November 25
Magnolia Motor Speedway,
Columbus, MS
Sanction: Crate Racin’ USA (Possum Town Grand Prix) - $10,000
Information provided by: Series reports (last updated November 29, 8:22 am)
Lanigan takes Possum Town Grand Prix at Magnolia
Possum Town Grand Prix
- Darrell Lanigan
- Ronnie Johnson
- Evan Ellis
- Jamey Boland
- Walker Arthur
- Colton Horner
- Matt Henderson
- Grant Pearl
- Cale Finley
- Spencer Hughes
- Steve Russell
- Marcus Minga
- Andy Picklesimer
- T.J. Brittain
- Grant Garrison
- Chad Thrash
- Kelly Schryock
- Rodney Martin
- Neil Baggett
- Scott Dedwylder
- Jeremy Shaw
- Chip Brindle
- Cory Hedgecock
- Jake Knowles
Scott Oglesby/foto-1.net
Darrell Lanigan won his first-ever feature start in Crate Late Models.
What won the race: Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., raced off the pole position to lead all 100 laps of Saturday's NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series-sanctioned Possum Town Grand Prix for a victory worth $10,000. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series regular crossed the finish line 0.913 of a second ahead of Ronnie Johnson, surviving a lap-99 slip that allowed the runner-up a final shot at victory.
Quotable: "I came down here last year with (NeSmith tour Rookie of the Year and overall runner-up) Grant Garrison, and this year, we built him a new car for next year, so I said I'd come down and try it out," winner Darrell Lanigan said. "We sold this car yesterday, so we'll go back to the shop and build him another one. This place is awesome. This is the reason we came back down here to race. The Golden Helmet NeSmith trophy is pretty different, so that will have a place in my trophy case back in Union."
Key notes: The victory was Lanigan's first-ever on the NeSmith Crate tour, which capped its 2017 season with the annual Thanksgiving weekend event. ... The 12th Possum Town Grand Prix offered a five-figure winner's purse for the second straight season. ... Lanigan, who recently won Cherokee Speedway's Blue-Gray 100 on Nov. 19, scored his seventh victory of the season paying $10,000 or more. ... Six cautions slowed the feature and 10 drivers completed 100 laps.
On the move: Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, Tenn., started 11th and finished second.
Winner's sponsors: The winning Club 29 Race Car has a Hendren Racing Engine and is sponsored by Darrell Lanigan Racing, Lanigan Construction, Got-A-Go, Michael Verst Construction, Burr Travis Racing Stables, Shakey's Pub & Grub, Hickerson & Tranter Appraisal Services, Penske Shocks, Hoosier Racing Tire and X-treme Graphics.
Points chase: Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, Tenn., is the NeSmith champion for the second straight year.
Car count: 62
Fast qualifier: Darrell Lanigan
Time: 14.321 seconds
Polesitter: Darrell Lanigan
Heat race winners: Darrell Lanigan, Scott Dedwylder, Rodney Martin, Jamey Boland, Evan Ellis, Grant Pearl
Consolation race winners: Marcus Minga, Colton Horner
Provisional starters: T.J. Brittain, Andy Picklesimer
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.