Ponderosa Speedway
Combs edges Linville for $3,000 at Ponderosa
Chris Combs celebrates at Ponderosa. (dt52photos.com)
JUNCTION CITY, Ky. (July 12) — Chris Combs of Isom, Ky., squeezed under Dustin Linville of Bryantsville, Ky., Friday in Ponderosa Speedway’s turn one with less than two laps remaining to steal a victory in the unsanctioned Red Clay Bash. Combs pocketed $3,000. | Slideshow
Linville, who led laps 13-38, settled for second in the 40-lapper while 10th-starting Greg Johnson of Bedford, Ind., rallied to finish third. Brad Neat of Dunnville, Ky., advanced nine positions for fourth and 14th-starting Victor Lee of Danville, Ky., rounded out the top five. Fast qualifier Skylar Marlar of Winfield, Tenn., was 10th.
Jeff Watson of Campbellsville, Ky., led from the outset with Tommy Bailey and David Webb in pursuit, but Webb’s race ended when he slammed the turn-three wall, collecting Michael Chilton.
The sixth-starting Linville used the restart to take second from Bailey and began tracking Watson with the duo battling side-by-side from laps 10-13, when Linville took control.
After the final caution when Michael Wright shredded a left-rear tire on lap 17, Linville went back to work with Combs, who started on the third row with Linville, moving up to second and Lee in third.
The frontrunners faced lapped traffic in the final 10 laps with Combs and and Lee closing in on the leader. With two laps remaining, Linville checked up a bit heading into turn one, and Combs dove underneath. The frontrunners made contact and Linville was briefly sideways as Combs took control. Lee checked up to avoid Linville, losing two spots in the process while Combs headed for victory.
Notes: Combs drives a Swartz Race Car powered by a Vic Hill Race Engine and sponsored by Tim Short Automotive, Combs Trucking, Breeding Heavy Haulers, Adams Brothers Plumbing, Bub’s Trucking, KR Enterprises, AC2 Graphics, Bill’s Marathon, Ramey Racing, D & S Trucking, Combs Transport, Red Fox Tire, Walls Law Office, Bailey’s Gun Shop, GBC Motorsports and American Racer South. ... Ponderosa’s Late Model division is sponsored by Good Neighbor Pharmacy. ... Among drivers missing the Red Clay Bash feature lineup: Daniel Williams, Clarence Belcher, Jay Mobley, Clint Vaughn, Jake Henry, Timmy Taylor and Donnie Everman. ... Todd Coffman topped a seven-car field for a Crate Late Model victory. ... Many of the same Super Late Model drivers head to Richmond (Ky.) Raceway on Saturday for the 26th annual Butterball Wooldridge Memorial, a $7,500-to-win unsanctioned event.
Red Clay Bash: (1) Chris Combs, (2) Dustin Linville, (3) Greg Johnson, (4) Brad Neat, (5) Victor Lee, (6) Justin Rattliff, (7) Jeff Watson, (8) Dustin Neat, (9) Michael Chilton, (10) Skylar Marlar, (11) Stephen Breeding, (12) Jason Welshan, (13) Michael Wright, (14) Daniel Williams, (15) Bartley Grant, (16) Tommy Bailey, (17) Mike Strunk, (18) Johnny Wheeler, (19) David Webb, (20) Tim Tungate. Fast qualifier (among 26 cars): Marlar, 13.469 seconds. Heat race winners: Watson, Webb, Bailey.
