November 20
Needmore Speedway,
Norman Park, GA
Sanction: Crate Racin’ USA (Early Bird) - $10,000
Information provided by: Staff and series reports (last updated November 21, 8:42 am)
Needmore sweep gives Thomas CRUSA title
Early Bird
- Jimmy Thomas
- Cole Exum
- Dillon Brown
- Tanner Collins
- Jeremy Faircloth
- Joseph Brown
- Clay Harris
- Jake Knowles
- Matt Henderson
- Kyle Bronson
- Kyle Bridges
- Mark Whitener
- Henry Carter
- Jason Welshan
- Jonah Bozeman
- Colton Leyendecker
- Kyle Van Sickle
- David Whitener
- Mike Combs
- Cody Stevens
- Pratt Cooper
- Jordy Nipper
- Richie Stephens
- Troy Dixon
- Jeremy Pate
presented by
Brian McLeod/Dirt Scenes
CRUSA champion Jimmy Thomas celebrates his Needmore sweep.
What won the race: Taking the lead from Richie Stephens with an inside move in lapped traffic on lap 11, second-starting Jimmy Thomas of Phenix City, Ala., paced the final 39 circuits and cruised to win Saturday's 10th annual Early Bird 50 at Needmore Speedway, collecting $10,000. Thomas scored his fifth Crate Racin' USA Series victory of the season and secured the series crown.
Quotable: "We got one bad piece right here and I'm glad it's back finally. My dad told me a few weeks ago that we need to rebuild it, and I'm glad we did," Thomas said. "This is unreal, I didn't think I was gonna win the points. I'll tell you that. I just wanted to come in here and worry about myself today, don't worry about no points, let's just go out and try to win this race and that mindset really put us here."
Key notes: Thomas, who also won Friday's main event, will receive $10,000 for his championshipo. ... Cole Exum of Valdosta, Ga., claimed the runner-up position, 2.117 seconds behind Thomas. … Winner of the last three Early Bird events, Joseph Brown of Columbus, Ga., finished sixth. ... Entering Needmore leading tour points, Jason Welshan of Maryville, Tenn., suffered a flat right rear tire on lap 33 and was only able to recover to finish 14th. ... After leading the first 10 laps, polesitter Richie Stephens of Phenix City, Ala., suffered mechanical trouble while running second on lap 29, relegating him to finish 23rd. ... Saturday's feature, CRUSA’s fourth-ever visit to Needmore, was slowed by two incidents and lasted 21 minutes, with 19 competitors completing all 50 laps.
On the move: Kyle Bronson of Brandon, Fla., started 15th and finished 10th.
Winner's sponsors: Thomas drives a Scorpion Chassis sponsored by Five Star Chrysler Dodge, High Roller Recovery, Sugar Land and Wimmers Wrecker Service.
Points chase: Before Needmore Saturday: 1. Jason Welshan (1,690); 2. Jimmy Thomas (1,684); 3. Jake Knowles (1,646); 4. Tanner Collins (1,564); 5. Mike Combs (1,286).
Current weather: Scattered Clouds, 59°F
Car count: 40
Fast qualifier: Richie Stephens
Time: 15.213 seconds
Polesitter: Richie Stephens
Heat race winners: Richie Stephens, Dillon Brown, Cole Exum, Jimmy Thomas
Consolation race winners: Henry Carter, Jordy Nipper
Provisional starters: Mike Combs, Troy Dixon, Cody Stevens
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.
