Berry Back In Late Model Victory Lane At Hickory

Josh Berry celebrates after scoring the Late Model victory Saturday night at Hickory Motor Speedway. Photo by Sherri Stearns

NEWTON, NC – Josh Berry powered his way into the lead just before the halfway point of Saturday night’s Late Model feature at Hickory Motor Speedway in Newton, NC, and went on to score the victory.

Berry started the sixth round of the Paramount KIA “Big-10” Race Challenge from the pole position, but found himself shuffled back in the pack early in the 100-lap feature event, settling into third by lap two, Doug Barnes and Austin McDaniel to settle into the first and second-place positions. As the first half of the event progressed, Berry patiently worked his way back towards the front of the field, regaining the lead on lap 45. Back out front, Berry began to pull away from the field and left his competition to battle for position behind him. Berry went on to win the caution-free event, with McDaniel in second, Chandler LeVan in third, Bret Holmes in fourth and Barnes in fifth.

Dexter Canipe, Jr. demonstrated speed during qualifying, earning the pole position for the Gold King Limited Late Model event and continued to show speed as he created a sizable lead over the competition during the early laps of the 35-lap race. As Canipe, Jr. continued out front, Monty Cox carefully worked his way forward in the running order settling into second on lap 22. Trent Barnes slipped back in the running order as the race progressed, providing Casey Pierce the opportunity to move into the third position on the final lap. Canipe, Jr. went on to pick up the win. Cox finished in second, with Pierce in third, Barnes in fourth and Kevin Gillardoni in fifth.

Kevin Eby started from the pole position and battled hard with Marshall Sutton to maintain his position during the early laps, but slowly pulled away as the 30-lap event progressed. On lap six, Kevin Townsend drove under Sutton, settled into second and set his sights on Eby for the lead. Eby was able to hold off Townsend as he challenged for the top spot, until the field was stacked up for a restart on lap 23. Townsend survived multiple restarts and a late-race challenge from Eby on his way to victory lane. Eby settled for a second-place finish while Larry Mosher finished third, Chase Pollard finished fourth and Kevin Saam finished fifth.

Spencer Boyd led the field to the green flag for the 35-lap Super Truck race, but his time out front was short lived as Lee Queen took over the top spot during the early laps of the race. As the green-flag run progressed, Boyd resumed his stop out front on lap 13 and began to pull away from the field until the caution flag was displayed on lap 29. Boyd had a great restart and pulled away from the field once again leaving Queen, Tal Davidson and Whitney Lail to challenge for second. Boyd went on to pick up the win and was followed to the finish line by Davidson, Queen, Lail and Dexter Canipe, Jr.

Kenneth Roberts took the green flag from the pole position for the 20-lap WrenchRags Renegades race and created a sizable lead over the field during the first half of the event. Charlie Neil settled into the second position on lap seven and slowly began to reel in Roberts, looking for a chance to take the lead. The two lined up side-by-side for multiple restarts during the final five laps and battled for the lead during the closing laps with Neil picking up the win leaving Roberts to settle for a second-place result. Blake Walker, Darren Dickinson and Carroll McKinney rounded out the top five.

Bill Webb scored the pole position for the Bench-Built Transmissions Sportsmen Racing Classics 25-lap event and immediately began to pull away from the field the moment the green flag dropped. As Webb was increasing his lead, a battle for second was heating up as Robert Hapeman raced through the field and settled into the second position on lap 13. Webb went on to pick up the win, leaving Hapeman to finish second, with Bob Park in third, Larry Benz in fourth and Bill Powell in fifth.

Hickory Motor Speedway returns to action on Saturday, June 28, featuring round seven of the Paramount KIA “Big-10” Challenge with a 100-lap feature for the Bojangles’ Late Models, along with action from the Gold King Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, 4-Cylinders, WrenchRags Renegades.

For more info, visit hickorymotorspeedway.com.

Hickory Motor Speedway – Newton, NC
Race Results – June 14, 2014