Talladega Short Track
Rookie Peacock on pole for Ice Bowl crate race
By Roby Helm
NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series
Hunter Peacock earned the pole position. (DirtonDirt.com
EASTABOGA, Ala. (Jan. 5) — Georgia drivers Hunter Peacock of Macon and Chip Brindle of Chatsworth earned front-row starting spots for Sunday’s NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series 50-lap $3,000-to-win main event at the Talladega Short Track’s Ice Bowl XVII.
Entering his first series event, Peacock won fast time honors among the record 95 entrants in group qualifying with a lap around the third-mile clay oval in 14.633 seconds. Brindle, last year's Ice Bowl winner in the crate Late Model division as a rookie, was the second quick qualifier with a lap in 16.655 seconds.
Qualifiers three through 95 tried to earn one of the top 14 starting positions in the main event through one of six 10-lap heat races in which the top two finishers in each heat race transferred into the big show.
Royce Bray of Hull, Ga., drove to victory in the first heat, followed by Billy Mayo of Cleveland, Tenn. Rookie of the Year candidate Richard Stephens of Phenix City, Ala., won the second heat with Brian Connor of Martinez, Ga., taking second.
Jordy Nipper of Gray, Ga., picked up the win in the third heat and Carlton Freeman of Eastaboga, Ala., finished second. Brandon “Cornbread” Haley of Lavonia, Ga., took the fourth heat followed by Jody Davidson of West Monroe, La.
Terrance Nowell of Phenix City, Ala., grabbed the victory in the fifth heat and second place went to Jeff Fields of Aragon, Ga. Rookie Scott Knowles of Lanett, Ala., won the sixth heat with Ted Lackey of Munford, Ala., taking second.
Starting positions 15 through 22 will be filled by the top two finishers in four 12-lap consolation races.
