Ultimate Series SLM
Cherokee Speedway
October 1, 2011
________________________________________

Chris Ferguson Claims $4,000 in Stick Elliot Memorial at Cherokee

by Gene Murphy
GAFFNEY, SC - On Saturday night, the 27th annual Stick Elliott Memorial at Cherokee Speedway celebrated the memory of one great racer, and displayed the skills of another potential great one. Chris Ferguson, of Mt. Holly, N.C., dominated the race from the drop of the green, leading flag to flag to win the 40 lap Ultimate Super Late Model Series feature, and picked up $4,000 for his victory.

Ferguson started on the front row alongside series point leader and pole-winner Chip Brindle. An aggressive move on the first lap by Ferguson earned him the lead, and ultimately, the victory. With the win, Ferguson also took the points lead.

"I knew we kinda got a good jump on Chip, I might have had about a nose (of the car) ahead of him at the flagstand," Ferguson said. "Usually if you can pinch the corner, you can cut off about a car length or two coming off. I pulled up at the last second, just a little, going down the backstretch, and felt my back end pick up just a little bit. Then I knew (Brindle) was there. Then I immediately jerked back down."

From that point on, it was all Ferguson. Brindle closed in to within a car length just past the halfway mark, but on lap 26 suffered a mechanical failure. With Brindle parked in the pits, Ferguson cruised to the win. At the stripe, his lead over second-place finisher Jeff Smith was about a straightaway. Rounding out the top five was Brent Dixon, Spartanburg's Jeff Cooke, and Jay Sessoms.

Stick Elliot Memorial Results: (1) Chris Ferguson, (2) Jeff Smith, (3) Brent Dixon, (4) Jeff Cooke, (5) Jay Sessoms, (6) Casey Roberts, (7) Ricky Weeks, (8) John Henderson, (9) Mike Gault, (10) Travis Leake, (11) Daniel Baggerly, (12) Doug Sanders, (13) Chip Brindle, (14) Ross Bailes, (15) Thomas Hedgepath, (16) Kelly Thacker, (17) Zach Mitchell, (18) Dennis Williams, (19) Johnny Pursley

Next on the series schedule is the season-ending Blue Gray 100 at Cherokee on November 20th. Chris Ferguson leads defending champ Casey Roberts by a mere 2 points, and Chip Brindle is currently in third place only 4 points. With these 3 drivers nearly deadlocked for the points lead, this traditional event now has an increase level of tension to add to the mix along with the $10,000 top prize.

Ultimate SLM Points Standings
1) Chris Ferguson, 2) Casey Roberts, 3) Chris Ferguson, 4) Ross Bailes, 5) Daniel Baggerly, 6) Zach Mitchell, 7) Jonathan Davenport, 8) Ricky Weeks 9) Chris Madden, 10) Johnny Pursley

SASE-ULTIMATE Super Late Model Series 2011 Schedule
March 4 Modoc Speedway CHRIS MADDEN
March 13 Cherokee Speedway JONATHAN DAVENPORT
April 2 311 Speedway JONATHAN DAVENPORT
April 16 Gordon Park Speedway JOHN HENDERSON
April 23 Volunteer Speedway JIMMY OWENS
June 14 Laurens Speedway ROSS BAILES
July 3 Cherokee Speedway CHIP BRINDLE
July 23 (S) Virginia Motor Speedway STEVE SHAVER
Sept 2 (F) Wythe Raceway CHRIS MADDEN
Sept 17 (S) Cherokee Speedway CASEY ROBERTS
Sept 24 (S) Wythe Raceway JONATHAN DAVENPORT
October 1 (S) Cherokee Speedway CHRIS FERGUSON
Nov 20 (SU) Cherokee Speedway Gaffney, SC $10,000 to win Blue/Gray

A-Main
1) Chris Ferguson #22
2) Jeff Smith #18M
3) Brent Dixon #1D
4) Jeff Cooke #99
5) Jay Sessoms #84
6) Casey Roberts #101
7) Ricky Weeks #1W
8 ) John Henderson Jr. #2X
9) Mike Gault #17
10) Travis Leake #4T4
11) Daniel Baggerly #16
12) Doug Sanders #42
13) Chip Brindle #21
14) Ross Bailes #B4
15) Thomas Hedgepath #U1
16) Kelly Thacker #V8
17) Zack Mitchell #57
18) Dennis Williams #76
19) Johnny Pursley #F1