Whynot Motorsports Park
Busha hangs on for $3,000 at Whynot
By Roby Helm
Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series
Tim Busha led all 50 laps, but not without some late drama. (Brian McLeod)
MERIDIAN, Miss. (Sept. 7) — Tim Busha of Boaz, Ala., won at wild finish Saturday in the Nelson Hall Chevrolet 50 for the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series at Whynot Motorsports Park for a $3,000 victory.
A dramatic lap 49 saw two unofficial lead changes, contact, and the top three positions change hands before the checkered flag fell. | Slideshow
Busha led the first 48 laps of the race, holding off the inside challenges of point leader William Thomas of Phenix City, Ala., who was looking for his third straight victory on the first-year tour.
Thomas pulled alongside Busha exiting turn two, and going down the backstretch, Thomas took the lead. Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, Tenn., was just behind in third.
As the lead trio exited turn four, Thomas left just enough of the inside groove open for Busha to dive under Thomas. Busha’s car struck a infield tire barrier, and that impact sent him careening into Thomas. After the contact, Busha drove under Thomas to retake the lead as the white flag was in the air.
By the time Thomas regained control, Johnson got under him for the second spot in turn one. Busha came around to take the checkered flag and win the $3,000 top prize with a .389 second margin of victory over Johnson, with Thomas salvaging the third spot.
“I gave William plenty of room on the inside when he passed me for the lead off turn two, but when I tried to go underneath him in turn four, I got so far to bottom to keep from hitting him, I hit the tire,” Busha said. “That knocked me into him, and I hate that it happened. I think William knows me well enough to know that I don’t race like that and it wasn’t intentional.”
Thomas was obviously upset about losing the race, but at the same time was poised enough to see the big picture after the third of 10 series races.
“All I know is I got hit coming off the fourth turn,” Thomas said. “I’m just glad we were able to hang on and come out of here with a third-place finish because we’re in this to win the championship. We’ll go on to the next one and try to win it.”
Thomas left Whynot with a 10-point advantage over Johnson. The victory moved Busha up to the third spot, four points behind Johnson.
Brent Barrett of Cleveland, Miss., finished fourth with Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, Ga., rounding out the top five in a race slowed by seven caution flags.
A red flag appeared midway through the race when Billy Thomas and Justin McRee tangled on the backstretch, sending McRee’s car slipping twice. The car ended up on its wheels and McRee wasn’t hurt.
Notes: Busha’s GRT Race Car is sponsored by Kilpatrick Racing, Wolf-Pack Racing and Stealth Carburetors. ... Nine of 19 starters completed 50 laps. ... Ted Lackey of Munford, Ala., rallied from 16th to finish sixth. ... Jamey Boland recovered from a crash in qualifying to finish ninth after starting on the tail of the feature. ... Brad Smith spun on the fifth lap and again midway through the race. ... Marty Hardy spun on lap nine. ... Adam Martin spun out of fourth on lap 11 and slowed for a lap-24 yellow. ... The series primarily for CT 525-engine powered cars heads to Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss., on Sunday for the $3,000-to-win Carl Hogan Automotive 50.
Chevy Series @ Whynot: (1) Tim Busha, (2) Ronnie Johnson, (3) William Thomas, (4) Brent Barrett, (5) Matthew Turner, (6) Ted Lackey, (7) Frank Wilson, (8) Tim Dees, (9) Jamey Boland, (10) Steve Kirk, (11) Chase Edge, (12) Mark Dowdy, (13) Billy Thomas, (14) Justin McRee, (15) Adam Martin, (16) Brad Smith, (17) Marty Hardy, (18) Carlton Freeman. Scratched: Ross Martin. Fast qualifier (among 19 cars): Busha, 13.876 seconds. Consolation race winners: Johnson, McRee.
