Dillon Bassett Wins Big In Hickory Late Model Opener

Dillon Bassett celebrates with his team in victory lane after scoring the Late Model victory Saturday night at Hickory Motor Speedway. Photo by Sherri Stearns

Dillon Bassett opened up the 64th season of racing at Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, NC with a victory in the Bojangles Late Model feature Saturday night.

Doug Barnes earned the pole position for the first round the Paramount KIA Big 10 Race Challenge and brought the 24-car field to green flag for the start of the 100-lap feature. His time out front didn’t last long, as Shane Lee moved into the top spot on the first lap. Lee remained out front and created a sizable lead over the competition, while several cars battled to improve their position. Meanwhile, Bassett worked his way through the field and took the lead on lap 75, where he would remain until taking the checkered flag. William Byron finished in second, with Travis Swaim in third, Josh Berry in fourth and Lee in fifth.

The Gold King Limited Late Models kept the action going during a 35-lap event that saw multiple cautions and a battle in the end for the win. Trent Barnes captured the pole for the start of the race, but relinquished the position to Travis Byrd on lap seven. Byrd fought to remain out front after receiving pressure from Barnes during the late stages of the race. A lap 22 caution positioned Byrd and Barnes side-by-side for the restart, resulting in an intense battle for the top spot. Byrd went on to take the win after Barnes spun out just four laps shy of the finish. Jeremy Pelfrey finished second, with Ryan Shattuck in third, Taylor Stricklin in fourth and J.P. Dyar in fifth.

Disappointment struck the pole sitter in the Street Stock Division, Mark Whitten, after he experienced mechanical issues with a broken ball joint putting him out of the race on the first lap. The misfortune allowed Kevin Townsend to take the lead, where he would remain until taking the checkered flag. The yellow flag was displayed twice during the event, on laps 16 and 19 for spinning racecars. Townsend picked up his first victory of the season and was followed to the finish line Larry Mosher in second, Kevin Eby in third, Jonathon Smith in fourth and Marshall Sutton in fifth.

Chase Pollard led the 4-Cylinder division to the green flag for a 25-lap event, but pulled off track to assess potential damage sustained to his car on lap five after Eddie Gilbert spun in turn three bringing out the caution. Matt Elledge restarted the race from the top spot, but Pollard worked his way around Elledge and regained the position out front. Pollard went on to score the win Elledge, Curtis Pardue and Gilbert in tow.

The WrenchRags Renegades put on an exciting show as competitors battled for position throughout the race. Kyle Divanna started from the pole position, but spun out on the frontstretch on lap six, forcing him toward the back of the field. Cautions bred cautions during the late portion of the race allowing Kenneth Roberts to pick up the win. Greg Austin came home in second, with Divanna third, Dustin Walker in fourth and Carroll McKinney in fifth.

Action returns to Hickory Motor Speedway on Saturday night, with racing from the Bojangles’ Late Models, Gold King Limited Late Models, the Street Stocks and Super Trucks. For more info, visit hickorymotorspeedway.com.

Hickory Motor Speedway – Hickory, NC
Race Results – March 8, 2014