Swainsboro Raceway
Thomas earns $20,000 payday at Swainsboro
William Thomas (19) heads to victory at Swainsboro. (Troy Bregy)
SWAINSBORO, Ga. (Nov. 29-30) — William Thomas of Phenix City, Ala., captured Swainsboro Raceway’s Turkey 100 for the second time in three seasons, pocketing $20,000 on Saturday night by outrunning last year’s winner Ray Cook of Brasstown, N.C. | Slideshow
Thomas, who started on the pole in the unsanctioned Crate Late Model special on Thanksgiving weekend, took the checkers in the 50-lap main event ahead of Cook, who battled suspension problems. Chip Brindle of Chatsworth, Ga., took the third spot from Ivedent Lloyd Jr. of Ocala, Fla., late in the race while Michael Brown of Pageland, S.C., rounded out the top five.
Two cautions slowed the action in the track’s season-ending event that drew 61 Crate Late Model drivers.
Notes: Thomas drives a GRT Race Car sponsored by Alexander’s Industrial Services and Austin Trucking. … Thomas notched his 11th victory of the season and 32nd over the last three seasons. … Cook, who won last year’s $20,000 at Swainsboro, barely missed winning his second Crate Late Model feature in as many weekends; he wraps up his season and now focuses on his new ride in the MasterSbilt Race Cars house car for 2014.
Turkey 100: (1) William Thomas, (2) Ray Cook, (3) Chip Brindle, (4) Ivedent Lloyd Jr., (5) Michael Brown, (6) Ben Faircloth, (7) Ryan Montgomery, (8) Brandon Overton, (9) Chris Ferguson, (10) Jason Fitzgerald, (11) Ross Bailes, (12) Dennis Franklin, (13) Michael Page, (14) Eric Cooley, (15) Austin Kirkpatrick, (16) Kyle Bronson, (17) Wendell Chavous, (18) Tom Maddox, (19) Trent Ivey, (20) Gib Gibbons, (21) Brandon Carpenter, (22) Austin Scarboro, (23) Jimmy Elliott, (24) Jak Kicklighter, (25) Henry Carter, (26) John Ruggiero Jr. Fast qualifier (among 61 cars): Thomas, 14.700 seconds. Heat race winners: Thomas, Brown, Brindle, Cook, Lloyd, Montgomery, Ferguson. Consolation winners: Franklin, Maddox, Page, Chavous.
Correction: Amends Thomas' starting spot to first sted fifth.
