Carolina Clash Super Late Models
Wythe Raceway
September 20, 2014
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Chris Ferguson Leads Carolina Clash Field to Checkers at Wythe Raceway
Kennie Compton, Jr. leads Dennis Franklin by 14 points as two rolls back to Fayetteville Motor Speedway on October 4, 2014

by Mark Huey, Carolina Clash Press
RURAL RETREAT, VA (September 20) - The Carolina Clash made their traditional visit of the year to the fast, high banks at Wythe Raceway this past Saturday, September 20, 2014 for a $4000 to win 40 lap feature, sponsored by Apache Towing of Glade Springs, VA. The local towing giant proved their sponsorship to be one they would have to show up to work for, as their massive tow-truck not only was put on display and paced the opening laps of the main event, but it was used to retrieve the Nichol's Plumbing #6 car driven by G.R. Smith from beyond the turn one wall.  

Smith was prepared to have a great showing in the Norman Nichol's owned car and was fast in the first few laps of the opening session. Once the car entered turn one, something went terribly wrong. The suspension on the right front collapsed and the car dug into the surface, while running at top speed, which pivoted all of the momentum over on the right front of the car. The velocity of the thrust tipped the car on its nose, sending it flipping violently up and over and side-over-side, until making contact with the retaining wall, flipping it up and over backwards into the trees. Rescue workers and track crews worked diligently to remove Smith from the car, as the crowd awaited word on his condition. Once removed from the car, Smith was taken to a nearby hospital in Wytheville, where he was treated and released.

Carolina Clash officials spoke to Smith by phone this week and he is going to be okay, but is very thankful for the work of the track and series officials to help him during that time.

The famous super speedway of dirt is familiar to many of the Carolina Clash drivers as the series has held 24 events there since 2001. Wythe always produces high speeds and close racing. With only a handful of races remaining in the Chase, every race is critical for the chase contenders, but this one could potentially mathematically eliminate teams in the bottom tier of the top ten from any chance at the championship.
 
Dennis Franklin led the speeds in hot laps, coming very close to an old track record held by Vic Hill, with a time of 15.961 seconds. However, the track was sure to change as more hot laps were held before qualifying. Chris Ferguson was only 7th quickest in hot laps, but made the right adjustments and went on to set fast-time with 16.107. Franklin would lose only a few tenths in qualifying, but missed the fastest time by only 0.012 seconds, as he posted a time of 16.119.

The front row battle was intense on the opening lap, but Franklin made a quick race to the lead and would pace the field in the opening laps. However, after a scrub of the turn two wall by Franklin, Ferguson saw the opening and vaulted to the lead.

Doug Sanders, Travis Greer and Ben Watkins were early retirees from the event, after Watkins tagged the turn three wall with the rear of the car, damaging his spoiler. The cross-piece was ripped from the car and that made for some hairy laps as the car had no down-force to keep it from spinning the tires. He was tagged from the back by Greer and both were taken pitside.

The family team of Bo and Trevor Feathers of Winchester, VA were making their first Carolina Clash starts of the year and fought handling problems all night. The only other retiree of the event was Zack Mitchell, who continues to struggle since a runner-up finish at Cherokee.

Dennis Franklin, Scott Shirey, Billy Hicks, Anthony Sanders, and others pitted early in the race during a lengthy caution for tire changes. Franklin's tire change came after his right-rear was shredded after running second for most of the race behind Ferguson. It was apparent that something was wrong with Franklin on the lap of the incident, as his car appeared to slow in turn three.  

After the tire change, everyone awaited to watch how much ground he could make up. The night ended in disaster when another tire problem placed him in the turn one wall on lap 37.

While Ferguson battled only a few lapped cars in the final stages of the race, there was a major battle from second on back, between Kennie Compton, Johnny Pursley and Luke Roffers They put on quite a show for many laps as they battled in and around one another. David Watts was fast all night and managed a top five run.

Kyle Pierce fought an ill-handling racecar all night as he unloaded having to catch his car from the start. However, they diligently had the necessary changes and finished a sound sixth place, earning him the Safety-Kleen Hard Charger of the Race.

Billy Hicks, Anthony Sanders, Jonathan Edwards and Scott Shirey rounded out the top ten.

The Renegade Race Fuels Rookie of the Year race has Anthony Sanders (362) continuing to lead over Jonathan Edwards (353) and Kevin Wilson (349).

Kennie Compton, Jr. leads the Carolina Clash points by 14 now over Dennis Franklin, but the points are separated only by 37 points from second through sixth.

A-Main    
1 1 22 Chris Ferguson Mount Holly, NC
2 5 10 Kennie Compton Bland, VA
3 7 09 Johnny Pursley Clover, SC
4 6 21R Luke Roffers Concord, NC
5 8 9 David Watts Buchanan, VA
6 16 281 Kyle Pierce Statesville, NC
7 13 38 Billy Hicks Mt Airy, NC
8 12 421 Anthony Sanders Spartanburg, SC
9 14 32 Jonathan Edwards Clover, SC
10 11 10 Scott Shirey Swansea, SC
11 18 72 Mike Parker Fayetteville, NC
12 4 17 Tim Allen Kannapolis, NC
13 20 618 Kevin Wilson Stoneville, NC
14 2 2 Dennis Franklin Gaffney, SC
15 9 57 Zack Mitchell Princeton, NC
16 19 00 Bo Feathers Winchester, VA
17 15 27 Trever Feathers Winchester, VA
18 3 16 Ben Watkins Rock Hill, SC
19 17 11g Travis Greer Marion, VA
20 10 42 Doug Sanders Springwood, NC
21 21 22 G R Smith Cornelius, NC