Jackson Motor Speedway
Breazeale tops McCool, wins Cooper Memorial
By Ben Shelton
Jackson Motor SpeedwayBYRAM, Miss. (Sept. 13) — Third-starting David Breazeale of Four Corners, Miss., took the lead from Scott Slay of Clinton, Miss., on the fifth lap and led the rest of the 14th annual Ival Cooper Memorial at Jackson Motor Speedway. Breazeale earned $5,000 in the unsanctioned 50-lapper at the quarter-mile oval south of Jackson.
Slay, who started outside the front row, got the early jump on polesitter Brooks Strength as several early cautions slowed the action. Among the yellow flags was for Strength, who spun and collected several following cars. The race finally got rolling with Breazeale hounding Slay, rocketing past on the fifth lap for a lead he'd never give up.
Bub McCool of Vicksburg, Miss., who started 13th, worked his way forward and eventually took second from Slay near the race's midpoint. Breazeale stuck with the high groove while McCool ran low, and a late-race caution set up a final chance for McCool to take command. But Breazeale maintained the top spot for the victory while McCool settled for second. Chad Thrash of Meridian, Miss., who started 15th, finished third followed by Rob Litton of Alexandria, La., and Slay. Strength ended up 17th while James Ward of Lettsworth, La., who ran as high as third, finished seventh.
Notes: Breazeale drives a Jay Dickens-powered MasterSbilt sponsored by Creel Brothers, Black Warrior Auction, J&J Motorsports and Stuckey Enterprises. ... Bub McCool also finished second in the Crate Late Model feature, a $2,000-to-win event won by Mike Boland of Cuba, Ala. .... Jackson regular Brooks Strength picked up a fast time bonus from Southern Belle Apparel for his quick lap. ... Jackson has two more events in 2008 on Sept. 20 and Oct. 4.
Ival Cooper Memorial: (1) David Breazeale, (2) Bub McCool, (3) Chad Thrash, (4) Rob Litton, (5) Scott Slay, (6) Mickey Trosclair, (7) James Ward, (8) Darin Dorsey, (9) Scott Creel, (10) Waylon Morris, (11) Bill Wallace, (12) Michael Aycock, (13) Tony Barnett, (14) Chris McElhenney, (15) Dennis Duncan, (16) David Weems, (17) Brooks Strength, (18) Marlon Wild, (19) Tony Henry, (20) Jeremy Broadus, (21) David Ashley, (22) Brad Banes. Fast qualifier (among 25 cars): Strength. Consolation race winner: McCool.