Fayetteville Motor Speedway
Bland edges Ferguson, gets first Clash victory
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (June 5) — Kentucky transplant Jordan Bland of Charlotte, N.C., overtook polesitter and race-long leader Chris Ferguson of Mount Holly, N.C., amid traffic with four laps remaining at Fayetteville Motor Speedway for his first career victory on the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series. The fifth-starting Bland earned $4,000 after leading laps 37-40 at the 4/10-mile oval.
Ferguson, who led 36 laps and was going for his second victory of the weekend, settled for second while fourth-starting Dennis “Rambo” Franklin of Gaffney, S.C., was third. Five-time series champion Ricky Weeks of Rutherfordton, N.C., was fourth and 15th-starting Scott Autry of Autryville, N.C., rounded out the top five.
Johnny Pursley of Clover, S.C., started outside the front row but ended up 21st, picking up the Dirttrax Motorsports Hard Luck award.
Bland worked his way into second and chased down Ferguson exiting turn four when the leader was slowed by a lapped car. Ferguson went to the outside of the lapped car, and Bland went to the inside. When the lapped car moved high, Ferguson had to back off to avoid getting into the wall, giving Bland an opportunity he didn't miss.
Ferguson had a chance to regain the lead from Bland during a pair of late-race restarts, but Bland held on to wrap up the victory.
Carolina Clash @ Fayetteville: (1) Jordan Bland, (2) Chris Ferguson, (3) Dennis Franklin, (4) Ricky Weeks, (5) Scott Autry, (6) Brian Ledbetter, (7) Justin Labonte, (8) Craig Shuffield, (9) David Taylor, (10) Michael Marlowe, (11) Jay Sessoms, (12) Travis Hair, (13) Dustin Mitchell, (14) Jeff Smith, (15) Chuck Smith, (16) Donald Bradsher, (17) Dean Bowen, (18) Buddy Isles Jr., (19) Timmy Blackwell, (20) Steve Blackburn, (21) Johnny Pursley, (22) Dan Breuer, (23) Ray Tucker, (24) Jonathan Gunther. Fast qualifier: Weeks. Consolation race winners: Tucker, Mitchell.
