EASTABOGA, Ala. (Jan. 11) — Coldwater, Ala.’s Tim Roszell counts Talladega Short Track as his home racetrack. Sunday evening the reigning track Super Late Model champion added another title to his resume, as he led flag-to-flag for a $6,000 victory and his first career Ice Bowl triumph.
Picking up a win in Saturday’s first heat race, Roszell started on the pole of the 50-lap event, outdueling the 2014 Ice Bowl champion William Thomas of Phenix City, Ala., to make his way to victory lane.
“We just had a really, really good car from the first lap and the car never gave up, except at the end when we had that last caution, my brakes went out,” Roszell said after the race. “They were real spongy, real low to the floor, and I just sat up there long enough for them to build back up and we was good to go.”
The race was slowed by four cautions, but Roszell used the yellow flags to his advantage, charging ahead of the field and besting Williams and third-place finisher Riley Hickman of Ooltewah, Tenn., at the checkers. Third-starting Donald McIntosh of Dawsonville, Ga., and fifth-starting Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville, Tenn., tangled across the finish line, finishing fourth and fifth.
“I guess the cautions played perfect, because about the time I’d catch lapped cars, the caution would come out,” Roszell said. “You never know what’s going to happen with lapped cars. You can’t get off the bottom down here. If you get off the bottom, you usually go to the back. So I guess everything worked out good for me.
“It’s kind of like a highlight of your career. Being raised around here, 10 minutes from the track, and you race here all the time … it’s kind of like winning the Super Bowl.”
While back-to-back Ice Bowl victories would have made for an ideal ending to his weekend, Thomas was pleased with his runner-up finish. Though he was never able to seriously challenge Roszell for the lead, Thomas held on to his second-place starting spot.
“We haven’t been really good all weekend, we’ve been struggling a little bit with this new car,” Thomas said. “But it’s been getting better and better. For us to come home second starting on the outside, that’s pretty much a win for us coming here. We’re happy with it.
“We’re consistent for sure. We’d like to win, but we have a little work to do and we all know that. So we’ll work it, and come back to the next race and see if we can’t win that one.”
Making a last-minute decision to travel to Alabama for the Ice Bowl, seventh-starting Hickman said he was glad to come away with a third-place finish, especially after a first-lap tangle sent him pit side with a flat tire.
“We weren’t supposed to be coming here,” Hickman said. “We were supposed to be going on a cruise. My work schedule kind of changed there on Friday, so we ended up coming down here Saturday morning and running this deal, so we weren’t really prepared to come. But I’m glad we did. We came and got a top-five and that’s a good start for our year.
“We got a flat there, but we got it took care of before it went green and we hadn’t made a lap, so they gave us our spot back and went on from there. It bent something in the front end, but you’ll about have to drive through somebody to pass them here. I’m just happy to come out with it rolling.”
The first of four cautions flew before the first lap was completed when Eric Cooley of Fulton, Miss., spun in turn two, collecting a handful of cars. Frank Ingram of Woodstock, Ga., drew a caution on lap 16 when he slowed in turn three with a right-rear flat. A yellow flew on lap 28 when Cory Hedgecock of Loudon, Tenn., spun in turn three. The final caution fell on lap 42 when Ross Martin of Talladega, Ala., and Jason Hiett of Oxford, Ala., tangled in turn two.
Other feature results
Crate Late Model finish (40 laps): Jason Welshan, Ray Cook, Chase Edge, Justin McRee, Michael Page, Grant Pearl, Jamey Smith, Logan Yates, Justin Shipley, Cruz Skinner, Mark Page, Ashley Newman, Mason Oberkramer, Jordan Horton, Kyle Black, Kenny Collins, Jimmy Elliot, Jerry Coffman, Kevin Burke, David Seibers, Matt Larson, Cody Ballard, Kyle Clifton, Mike McConnell, Elbert McCullough
Limited Late Model finish (30 laps): Scottie Pritchett, Adam Cummings, Andy Picklesimer, Dustin Stewart, Chris Beck, Randy Gifford, Tod Hernandez, Mark Haddon, Justin Angle, Jammie Gowers, Michael Page, Henry Hanger, Jerry Coffman, Justin Owens, Chris Fennell, Dewayne Cason, Aaron Wilson, Doyle Manley, Dustin Golden, Ryan Law, Dallas Cooper, Parrish Duncan, Clyde Petty, Jay Schiller
Sunday's consolation race results
First consolation: Cass Fowler, Jeff Smith, Mark Bangs, Chris Jones, Joe Denby, Dustin Nobbe, Justin Litchford. Scratched: Brandon Williams, Larry Greer, Jerry Ashley, Andy Morris, Eric Granger
Second consolation: Jason Hiett, Brian Smith, Jamie Oliver, Caleb Ashby, Bobby Lowe, Steve Kirk Dean Carpenter, Andy Strandridge. Scratched: Brian Smith, Red Farmer, Scott Groves, Joey Standridge
Third consolation: Todd Morrow, Josh Adkins, Ray Cook, Skip Freeman, Mike McConnell, Tony Morris, Jonathan Rowan. Scratched: Jason Wilson, Danny Peoples, Forrest Gifford, Jerry Trotter
Consolation race lineups
12 laps; top two transfer
First consolation
Row 1: Mark Bangs, Justin Litchford
Row 2: Jeff Smith, Chris Jones
Row 3: Joe Denby, Cass Fowler
Row 4: Brandon Williams, Larry Greer
Row 5: Jerry Ashley, Dustin Nobbe
Row 6: Andy Morris, Eric Granger
Second consolation
Row 1: Jason Hiett, Brian Smith
Row 2: Caleb Ashby, Andy Standridge
Row 3: Jamie Oliver, Brian Smith
Row 4: Dean Carpenter, Red Farmer
Row 5: Steve Kirk, Bobby Lowe
Row 6: Scott Groves, Joey Standridge
Third consolation
Row 1: Todd Morrow, Josh Adkins
Row 2: Skip Freeman, Ray Cook
Row 3: Jason Wilson, Mike McConnell
Row 4: Danny Peoples, Jonathan Rowan
Row 5: Forrest Gifford, Jerry Trotter
Row 6: Tony Morris
Saturday's heat race results
10 laps; top three transfer
First heat: Tim Roszell, Riley Hickman, Tim Busha, Mark Bangs, Jeff Smith, Joe Denby, Brandon Williams, Jerry Ashley
Second heat: William Thomas, Aaron Ridley, Frank Ingram, Jason Hiett, Caleb Ashby, Jamie Oliver, Dean Carpenter, Steve Kirk
Third heat: Donald McIntosh, Ted Lackey, Mack McCarter, Todd Morrow, Skip Freeman, Jason Wilson, Danny Peoples Forrest Gifford, Tony Morris
Fourth heat: Eric Cooley, Charles Zimmerman, Lavon Sparks, Justin Litchford, Cass Fowler, Chris Jones, Larry Greer, Dustin Nobbe, Eric Granger
Fifth heat: Billy Ogle Jr., Jason Welshan, Cory Hedgecock, Brian Smith, Andy Strandridge, Brian Smith, Bobby Lowe, Red Farmer
Sixth heat: Ross Martin, David Brannon, Luke Hoffner, Josh Adkins, Ray Cook, Mike McConnell, Jonathan Rowan
Heat race lineups
First heat
Row 1: Tim Roszell, Riley Hickman
Row 2: Tim Busha, Joe Denby
Row 3: Mark Bangs, Jeff Smith
Row 4: Jerry Ashley, Brandon Williams
Row 5: Andy Morris
Second heat
Row 1: William Thomas, Aaron Ridley
Row 2: Caleb, Frank Ingram
Row 3: Jason Hiett, Steve Kirk
Row 4: Jamie Oliver, Dean Carpenter
Row 5: Scott Groves
Third heat
Row 1: Donald McIntosh, Mack McCarter
Row 2: Ted Lackey, Todd Morrow
Row 3: Danny Peoples, Skip Freeman
Row 4: Jason Wilson, Forrest Gifford
Fourth heat
Row 1: Eric Cooley, Charles Zimmerman
Row 2: Lavon Sparks, Justin Litchford
Row 3: Chris Jones, Cass Fowler
Row 4: Larry Greer, Dustin Nobbe
Row 5: Eric Granger
Fifth heat
Row 1: Billy Ogle Jr., Cory Hedgecock
Row 2: Jason Welshan, Brian Smith
Row 3: Andy Strandridge, Brian Smith
Row 4: Joey Strandridge, Red Farmer
Row 5: Bobby Lowe
Sixth heat
Row 1: Ross Martin, Luke Hoffner
Row 2: David Brannon, Josh Adkins
Row 3: Mike McConnell, Ray Cook
Row 4: Jonathan Rowan, Jerry Trotter
Time trial results
Driver (car no.), hometown, time
Group 1
Tim Roszell (6), Coldwater, Ala., 14.730
Riley Hickman (R1), Ooltewah, Tenn., 14.766
Tim Busha (15), Boaz, Ala., 14.838
Joe Denby (27D), Tullahoma, Tenn., 14.899
Mark Bangs (376), Rainbow City, Ala., 14.974
Jeff Smith (17S), Dalton, Ga., 15.126
Jerry Ashley (7X), Elora, Tenn., 15.310
Brandon Williams (95), Crossville, Tenn., 15.338
Scratched: Andy Morris (40), Canton, Ga.
Group 2
William Thomas (19), Phenix City, Ala., 14.703
Aaron Ridley (81), Chatsworth, Ga., 14.836
Caleb Ashby (61), Cunningham, Tenn., 14.860
Frank Ingram (F9), Woodstock, Ga., 15.068
Jason Hiett (1), Oxford, Ala., 15.095
Steve Kirk (42), Munford, Ala., 15.146
Jamie Oliver (38), Murphy N.C., 15.167
Dean Carpenter (51), Coldwater, Miss., 15.645
Scratched: Scott Groves (311), Canton, Ga.
Group 3:
Donald McIntosh (7), Dawsonville, Ga., 14.390
Mack McCarter (51X), Gatlinburg, Tenn., 14.496
Ted Lackey (41), Munford, Ala., 14.705
Todd Morrow (1T), Chattanooga, Tenn., 14.713
Danny Peoples (11), Margaret, Ala., 14.938
Skip Freeman (15X), Pell City, Ala., 15.208
Jason Wilson (22), Margaret, Ala., 15.246
Forrest Gifford (2), Flintville, Tenn., 15.354
Tony Morris (10J), Murfeesboro, Tenn., 15.479
Group 4
Eric Cooley (33B), Fulton, Miss., 14.564
Charles Zimmerman (93), Cunningham, Tenn., 14.610
Lavon Sparks (11S), Phenix City, Ala., 14.619
Justin Litchford (4), Tullahoma, Tenn., 14.668
Chris Jones (46), Alabaster, Ala., 14.737
Cass Fowler (9), Alworth, Ga., 14.792
Larry Greer (9G), Bowling Green, Ky., 15.124
Dustin Nobbe (5N), Batesville, Ind., 15.237
Eric Granger (G9), Dallas, Ga., 15.378
Group 5
Billy Ogle Jr. (201), Knoxville, Tenn., 14.379
Cory Hedgecock (23), Loudon, Tenn., 14.454
Jason Welshan (00), Maryville, Tenn., 14.503
Brian Smith (7B), Gray, Ky., 14.540
Andy Strandridge (15S), Tellico Plains, Tenn., 14.902
Brian Smith (15B), Sand Rock, Ala., 14.940
Joey Standridge (6X), Tellico Plains, Tenn., 14.984
Red Farmer (97F), Hueytown, Ala., 15.470
Bobby Lowe (9), Warrior, Ala., 15.913
Group 6
Ross Martin (47M), Talladega, Ala., 14.363
Luke Hoffner (97H), Tubotville, Pa., 14.564
David Brannon (33), Elora, Tenn., 14.584
Josh Adkins (57), Talladega, Ala., 14.613
Mike McConnell (119), Ballground, Ga., 14.830
Ray Cook (53), Brasstown, N.C., 14.864
Jonathan Rowan (56), Jackson, Tenn., 15.129
Scratched: Jerry Trotter (T7), Cumberland, Tenn.
