Neat, Despain, Goodman, Carr and Patterson Take Wins on Opening Night
By ....James Essex BROWNSTOWN, IN (March 10) – The Brownstown Speedway opened its 60th year of racing on Saturday Night hosting five divisions of racing. Brad Neat of Dunnville, KY captured the Late Model feature, Elliott Despain of Campbellsville, KY took the UMP Modified main, Dusten Carr of Scottsburg, IN won the Pure Stock Feature, Justin Patterson of North Vernon, IN won his first career main taking the Hornet division victory and Cullen Goodman of Hymera, IN was victorious in the Super Stock finale. The Late Model 25-lap main event was a hotly contested race from start-to-finish as Brad Neat would take his second career win at Brownstown. Justin Rattliff of Campbellsville, KY would lead the first five laps of the race with constant pressure from Greg Johnson of Bedford, IN. The complexion of the race would change after a lap restart as Johnson would take the lead in turn two from Rattliff as both Rattliff and Neat, who was running third, would lose several positions in the running order. Johnson would then fend off challenges from Kent Robinson of Bloomington, IN for the next seven laps as Neat, who had had dropped to eighth place charged back using the top groove of the race track as the frontrunners were running the bottom. Neat would lap-after-lap gain a spot until he reached second on the 15th circuit. Neat would then pull alongside Johnson in the battle for the top spot as the two ran side-by-side for a lap until Neat was finally able to clear Johnson for the lead. A caution with five laps to go set up a five-lap dash to the finish as Neat was able to pull away in the waning laps for the win. Neat’s only other win at Brownstown was in 2005 when he won a non-winners feature race the night before the Jackson 100 that year. “It’s great to win here at Brownstown, it’s been a while, the track was great tonight, if it is like this for the Icebreaker the fans are going to see some great racing, I borrowed a couple of my brother Dustin’s crew to come up here tonight, we will be back here in two weeks with a brand new MasterSbilt Race Car and maybe we’ll end up right back here in victory lane,” said the 32-year-old Neat. Johnson, who led for 11 laps during the race in the Jack Rainey-owned, Bedford Transport, Rayburn Chevrolet barely edged out Rattliff at the finish to take second as he had to hold off a last lap challenge from the young Kentucky driver. Rattliff’s MGL Auto Sales, Estes Racing Engines, Bloomquist Race Cars entry would take home third followed by Jeremy Hines of Seymour, IN in the Lloyd’s Body Shop, Cornett Racing Engines, MasterSbilt and Joe Janowski of Carmel, IN rounded out the top five in the Janowski Motorsports, MasterSbilt. In the UMP Modified Division Elliott Despain of Campbellsville, KY captured his first win at Brownstown taking home the checkered flag in the 25-lap main event. Despain was unchallenged over the last half of the race as he sped on for the victory in the Lucas Oil Products, Knox Ford, Family Eyecare, PRC, Southern Indiana Rock Drilling, BSB, Chandler Electric Heating and Cooling, SEF Fuels by VP, Speedecals, Dale Meers Racing Engines Bandit Ford. “My whole family has been coming here for a long-time and its feels great to finally get a win here at Brownstown, it’s one of the best tracks in the country, I have to thank my mom and dad and everybody else who makes this possible, the track was excellent tonight and we look forward to coming back.” Matt Boknecht of Seymour, IN charged from his 10th starting spot to finish second in his Boknecht Trucking, Travis Kern Racing Engines, Impressive Race Cars entry. Richie Lex of Morgantown, IN came from 17th to place third in his Community Chrysler Jeep, Hovis Racing Engines, Black Widow Race Cars #7. Completing the top five were defending track champion, Clint DeMoss of Bloomington, IN in his Reid Dallas for Senate, Travis Kern Racing Engines, Bandit Race Cars modified with Daryl Herbert of Greensburg, IN finishing fifth in the Zimmerman’s Speed Shop, SPEC Racing Engines, Griffis Race Cars entry. Another first-time winner Brownstown was Dusten Carr of Scottsburg, IN who captured the Pure Stock Feature. Carr would lead the entire race, but he had to hold his breath in the last few laps as Mickey Hines pulled alongside of him in turn two with a couple of laps to go, but Carr fought off the challenge of Hines as he went on to score his first win. “Man this is awesome, I have to thank all my crew and family and everybody else for their help, thanks to (Tim) Keithley for giving us a great place to race at, this is something I will always remember,” said the winner afterwards. Carr’s race car is sponsored by Bowman Auto Group, Bruce’s Machine, Ware Energy, BDC Automotive, T&S Refractories and Hard Drive Graphix. In the Super Stock class another new winner emerged as Cullen Goodman of Hymera, IN captured his first win at Brownstown. Goodman took over the race lead on lap 17 from Jimmy Cummins who had led the first 16 laps of the event. Goodman took advantage of Cummins getting boxed in behind a slower car. Goodman . Goodman’s Rick Gumm Race Cars entry is sponsored by Wilson Auto Repair and Lambert’s 24 hour towing. Cummins of Highland, IL came home second followed by 8-time track champion, Tim Clark of North Vernon, IN, Troy Clark of North Vernon, IN and Tyler Cain of Seymour, IN. And finally the fourth first-time winner of the night was Justin Patterson of North Vernon, IN who won a terrific battle in the Hornet division main event. Patterson and Dallas Bowman went at it tooth-and-nail for the lead in what was going to be a great finish, but Bowman was disqualified when he hit Patterson in the rear causing him to spin. Bowman was sent to the pit area for the night as Patterson was put back in the lead which he never relinquished on his way to his first career victory. Patterson’s Cavalier is sponsored by Lee’s Garage, Roark’s Garage, Karen Clark, West Trucking, Rob and Jo’s Body Shop, Kroot’s and Metal Cutting Tech. His father, Jeff Patterson owns the car. Trailing Patterson across the stripe was Dan Morgan, Chris Corbin, David Giedling and Alex Terrell. Coming up this Saturday, March 17th at Brownstown will be the Indiana Late Model Series along with UMP Modifieds, Hornets, Bombers and Super Stocks.March 10, 2012
SUMMARY
SUPER LATE MODELS (22 ENTRIES) HEAT ONE: Kent Robinson, Jeremy Hines, Michael Chilton, Shane Cottle, Logan Mounce, Tommy Carlton, Brandon Dye HEAT TWO: Justin Rattliff, Steve Barnett, Chris Streeval, Matt Patus, Mike Meyers, Alan Magner, Tyler Allen HEAT THREE: Greg Johnson, Brad Neat, Joe Janowski, KY Harper, Greg Kendall, Edgar Godsey, Jeff Shakleford, Mike Mcevoy FEATURE: Brad Neat, Greg Johnson, Justin Rattliff, Jeremy Hines, Joe Janowski, Kent Robinson, Michael Chilton, KY Harper, Chris Streeval, Steve Barnett, Greg Kendall, Tyler Allen, Mike Meyers, Edgar Godsey, Matt Patus, Jeff Shakelford, Tommy Carlton, Shane Cottle, Alan Magner, Logan Mounce, Mike Mcevoy, Brandon Dye