Ultimate Super Late Model Series
I-77 Speedway
September 12, 2013
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ROBERTS: NEW TRACK RECORD, WIN #6 AND POCKETS $5100 at I-77 SHRINE EVENT

Chester SC- I77 Speedway hosted the Chester Shrine Race with the Ultimate Super Late Model Series taking center stage on a rare Thursday night Ultimate event. Casey Roberts drew the number 1 pill in qualifying order. Usually not the best spot to qualify, but as so many times this year it worked out just right for Roberts. Roberts went out first in VP Race Fuels Race for the Pole and set a new track record with a blazing quick time of 16.541. Rambo Dennis Franklin was second quick with Chris Madden and Jeff Smith locking themselves in to the main.

Kid Quick Zack Mitchell led the FK Rod Ends Bmain to the green. Mitchell quickly took the lead over Ronnie Hoover. Hoover was busy watching the rear view mirror with Chris Ferguson working to get under him. Ferguson moved to 2nd with 3 laps to go in the 8 lap bmain. Hoover held off a hard charging Anthony Sanders for third with Sanders taking the fourth spot.

Fireworks lit the sky as the field came to green. Roberts chose the outside spot on the front row pushing Rambo to the inside. Roberts in his Capitol chassis shot to a 2 car advantage into the turn. Rambo fought back on the inside as the front row duo battled for the first couple of laps side by side. Roberts never bobbled and kept Rambo pinched to the inside. Rambo fell in line with Chris Madden right on his bumper. Jeff Smith, who started 4th, slipped a little high on the first lap and lost a position to Ferguson. Ferguson was charging and began to reel in the top 3 when caution fell on lap 8 as Madden stopped at the top of turn 4. Track officials radioed back to the tower that Madden had a fuel line come off and was done for the night. While under caution, Rambo had some mechanical demons expose themselves and was forced to pull it in to the pits and call it a night.

Roberts took off on the restart and pulled a couple of length advantage over Ferguson, who inherited the 2nd spot under caution. After a couple of laps, Ferguson found something and began to reel in the 2012 champion and current points leader. Ferguson began to pull to the very bottom off of turn 4 and pulled alongside Roberts down the front straightaway. Roberts beat back the challenge for several laps when the caution fell for a Kevin Godwin spin on lap 15. Brian Ledbetter brought the caution right back out on lap 16 for a flat right rear.

When the green came back out, Roberts again pulled to the lead and again Ferguson began to show his power after several laps eventually pulling almost even at the flagstand right as the caution was displayed. The field was red flagged for a serious medical emergency outside turn 3 involving a fan. Medical teams were dispatched. Back to this shortly.

The field was under the red flag while the medical staff was working on the fan, and until a second unit could arrive. Once that second unit arrived the field refired and went back green. Roberts and Ferguson battled once again distancing themselves from Jeff Smith and Zack Mitchell running 3rd and 4th. We stayed green til the checkers flew, with Roberts holding off Ferguson for the final laps.

Roberts picked up his 6th win of the Ultimate season and stretched his point lead even farther. Tough luck hit Britt Miller, who was running second in Ultimate Championship points, as his race hauler broke down on the way over the mountains from his Tennessee home.

Back to the medical situation, Ultimate official, Alton Wilson, a paramedic, was just steps away when Sam Ledbetter, father of Brian Ledbetter the pilot of the #07, began to have chest pains and went in to cardiac arrest . Alton’s years of training put him in autopilot and he began to perform CPR which revived Ledbetter. Ledbetter was transported to the local hospital and it was reported he was awake and talking before fans left the speedway. Please consider Sam in your prayers for a speedy recovery.

Lavonia Speedway, Saturday Sept 14, is the next stop on the Ultimate tour. The crews will rip the roofs off as we will run the 40 lap main event topless in the Georgia State Championships

The Ultimate Series would like to thank all of our partners, VP Race Fuels, Hoosier Tires, FK Rod Ends, City Chevrolet, Thomas Clarke Performance, Rocket Chassis, Vicci apparel and American Racer .

Results from I-77 Speedway

1 - 101 Casey Roberts
2 - 21 Chris Ferguson
3 - 70 Jeff Smith
4 - 57 Zack Mitchell
5 - 17G Mike Gault
6 - 71 Larry Timms
7 - 421 Anthony Sanders
8 - 21C Frank Coates
9 - G2 Kevin Godwin
10 - 5 Ronnie Hoover
11 - 07 Brian Ledbetter
12 - 76 Brandon Overton
13 - 2 Rambo Franklin
14 - 44M Chris Madden

B-Main    
1 57 Zack Mitchell  
2 21 Chris Ferguson  
3 5 Ronnie Hoover  
4 421 Anthony Sanders  
5 71 Larry Timms  
6 17G Mike Gault  
7 76 Brandon Overton  
8 07 Brian Ledbetter  
9 21C Frank Coates  
10 G2 Kevin Godwin  

Fast Time: 101 Casey Roberts 16.541