Berry Secures Championships With Hickory LMS Victory

Josh Berry scored his ninth victory of the season and the Whelen All-American Series Late Model track championship at Hickory Motor Speedway Saturday night. Photo by Sherri Stearns

NEWTON, NC – Josh Berry had multiple reasons to celebrate in Victory Lane at Hickory Motor Speedway Saturday night.

Berry won the 10th and final race of the Paramount KIA “Big 10” Chase for the Championship while picking up titles for both the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Bojangles’ Late Models and Paramount KIA ‘Big 10′ Race championships.

Todd Gilliand posted the fastest qualifying speed and started from the pole position for the Late Model feature. Berry showed dominance during the 100-lap event, holding onto the top spot following multiple caution periods and a some late race challenges by Matt Piercy to pick up the win and the championships. Piercy was left to settle for a second-place finish. Brayton Haws was third, with Shane Lee fourth and Bret Holmes fifth.

Evan Duggins earned the pole position for the Gold King Limited Late Model feature, but surrendered the top spot to Travis Byrd on lap 17. The two battled side-by-side for the next 10 laps, exchanging the top stop. On lap 27, Byrd settled into the lead, leaving the competition to battle for position behind him. Byrd went on to pick up the win while Trent Barnes finished second. Taylor Stricklin earned a third place result and the division championship, while Duggins and Zachary Bruenger finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Kevin Eby picked up the pole position for the Street Stock race, and had a solid run going until Kevin Townsend drove by on lap nine to take over the lead. The two ran side-by-side and battled hard for position during the 30-lap event. Eby made one final attempt to make a move on Townsend but came up short. Townsend drove on to victory lane, while Eby settled for a second place result. Even though Eby didn’t get the win, he did earn the Street Stock championship. Marshall Sutton finished third, with Larry Mosher fourth and Cody DeMarmels fifth.

Sheflon Clay earned the pole position for the 35-lap Super Truck event and survived multiple caution periods en route to leading every lap on his way to his first victory in the division. Spencer Boyd picked up a second-place finish and the season championship. Whitney Lail survived multiple on-track incidents to finish third, with Keith Norville fourth and Tal Davidson fifth.

Chase Pollard led the 4-Cylinder field to the green flag for the 25-lap event and spent the first half of the race running door to door with Matt Elledge. Pollard got loose heading out of turn two, allowing Elledge to settle into the top position and pull away from the competition. Elledge remained out front on his way to Victory Lane, as he picked up the win and the division title. Eddie Gilbert, Pollard, Curtis Pardue and Rob Lewis rounded out the top five.

Kenneth Roberts brought the field to green for WrenchRags Renegades feature. Roberts struggled on the start, giving up the top spot to Blake Walker. Roberts resumed his position out front when Walker spun heading into turn four on lap six. Back under green-flag conditions, Roberts slowly began to pull away from the field on his way to Victory Lane and the season championship. Shawn Hayes came home second, with Kyle DiVanna third, Walker fourth and Darren Dickinson fifth.

Hickory Motor Speedway returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 20 for the PASS Super Late Models series Over the Mountain 150. The night will feature a 150-lap Late Model event along with appearances by the Pro Late Models, USAC and the Legends.

For more information, visit HickoryMotorSpeedway.com.

Hickory Motor Speedway – Newton, NC
Race Results – Sept. 13, 2013