Florence Speedway
Jewell pockets $2,000 Florence victory
By James Essex
DirtonDirt.com correspondentUNION, KY (May 4) — Mike Jewell of Scottsburg, Ind., took the lead reigning track champion Robby Hensley of Walton, Ky., with nine laps remaining for a caution-free victory Saturday night at Florence Speedway. Jewell’s second win of the season at the King family-promoted half-mile oval paid $2,000.
Trailing Jewell and Hensley to the checkers was Michael Chilton of Salvisa, Ky., Duane Chamberlain of Richmond, Ind., and Nick Latham of Winchester, Ohio.
“The crew thought I was crazy going with a hard-compound (tire) for the feature,” said the smiling Jewell afterwards. “The track slicked off enough, there was still plenty of traction where I was running, and it looked like he (Hensley) might have gone soft, and that’s why he eventually came back to me. We got faster as the race went on.
“The track has been in good shape this year, I have to thank all my crew and all sponsors for getting us to victory lane, I keep saying I am going to retire, but we’re still having too much fun racing, we are looking forward to the Latham Memorial here next month.”
Chilton took the lead at the start of the 35-lap main event and held the point until Hensley, who started third, took the inside route past on lap four. Hensley built a substantial lead over Chilton and Jewell, who were at times a little more than a straightaway behind Hensley.
Jewell challenged Chilton for second, grabbing the spot on lap 20. By this time Hensley was encountering heavy traffic in front of him. Jewell was able to cut into Hensley’s lead lap after lap as he using the upper groove on the track while Hensley stayed glued to the bottom.
Jewell cut the lead to a car length with 10 laps to go, then he rocketed past Hensley on lap 26 to grab the lead. Hensley stayed right with Jewell until the final few laps when Jewell opened up enough distance to take home the win.
Current points leader Greg Johnson ran fourth until slowing suddenly on lap 14 as he went pitside with terminal issues. Chamberlain, who last week won at Florence for the first time in his career was the hard charger of the race as he came from his 12th starting spot.
Jewell’s MasterSbilt Race Car is powered by a Cornett Racing Engine and sponsored by Southern Indiana Rock Drilling, MPC Motorsports, Jewell TV Service, Shelton Angus Farms, Scott Country Tire and S&L Electric.
Florence Speedway: (1) Mike Jewell, (2) Robby Hensley, (3) Michael Chilton, (4) Duane Chamberlain, (5) Nick Latham, (6) Joe Janowski, (7) Tim Prince, (8) Ted Nobbe, (9) Bill Blair Jr., (10) Chad Stapleton, (11) James Rice, (12) Greg Johnson. Scratched: Kenny Spencer, Steve Landrum. Heat race winners (among 15 cars): Jewell, Chilton.
