JOHN GILL SADDLES UP FOR BROWNSTOWN VICTORY
By: Chris Nunn

On a night where the temperatures were scorching, the racing was that much hotter, as John Gill scored his second feature win on the season at Brownstown. Tim Prince would lead the field to Rusty Nunn's green flag with Brad Cummings, Brian Wilhite, and Steve Godsey in tow. Cummings would lose his second spot to Wilhite on the second circuit, as Prince would hold the lead. Wilhite would hound Prince on lap three for the lead but would have his progress hindered by a caution for an incident involving Dan Walden and Gary Hardin. Prince would lead the field to the cone on the restart, with Wilhite on his tail. Back a little ways, Gill would make his move into the top five getting past Dan Sturgeon. The caution would come out again, as Mike Jewell and A.J. Bingham would get into it in turn four. On the restart, Wilhite would make his move on Prince, taking the lead away on the low side. Prince would not be undaunted, as he would shoot back around Wilhite for the point. Wilhite would now be in danger of losing his second spot to Godsey. Wilhite's run would end, along with Cummings' as both would suffer momentum ending ailments, Wilhite going through the infield, and Cummings going out with a flat tire. Godsey would now move in and battle it out with Prince for the lead. They would ride door to door for a bit, with Godsey ultimately taking the spot. Then business would pick up on lap 10, as Gill would make his move on Tim Prince for the second spot. The two would touch, and Prince went spinning in turn two bringing out a yellow. Godsey would smash the gas at the cone on the restart with Gill and Brad Barrow behind him. Gill would make a move on the low side of Godsey and take the lead on lap 11. A couple of weeks ago in another article, I said "Never take your eyes off of Mike Jewell at the Brownstown Speedway." By lap 13, Jewell had made his way to the fourth spot from the 18th starting position. The caution would fly once again on lap 14 for a Shannon Reed spin. The restart would be voided due to an incident involving Greg Kendall. The field would go green again with Gill at the point. Jewell would make a move on Barrow for the third spot, then head forward to battle with Godsey for second. Coming out of turn four, they would get together at the line, sending both drivers back a few positions. Barrow would take over second, and Mark Barber would take the third spot. Jewell would get back around Barber for the third spot, but nobody would have anything for Gill, as he would take the checkers a full straightaway ahead of Barrow. Jewell, Barber, Mike Bechelli, Prince, Godsey, Dennis Boknecht, A.J. Bingham, and Walden would round out the top ten. The winning sponsors on the Gill mount were: Helena, Performance Plus Car Wash, ELROD, Wildsode Race Graphics, and the chassis of choice, was a Rocket.

The UMP Modified division was a one man show, as Bedford, IN native Darin George went flag to flag for his first win on the season. George, driving the Welin Motorsports, Shorty's Bar and Grill #82, took to the bottom groove and never strayed from it as he successfully held off Lee Hobbs, who also was on the low side and kept trying to poke the nose under George in hopes of getting around him. The efforts proved to be futile, as George beat Hobbs to the line. Rounding out the top ten were Matt Boknecht, Earl Plessinger, Adam Sasser, Brady Short, Nelson Gingery, Rick Gumm, Dan McCullough, and Zach Carney would round out the top ten.

In Super Stock action, Gary Green would take his second feature win of the season leading all 20 laps in the process. Lee Hobbs would finish in the runner up spot once again after starting from the fifth spot. Hobbs got around Keith Deppe for the third spot on lap 3, then would make a move for the second spot, getting around Mike Fields on lap 11. Hobbs didnt have enough for Green who hugged that bottom groove all the way to the pay window. Green is sponsored by First Class Business Systems, Interstate Fuel Injections, Big O Tires, and Brownstown Mini Storage.

Matt Cummings held off a hard charging Bubba Woods by about half a car length in the always exciting Bomber division. You can always expect a great race with these guys, week in and week out. Cummings darted out to the lead at the start with Clifton Barron and Woods in tow. Woods would make the move for second getting around Barron, and setting sail for Cummings. Woods would catch up to Cummings with two laps to go, and hound him on the high side. Coming out of the final turn, Cummings would have the momentum on the bottom to hold off Woods by about half a car length at the finish. Woods, Barron, Jim Ruddick, Ray Godsey Jr., Robert Walters, Larry Harris, Willie Sallee, Roger Reichenbacker, and Mike Birch would round out the top ten