Westminster Speedway
Parker captures NDRA opener at Westminster
WESTMINSTER, S.C. (March 26) — Third-starting Ron Parker of Lawndale, N.C., slipped under polesitter Timbo Mangum of Lancaster, S.C., on a late-race restart and led the rest of the season-opening NDRA Road Show event for Crate Late Models at Westminster Speedway. | Video
Parker, who fought off challenges from 17th-starting Jeff Cooke of Spartanburg, S.C., in the final laps, earned $3,000 for the 35-lap victory. Stephen Segars of Colbert, Ga., was third followed by Mangum and Greg Pilgrim of Central, S.C., who rebounded after being caught up in David McCoy's turn-four spin.
Mangum took command early, leading Dennis Franklin of Gaffney, S.C., and then Bill Morgan of Six Mile, S.C., who put heavy pressure on the leader but fell by the wayside on a lap-23 restart. Franklin regained second and briefly went ahead of Mangum in a tight battle up front.
Just after Franklin dropped back to second exiting turn two, Parker got alongside on the frontstretch, and contact between the two sent Franklin's No. 2 spinning between turns one and two on lap 31. Parker overtook Mangum on the final restart and led the rest of the way.
McCoy, who started outside the front row and faded early, ended up 16th while Franklin was disqualified for retaliating against Mangum during the final caution period. Fast qualifier David Smith of Inman, S.C., departed on lap 23 with a flat tire.
NDRA @ Westminster: (1) Ron Parker, (2) Jeff Cooke, (3) Stephen Segars, (4) Timbo Mangum, (5) Greg Pilgrim, (6) Brian Grumbles, (7) George Reece Jr., (8) Tyler Harvey, (9) Mitchell Coble, (10) Hot Rod Lamance, (11) Jody Farmer, (12) Matt Long, (13) Bill Morgan, (14) David Smith, (15) Hunter Peacock, (16) David McCoy, (17) Keith Freeman, (18) Nick Sellers, (19) Ryan Bryson, (20) Jason Pack, (21) Noel Tucker, (22) Doug Sanders, (23) Mike Davidson. Disqualified: Dennis Franklin. Fast qualifier: Smith, 17.160 seconds.
