. Heat race winners: Boland, McDuffie, Rainey, Murphy. Consolation winners: Cooley, Keeton. Provisional starters: Tays, Peacock.
