Ponderosa Speedway
Greg Johnson collects $5,000 with Ponderosa win
By Michael Despain
Ponderosa Speedway
Johnson tunes up Friday at Ponderosa. (Derrick Strader)
JUNCTION CITY, Ky. (Oct. 4) — Ninth-starting Greg Johnson of Bedford, Ind., slipped under race-long leader Dustin Neat of Dunnville, Ky., on the 28th lap at Ponderosa Speedway and led the rest of the 18th annual Fall Classic. Johnson pocketed $5,000 for the victory in the unsanctioned 50-lapper in central Kentucky.
Johnson pulled away during the caution-free second-half of the event for the victory while Victor Lee of Stanford, Ky., grabbed second from Neat with 11 laps remaining. Chris Combs of Isom, Ky., was fourth and Eric Wells of Hazard, Ky., rounded out the top five at the 3/8-mile oval.
The race was slowed by four cautions, the most serious on a lap-25 restart when fourth-running Jordan Bland got crossed up, triggering an accident that involved several cars. Bland, Jason Keltner and Johnny Wheeler were eliminated in the melee.
Notes: Johnson drives a Chad Stapleton-owned Rocket Chassis powered by a Jay Dickens Race Engine and sponsored by Outlaw Fabrication, Right Way Construction, Group Metal Recycling and Bennett Motorsports. ... Johnson is the 13th different Fall Classic winner in 18 events. ... Johnson also won the night's 25-lap feature for Crate Late Models, earning an additional $600 ... Jason Keltner won the previous night's preliminary feature, picking up $2,000. ... A lap-10 flat tire dropped Mike Marlar out of the feature. .... Track champion Dustin Linville finished sixth in the main event.
Fall Classic: (1) Greg Johnson, (2) Victor Lee, (3) Dustin Neat, (4) Chris Combs, (5) Eric Wells, (6) Dustin Linville, (7) Michael Chilton, (8) Jimmy Crabtree, (9) Zach Carney, (10) Joey Daniel, (11) Bobby Carrier Jr., (12) Bobby Wolter Jr., (13) Jeff Watson, (14) Aaron Hatton, (15) Brandon Fouts, (16) Jamie Ferguson, (17) Anthony Adams, (18) Jordan Bland, (19) Jason Keltner, (20) Johnny Wheeler, (21) D.J. Wells, (22) Mike Marlar. Fast qualifier (among 27 cars): Lee, 14.131 seconds. Heat race winners: Neat, Keltner, Bland. Consolation winner: Marlar. Provisional starters: Watson, Ferguson.
