Kyle Benjamin Scores First Mobile Super Late Model Win

Kyle Benjamin, seen here in Mobile victory lane with promoter Rick Crawford in 2011, returned to MIS victory lane Satuday night in Super Late Model action. Photo courtesy MIS

A race-dominant Bubba Pollard suffered a flat tire with 12 laps to go and surrendered the lead to Kyle Benjamin, who went on to capture his first career Miller Lite Super Late Model 100 victory, Saturday night at Mobile International Speedway in Irvington, AL.

Pollard led 58 of 100 green flag laps and appeared to have the event under control. This was especially true as Pollard held off Benjamin on five consecutive lap 64 restarts, beating Benjamin out of turn 2 every time.

Ironically, it was once the race went green that Benjamin was finally able to overtake Pollard. It appeared that Benjamin had a strong run coming out of turn 2 and made a bullish pass for the lead. But in fact, Pollard had a tire going down and was unable to stick his car to the bottom of the track – his strength all night long.

At one point during the race Pollard said over his radio that his car was, “so good that my dad could drive it.”

Nevertheless, Benjamin took the lead with 12 laps remaining and never looked back, winning round 2 of the Miller Lite Super Late Model Series. Pollard held on for second while Chris Davidson rounded-out the podium.

“Bubba had a really good car and with about 20 to go we saw him slip up and I made my move,” Benjamin said. “I don’t know what happened but I want to thank Jerry, Michael, my dad and everyone who made this possible. I’m really fortunate to have this opportunity.

While disappointed, Pollard was the first one to congratulate Benjamin and shared words of praise about the 14-year-old prodigy.

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“First, I’ve got to say that I think we’re all out of luck. We used it all last year,” Pollard said. “But Kyle’s an incredible talent and he didn’t give me an inch. Congratulations to him, it’s well-deserved.”

Mike Garvey, winner of Friday’s super late model event at Five Flags Speedway, appeared to have the fastest car early in the night. He qualified third to Pollard and Benjamin and started sixth once the field was inverted.

Garvey led from lap 14 to lap 30, at which point his engine let go, causing second-place Donnie Wilson to slam into the back of Garvey’s car. Neither driver was injured and Wilson would continue on to a sixth-place finish.

Pollard assumed the lead and led throughout most of the night. Laps 30-to-54 featured the longest green flag stretch of the night and the one with the most-compelling track action. Pollard and Benjamin displayed their dominance, running 1-2 nose-to-tail at one point, a full straightaway ahead of third place Jeremy Pate.

The drama was revved-up once they began lapping heavy race traffic on lap 50. That’s when Logan Boyett spun off turn four, collecting Pollard and Anthony Sergi. Pollard went heavy on the brake to avoid heavy contact and did relatively little damage. But in hindsight, that might have been the point where Pollard did the damage to his terminal tire.

Nevertheless, Pollard maintained the lead and held on throughout a myriad of restarts, setting-up his dramatic late-race battle with Benjamin for the win.

Alabama Pipe and Supply Modifieds

Bubba Pollard slid under Mike “Mad Dog” Maddox on lap 13 on the way to winning the 20-lap Alabama Pipe and Supply Modifieds feature Saturday night at Alabama’s Fastest Half-Mile.

Pollard was the fastest qualifier but the invert forced him into starting seventh. Maddox started on the pole and led the first 13 laps in a long race that featured two red flag periods for debris and oil spillage.

Chris Cotto started the race on the outside pole and got the race off to an explosive start when he dropped a motor going into the first turn. Donnie Hamrac was directly behind Cotto when it happened and slammed right into the back of Cotto’s black no. 17. Hamrac was unharmed but Cotto was unable to finish the race.

Once the race resumed, it was Pollard who took charge, systematically picking off his opponents one-by-one. Unlike most local divisions, the modifieds are open-wheeled, making contact inadvisable and the passing extremely difficult. Pollard caught Maddox on lap 11 and completed the pass on lap 13. Pollard would lead the rest of the way, picking up his second win in as many tries in a modified this year at the famed Alabama speedway.

Donald Crocker finished second with Irvington’s Jason Huffmaster completing the podium.

Maddox fell off the pace in the closing laps and finished the race in eighth.

“What an awesome car,” Pollard said. “That was a lot of fun and I hope it’s a preview of what we can do in our late model. There are a lot of people who made this win possible. I can’t name them all but they know who they are.”

Bob’s Speed Shop Sportsman

Chad Robinson battled side-by-side with Mark Barnhill for over a lap before completing a pass for the lead on lap 10 to win the sportsman feature Saturday night at Mobile International Speedway.

Robinson started the feature in tenth but quickly battled his way to the top five by lap 4. A lap later, Robinson found himself in third and ready to pounce on the leaders.

An opportunity arrived on lap 8 when Robinson pushed Gulfport’s Jason Smith out of the groove for second and set his sights on Barnhill and the lead. Two laps later, he was the leader and would lead the rest of the way.

“The car was just dialed in all day,” Robinson said. “Thanks to my sponsors, MIS, and everyone who made this happen.”

The win is Robinson’s second in a row at Mobile International Speedway and gets him to within 107 points of championship leader, Brannon Fowler, who finished in 14th with a broken ball joint.

James Patrick, remained second in points after finishing fifth and moved to within 60 points of Fowler’s mark.

Lee “Red Dog” Reynolds was fighting for a podium spot with Jeff Smith on lap 14 (of 20) when Reynolds sailed up the track in turns 1 and 2 and sent Smith over the hill. Track officials penalized Reynolds to the back of the field and he responded by pulling off the track and collecting a DNF. He officially placed in 12th for his efforts.

Island Motor II Bombers

Brandon Tipton used a lap four restart to get around TJ Thompson and held off late-race charges from Thompson and John Beasley to win the 15-lap bomber feature Saturday night at Alabama’s Fastest Half-Mile.

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Thompson started fourth and quickly made his way to the front. He held the top spot for the first four laps, and three cautions, until Tipton used the third restart to divebomb under Thompson and assume the lead.

Once pushed out of the groove, Thompson was unable to get back down and was passed by Jayme Corry, John Beasley and Rusty Powell Sr. Thompson finally found his way back down but was buried in fifth.

The major accident of the race occurred on lap 10 when Beasley shoved Corry off the hill in turn 4, where he eventually landed sideways in the tree and tire barrier. Corry was unharmed but unable to finish the race.

“I can officially say that I ramped a tree,” Corry said. “I’m glad the car is relatively okay. We’ll get it fixed and come back out next time and go for the win.”

Beasley would restart second but just couldn’t get his car going after the accident, leaving Tipton and Thompson to settle it amongst themselves. Matt Manuel got under Beasley to finish third and Beasley finished fourth.

Rusty Powell Sr. also had a podium run going for him until lap 6, when he lost a wheel cap, which sent his left front tire spiraling onto the backstretch…without his car. He was scored in 14th.

Mobile International Speedway will be back in action on May 12 for heat and feature races for the Island Motors II Bombers, Bob’s Speed Shop Sportsman and Praytor Realty Super Stocks-Trucks and Cooling Tower Pro Late Models. Visit mobilespeedway.com for more info.

Mobile International Speedway – Irvington, AL
Miller Lite 100 – April 28, 2012

1. 71 – Kyle Benjamin
2. 26 – Bubba Pollard
3. 41 – Chris Davidson
4. 41 – TJ Reaid
5. 42 – Stephen Davis
6. 2 – Donnie Wilson
7. 99 – Casey Smith
8. 43 – Dennis Schoenfeld
9. 10 – Danny Bagwell
10. 86 – Chet Morrison
11. 39 – Hal Martin
12. 47 – Allen Karnes
13. 22 – Jeremy Pate
14. 22 – Josh Bragg
15. 58 – John Coffman
16. 33 – Ricky Brooks
17. 97 – Eric Wilkerson
18. 99 – Dale Little
19. 72 – Logan Boyett
20. 20 – Anthony Sergi
21. 38 – Josh Hamner
22. 1 0 Mike Garvey
23. 97 – Cade Dillard