Columbus Speedway
Despite breaking shock, Wall wins King Memorial
From track reports
COLUMBUS, Miss. (April 12) — Leading just the final seven laps, Chris Wall of Holden, La., became just the second two-time winner of the James King Memorial at Columbus Speedway with a $5,000 victory. Wall, who also won the unsanctioned race in 2006, took the 16th annual event by outrunning another former winner, Wendell Wallace of Batesville, Ark., who rallied after a lap-17 tire change. “I thought I was done around lap 8 when I broke a left front shock,” Wall said, “but I just kept digging and despite the broke shock, the car was unbelievable at the end.”
Neil Baggett of Shannon, Miss., who started 19th, added another strong run at Columbus to finish third in the 64-lap feature while James Ward of Lettsworth, La., and 18th-starting Tony Knowles of Tyrone, Ga., rounded out the top five at the third-mile eastern Mississippi oval. Fast qualifier David Breazeale led the first 16 laps but was knocked out when he made hard contact with the turn-two wall, turning the lead over to Ward.
Ward, Wall and Justin McRee began battling out front after Breazeale's departure, but McRee was eliminated on lap 22 after contact with Wall, who was shuffled back on the ensuing restart behind Mike Boland and Dane Dacus. After a lap-30 restart, Ward and Dacus battled for the lead and Ward edged away through the race's middle stages. Terry English's third-place run ended on the 43rd lap with engine problems, resetting the frontrunners with Ward, Dacus and Wall in the top three. The battle up front intensified with Wall taking second from Dacus on the 48th lap. Ward and Wall began a tight battle for the lead, and Wall took the point for good on lap 57 while Ward lost spots to Wallace and Baggett in the closing laps.
Notes: Wall's MasterSbilt Race Car has a Wall 2 Wall Performance engine with sponsorship from C&M Gator Farm, GVS Racing, Gator Trax Boats and Stuckey Enterprises. ... The race was sponsored by Larry Clark Chevrolet. .. Runner-up Wendell Wallace was fresh off a Friday night victory at North Alabama Speedway where he earned $2,500 in the unsanctioned Shoals Shootout. ... David Breazeale picked up $300 from Rod's Auto Sales for his quick time. ... The event drew 27 drivers from seven states. ... Freddy Smith, the only other two-time winner of the race, wasn't in attendance. ... Among drivers failing to make the starting grid: Daniel Brown, Stacey Caldwell and Hall of Famer Jerry Inmon. ... Terry English of Benton, Ky,, who finished 13th in the Super Late Model feature, watched teenaged son Tanner win the track's Crate feature.
James King Memorial: (1) Chris Wall, (2) Wendell Wallace, (3) Neil Baggett, (4) James Ward, (5) Tony Knowles, (6) Dane Dacus, (7) Anthony Burroughs, (8) Dewaine Hottinger, (9) Johnny Lancaster, (10) Keith House, (11) Rick Rickman, (12) Kyle Beard, (13) Terry English, (14) Jason Cliburn, (15) Anthony Rushing, (16) Mike Boland, (17) Bub McCool, (18) Justin McRee, (19) David Breazeale, (20) Jeff Wells Jr., (21) Dean Carpenter, (22) Jack Sullivan, (23) Jon Kirby, (24) Virgil Taylor. Fast qualifier (among 27 cars): Breazeale, 13.63 seconds.
