Josh Berry Gets Bobby Isaac Memorial Win At Hickory

Josh Berry and his crew celebrate thier victory in Saturday night’s Bobby Isaac Memorial at Hickory Motor Speedway. Photo by Sherri Stearns

NEWTON, NC – Josh Berry survived a late-race challenge in the 150-lap NASCAR Whelen All American Bojangles’ Late Model feature to score the victory in the 38th annual Bobby Isaac Memorial Saturday night at Hickory Motor Speedway in Newton, NC.

Current Bojangles’ Late Model point leader, Josh Berry earned the pole position for the event. Berry remained out front during the early laps, as Austin McDaniel, Travis Swaim, William Byron and Matt Piercy jockeyed for position behind him. The first caution of the night flew on lap 79 when C.J. Hulsey and David Garbo made contact down the front stretch, sending Hulsey hard into the turn one outside wall. The red flag was displayed for extensive track cleanup.

The race returned to green on lap 93, with Berry maintaining the front spot. As Berry extended his lead, Piercy had comfortably taken over the second position, as Dillon Bassett worked his way from this 23rd place starting spot to the top five. The final caution was displayed with three laps remaining when Doug Barnes car came to a stop on the track.

Berry held off challenges by Piercy and Bassett to pick up the win after leading all 150 laps. Piercy claimed a second-place finish, with Todd Gilliland in third, Bassett in fourth and Payton Ryan in fifth.

In other action, Kyle Mansch led the field to green in the Gold King Limited Late Model feature, and was slowly pulling away from the competition when the caution flag was displayed on lap two for a multi-car wreck on the backstretch. Mansch maintained his lead over the field during several additional caution periods, until contact with Travis Byrd on lap 38 would bring out the fourth caution of the night.

As green-flag racing resumed, Travis Byrd took over the lead and immediately received pressure from Dexter Canipe, Jr. The fifth and final caution came out on lap 39 for another multi-car incident on the backstretch.

Canipe, Jr. used the restart to his advantage, as he took over the lead when the field returned to green. Canipe, Jr. fended off Byrd during the final laps to pick up the win, leaving Byrd to settle for second. Dillon Houser came home in third, followed by Jeremy Pelfrey in fourth and Evan Duggins in fifth.

Wayne Edwards scored the pole position for the 30-lap Street Stock event. Edward’s time out front didn’t last long as Chase Pollard moved into the lead coming out of turn four on the first lap. As the laps ticked away, Pollard continued to hold onto the lead and steadily pulled away from the field. Pollard went on to lead all 30-laps of the event, leaving Edwards to settle for second, with Mark Whitten, Marshall Sutton and Kevin Eby to rounding out the top five.

Larry Benz brought the field to green for the 25-lap Bench-Built Transmissions Sportsman Racing Classics to the green flag, but his time out front didn’t last long as Bob Park grabbed the top spot on the second lap. The two continued to battle for the lead as the race progressed, and made contact coming out of turn four on lap 21, bringing Benz’s night to an early end.

Robert Hapeman used the incident to his advantage taking over the lead and picking up the win. Bill Webb finished second, with Park in third, Don Fenn in fourth and Dennis Hinkle in fifth. Parks’ third place finish would secure him the divisional championship.

Action continues at Hickory Motor Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Hickory Motor Speedway, featuring twin 50-lap features for the NASCAR Whelen All American Bojangles’ Late Models, twin 35-lap races for the Gold King Limited Late Models, twin 30-lap events for the Street Stocks and a 25-lap race for the 4-Cylinders.

For more information, visit, HickoryMotorSpeedway.com.

Hickory Motor Speedway – Newton, NC
Race Results – Aug. 30, 2014