Carolina Speedway
Pursley crashes Clash party for first series win
Johnny Pursley (09) battles Jonathan Davenport (49). (Randy Houser)
GASTONIA, N.C. (Sept. 4) — Johnny Pursley of Clover, S.C., outran the top drivers in Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series points on Friday at Carolina Speedway for his first career series victory. The series interloper earned $5,000 as the tour opened it's playoff-style Countdown to the Cup, a six-race stretch that decides the series champion among 10 drivers.
Pursley, who started outside the front row, took the point from polesitter Ricky Weeks of Rutherfordton, N.C., on the second lap and led the rest of the 50-lapper. Weeks, second in series points and gunning for his sixth straight title, settled for the runner-up spot while series points leader Jeff Smith of Dallas, N.C., was third. Dennis Franklin of Gaffney, S.C., was fourth and Chris Ferguson of Mount Holly, N.C., rounded out the top five at the 4/10-mile oval.
Notes: Luke Roffers, who finished 11th, advanced 10 positions for hard charger honors. ... The series heads to Friendship Motor Speedway in Elkin, N.C., on Saturday for a $5,000-to-win event.
Carolina Clash @ Carolina: (1) Johnny Pursley, (2) Ricky Weeks, (3) Jeff Smith, (4) Dennis Franklin, (5) Chris Ferguson, (6) Furman Parton, (7) Tim Allen, (8) Donald Bradsher, (9) Ross Bailes, (10) Dane Burns, (11) Luke Roffers, (12) Doug Sanders, (13) G.R. Smith, (14) Justin Labonte, (15) Randle Chupp, (16) Jay Sessoms, (17) Dan Breuer, (18) Randy Smith, (19) Scott Neighbors, (20) Jim Shuffield, (21) Jonathan Davenport, (22) Craig Shuffield. Fast qualifier (among 23 cars): Weeks, 15.532 seconds.
