Title Hopefuls Grab AMS Thursday Thunder Opportunities

Competitors in Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Thursday Thunder presented by Papa John’s had a chance to double up last week as the speedway’s quarter-mile “Thunder Ring” hosted a pair of events on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

With championship night fast approaching, it was a chance for competitors to make up ground if they hope to win titles in their divisions.

Title contenders were keenly aware of that fact and the action on track during Round 8 Wednesday night reflected that. In several divisions championship hopefuls sparred for feature wins, resulting in some of the most intense racing of the season thus far.

Such was the case in the VP Racing Fuels Pro Division feature, which saw current runner-up in the standings Jensen Jorgensen square off against point leader Joshua Hicks on a late restart.

“I just kept my composure, I stayed smart behind the wheel, and I held him off,” Jorgensen said after winning the duel and the race. As he and Hicks raced wheel-to-wheel and even bounced off each other at times, Jorgensen said the opportunity to gain ground on Hicks for the championship was on his mind; in fact, it was on his mind before the green flag even flew.

“Qualifying didn’t go the way I would have liked, but I started fifth hoping I could grab some passing points,” Jorgensen said, referring to a unique caveat in the VP Racing Fuels Pro Division that awards drivers a point for each position they gain from their starting spot.

“I closed in a lot tonight so these next two races are going to be interesting,” Jorgensen said. “I’m excited.”

Meanwhile in the CMS Group Environmental Services Semi-Pro Division, points leader D.J. Canipe found his way to the lead 8 laps in, but quickly was challenged for the top spot by Nick Woodall, who’s also chasing Canipe for the championship.

“We got to the lead, but the car wasn’t really the way we wanted it to be when I got there,” Canipe said. “Then we had a restart and I got moved – I got back down and did the same thing back, but couldn’t get by him.”

Woodall wrestled the lead away on lap 16 and remained at the top of the pylon when the field took the white flag, but Canipe was right behind him.

“I saw the white flag and I knew I had to do what I had to do to keep the points lead,” Canipe said. In the final set of corners, Canipe drove his No. 29 in hard to get inside of Woodall, and then barely beat Woodall’s No. 72 to the line as the checkered flag waived.

The victory increased Canipe’s narrow lead over Woodall in the title fight, but with another night of racing just 24 hours away, the Fallston, N.C., driver’s focus quickly shifted to the next race.

“We have some work to do to find some more speed and make it better for the long run,” Canipe said.

Opportunity knocked again in the Racing Radios Outlaws Division feature as Trevor Wester and Parker Eatmon — who entered the race second and third in the division standings behind Carson Ramsay — batted for the lead and the chance to make up ground in the title hunt.

With two laps to go Wester was out front, at the white flag Eatmon had edged ahead, and on the final lap push came to shove and the duo collided. The contact knocked both drivers out of the race and potentially out of championship contention as Ramsay, who was running third entering the final lap, took advantage of their misfortune and won the race, seizing max points for his championship hunt in the process.

“We got shuffled back at the beginning, but I thought we had a very fast car and it just fell into our hands at the end there,” Ramsay said after his fourth victory this season.

In The Associates Group Young Lions feature, points leader Lucas Ruark benefited from the misfortune of competitors ahead of him on the final lap to take the win and build on his already comfortable championship lead.

Likewise in the Wallace Electric Masters Division Bill Plemons, Jr. — who’s in his seventh year pursuing a season title — earned his seventh victory in eight starts, continuing what has been a dream season for the veteran driver.

“Last year I was in a position where in the last race all I needed to do was finish the race and I was going to win. I was riding with a straightaway lead and it went away,” Plemons said, reflecting on the 2018 season that ended with him second in the division standings after a crash in the season finale. “I try to illustrate to the kids that come to race and watch the races that there’s going to be adversity in life, and this year I’ve tried to stay completely focused to fight through my adversity, which is exactly what they need to do.”

In the Racing Radios Bandits Division feature Lucas Vera grabbed his third victory of the season. Briana Freeman meanwhile took her fourth checkered flag of 2019 in the Racing Radios Rookie Bandoleros. In the Chargers feature a last lap pass vaulted Wilder Etheredge to victory.
On Thursday night, the action on the “Thunder Ring” primed the upcoming season finale for a showdown in the premier division.

For the second night in a row, Jensen Jorgensen found victory lane in the VP Racing Fuels Pro Division feature, outrunning division leader Joshua Hicks from the pole position to take his third victory of the season. Jorgensen’s victories this week have allowed him to narrow the gap between himself and Hicks to just three points with one race remaining.

“That’s as much as you can ask for, especially with some of the races that didn’t shake out the way I wanted them to this year,” Jorgensen said in victory lane. “We’re here at the end just three points back and I know what I need to do next week and that’s what I’m gonna do.”

While Jorgensen took the victory, Hicks was running just a fraction of a second behind after the 25-lap run to the finish. After Thursday’s runner-up effort, the Senoia driver predicted he and Jorgensen would run close together again on championship night.

“We’re running almost identical right now. He seems to get a jump on the initial start and then we balance out after that,” Hicks said. “I’m very thankful to have the opportunity – I’m just trying to make the most of it and see if we can pull it off.”

“It’s going to be intense,” Jorgensen added regarding the July 18 finale. “We made huge gains going into this week and the car is finally handling the way I want it, so I’m going into next week with confidence.”

The championship picture in the CMS Group Environmental Services Semi-Pro division also narrowed Thursday night as Nick Woodall took his fourth victory of the season. With points leader D,J, Canipe finishing fourth, the win brings Woodall to within 10 points of Canipe for the title.

“I just gotta try my hardest get another win next week and make up 10 more points,” Woodall said. “I have a good crew chief and a good car so hopefully we can get it done.”

In the Racing Radios Bandits division feature Lucas Vera drove away from some scrappy racing behind him to grab his fourth victory of the season. Division point leader Carson Ruark finished third, while his closest challenger for the title, Garrett Gumm, finished fifth. Carson’s brother, Lucas Ruark, won The Associates Group Young Lions feature, extending his healthy championship advantage over Ashton Whitener, who finished third.

In the Wallace Electric Masters division feature Doug Stevens started second but powered his way around Bill Plemons, Jr. with seven laps to go to grab his first victory of the 2019 Thursday Thunder season. Plemons is in control of the championship heading into the finale.

One day after battling for a victory only to get caught up in a last-lap incident, Parker Eatmon rebounded Thursday night to take the checkered flag in the Racing Radios Outlaws division feature.

“I just had to hit my marks, not overdrive the corner or mirror drive and focus on getting it done,” Eatmon said after the victory. He sits second in the division standings, but leader Carson Ramsay carries a comfortable 30 point advantage into the final race.

The Racing Radios Rookie Bandolero feature produced a first-time Thursday Thunder winner as 9-year-old Baylor O’Neil piloted his No. 99 to victory from the fifth starting position. The Chargers feature also ended with a new winner, as Graham Campbell took his first checkered flag in just his third start in a Legends car.

The AMS Legends and Bandoleros Racers conclude the 2019 season of Thursday Thunder on Thursday, July 18. For more information, visit AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.

Atlanta Motor Speedway – Hampton, GA
Thursday Thunder – July 10, 2019

Week Eight Results

Young Lions
1. Lucas Ruark – Suwanee, GA
2. Timothy Watson – Panama City, FL
3. Ashton Whitener – Monticello, GA
4. Nathan Jackson – McDonough, GA
5. Paul Owens – Quakertown, PA
6. Tony Yawn III – Roanoke, AL
7. Michael Gannon – Canton, GA
8. Justin Campbell – Griffin, GA
9. Keaton Hendrix – Homerville, GA
10. Cole Cash – Bethlahem, GA
11. Hunter Burns – Thomaston, GA
12. Austin MacDonald – Pictou, NS
13. Zack Miracle – Indian Trail, NC
14. Christina Pedano – Southlake, TX
15. Kenneth Henderson – Alto, GA
DQ: Jake Bollman – Huntington Beach, CA

Semi-Pro
1. D.J. Canipe – Fallston, NC
2. Nick Woodall – Canton, GA
3. Blaze Crawford – Fayetteville, GA
4. Audrie Ruark – Suwanee, GA
5. Camden Prouty – Spanish Fort, AL
6. Brandon Brock – Hampton, GA
7. Jonathan Taylor – Atlanta, GA
8. Jason Alder – Cooksville, MD
9. Garrett Lowe – Gastonia, NC
10. Jason Treschl – Lagrange, GA
11. Trey Tadrzak – Stockbridge, GA
12. Hayden Swank – Woodstock, GA
13. Ian Hampton – Stockbridge, GA
14. Max Brady – Marietta, GA
15. Zac Bacon – Buchanan, GA
16. Kenny Brady – Marietta, GA
17. Parker Brewer – Locust Grove, GA
18. Ricky Springer – McDonough, GA
19. Pierce Brewer – Locust Grove, GA

Pro
1. Jensen Jorgensen – Stockbridge, GA
2. Joshua Hicks – Senoia, GA
3. Taylor Jorgensen – Stockbridge, GA
4. William Plemons III – Acworth, GA
5. Harrison Halder – Cumming, GA
6. Cody Hall – Griffin, GA
7. Cale Hall – Griffin, GA
8. Tony Yawn – Roanoke, AL
9. Gauntt Hudgins – Savannah, GA
10. Gage Roberts – Milledgeville, GA
11. Max Hennebaul – Monroe, GA
12. Hudson Halder – Forsyth, GA

Masters
1. Bill Plemons, Jr. – Locust Grove, GA
2. Tony Armbruster – Covington, GA
3. Mark Swan – Athens, GA
4. Wade Brewer – Locust Grove, GA
5. Randy Shubert – Stone Mountain, GA
6. Phillip Young – Dallas, GA
7. James Meredith – Locust Grove, GA
8. Dennis Hecht – Hoschton, GA
9. Kevin Vaughn – Grovetown, GA

Bandits
1. Lucas Vera – Charlotte, NC
2. Garrett Gumm – Brooks, GA
3. Carson Ruark – Suwanee, GA
4. Alex Meggs – Riegelwood, NC
5. Cody King – Clear Lake, IA
6. Layton Harrison – Dinwiddie, VA
7. Kyle Bacon – Buchanan, GA
8. Gianni Esposito – Dacula, GA

Rookie Bandoleros
1. Briana Freeman – Bremen, GA
2. Bailey Buchanan – Senoia, GA
3. Mitchell Flater – Conyers, GA
4. Jackson Reynolds – Marietta, GA
5. Kayli Kade – Hampton, GA
6. Gavin Reece – Conyers, GA
7. Jonathan Pedano – Southlake, TX
8. Kerbi Mueller – Locust Grove, GA
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10. Lane Mueller – Locust Grove, GA

Outlaws
1. Carson Ramsey – Charlotte, NC
2. Cameron Murray – Fuquay Varina, NC
3. Mason Maggio – Palm Beach Gardens, FL
4. Kenny Brady – Marietta, GA
5. Garin Mash – Charlotte, NC
6. Kelley Puckett – McDonough, GA
7. Whitney Meggs – Riegelwood, NC
8. Fran Pedano – South Lake, TX
9. Sean McElearney – Babylon, NY
10. Ryan Younginer – Locust Grove, GA
11. Parker Eatmon – Wilson, NC
12. Trevor Wester – Canton, NC
13. Sarah Sullivan – Gulf Shores, AL
14. Clay Hocutt – Mobile, AL
15. Bailey North – Hampton, GA
16. Shelby Ruark – Suwanee, GA

Chargers
1. Wilder Etheredge – Atlanta, GA
2. Trent Barfield – Hamilton, GA
3. Blake Sasser – Monroe, NC
4. Graham Campbell – Braselton, GA
5. Matthew Kade – Hampton, GA
6. Lance Spurling – Cordele, GA
7. Amanda Woodall – Canton, GA
8. Lisa Scott – Dallas, GA

Atlanta Motor Speedway – Hampton, GA
Thursday Thunder – July 11, 2019

Week Nine Results

Young Lions
1. Lucas Ruark – Suwanee, GA
2. Jake Bollman – Huntington Beach, CA
3. Ashton Whitener – Monticello, GA
4. Austin MacDonald – Pictou, NS
5. Timothy Watson – Panama City, FL
6. Kenneth Henderson – Alto, GA
7. Nathan Jackson – McDonough, GA
8. Tony Yawn III – Roanoke, AL
9. Justin Campbell – Griffin, GA
10. Cole Cash – Bethlahem, GA
11. Hunter Burns – Thomaston, GA
12. Christina Pedano – Southlake, TX
13. Keaton Hendrix – Homerville, GA
14. Paul Owens – Quakertown, PA
DNS: Zack Miracle – Indian Trail, NC

Semi-Pro
1. Nick Woodall – Canton, GA
2. Audrie Ruark – Suwanee, GA
3. Blaze Crawford – Fayetteville, GA
4. DJ Canipe – Fallston, NC
5. Garrett Lowe – Gastonia, NC
6. Camden Prouty – Spanish Fort, AL
7. Ricky Springer – McDonough, GA
8. Brandon Brock – Hampton, GA
9. Max Brady – Marietta, GA
10. Kenny Brady – Marietta, GA
11. Jonathan Taylor – Atlanta, GA
12. Parker Brewer – Locust Grove, GA
13. Ian Hampton – Stockbridge, GA
14. Trey Tadrzak – Stockbridge, GA
15. Zac Bacon – Buchanan, GA
16. Pierce Brewer – Locust Grove, GA
17. Hayden Swank – Woodstock, GA
DNS: Jason Alder – Cooksville, MD

Pro
1. Jensen Jorgensen – Stockbridge, GA
2. Joshua Hicks – Senoia, GA
3. Cody Hall – Griffin, GA
4. Hudson Halder – Forsyth, GA
5. Cale Hall – Griffin, GA
6. Harrison Halder – Cumming, GA
7. Taylor Jorgensen – Stockbridge, GA
8. Gage Roberts – Milledgeville, GA
9. William Plemons III – Acworth, GA
10. Max Hennebaul – Monroe, GA
11. Tony Yawn – Roanoke, AL
12. Gauntt Hudgins – Savannah, GA

Masters
1. Doug Stevens – Griffin, GA
2. Bill Plemons, Jr. – Locust Grove, GA
3. Tony Armbruster – Covington, GA
4. Mark Swan – Athens, GA
5. Phillip Young – Dallas, GA
6. Wade Brewer – Locust Grove, GA
7. Randy Shubert – Stone Mountain, GA
8. Aaron Croslyn – Woodstock, GA
9. James Meredith – Locust Grove, GA
10. Dennis Hecht – Hoschton, GA
11. Robert Anderson – Covington, GA
12. Kevin Vaughn – Grovetown, GA
13. Ed Clark – Peachtree City, GA

Bandits
1. Lucas Vera – Charlotte, NC
2. Layton Harrison – Dinwiddie, VA
3. Carson Ruark – Suwanee, GA
4. Alex Meggs – Riegelwood, NC
5. Garrett Gumm – Brooks, GA
6. Bryson Matthews – Dallas, GA
7. Aiden Garcia
8. Cody King – Clear Lake, IA
9. Kyle Bacon – Buchanan, GA
10. Gianni Esposito – Dacula, GA
11. Lee Brown – Acworth, GA

Rookie Bandoleros
1. Baylor O’Neil – Grantville, GA
2. Gavin Reece – Conyers, GA
3. Bailey Buchanan – Senoia, GA
4. Kerbi Mueller – Locust Grove, GA
5. Briana Freeman – Bremen, GA
6. Jackson Reynolds – Marietta, GA
7. Jonathan Pedano – Southlake, TX
8. Kayli Kade – Hampton, GA
9. Lane Mueller – Locust Grove, GA
10. Mitchell Flater – Conyers, GA
11. Nicholas Denton – Pascagoula, MS

Outlaws
1. Parker Eatmon – Wilson, NC
2. Mason Maggio – Palm Beach Gardens, FL
3. Carson Ramsey – Charlotte, NC
4. Trevor Wester – Canton, NC
5. Whitney Meggs – Riegelwood, NC
6. Sean McElearney – Babylon, NY
7. Kelley Puckett – McDonough, GA
8. Fran Pedano – South Lake, TX
9. Kenny Brady – Marietta, GA
10. Shelby Ruark – Suwanee, GA
11. Garin Mash – Charlotte, NC
12. Sarah Sullivan – Gulf Shores, AL
13. Cameron Murray – Fuquay Varina, NC
14. Bailey North – Hampton, GA
15. Ryan Younginer – Locust Grove, GA
16. Clay Hocutt – Mobile, AL

Chargers
1. Graham Campbell – Braselton, GA
2. Blake Sasser – Monroe, NC
3. Trent Barfield – Hamilton, GA
4. Matthew Kade – Hampton, GA
5. Amanda Woodall – Canton, GA
6. Jason Ferguson – Concord, GA
7. Wilder Etheredge – Atlanta, GA
8. Lisa Scott – Dallas, GA