Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series
September 25, 2016
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Casey Roberts & Chris Madden Take East Alabama Southern All Star Events

SAS PR
PHENIX CITY, AL—The Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series returned to the 38th Annual Alabama State Championships at the East Alabama Motor Speedway for the fourth consecutive year and Casey Roberts of Toccoa, GA., and two time Southern All Star champion Chris Madden of Gray Court, SC, took home the $4,000 to win paydays but it was not easy for either driver.

In Saturday night action 31 cars checked into the event and in SUNOCO Race Fuels qualifying Tod Darda of La Grange, GA., and Gar Dickson of Flintstone, GA., set fast times in their respective groups , with Darda overall fast qualifier, giving them the front row starting spots for the start of the 40 lap event.

At the drop of the green Dickson moved into the top spot coming off turn two ahead of Darda who had mechanical problems at the drop of the green flag as a possible shock broke ended his chances for his first Southern All Star win as he faded to a 19th place finish. Dickson however was the man to beat in the early portion of the race and he too was looking for his first Southern All Star career win, but on lap 17, Casey Roberts who worked his way sixth starting spot, moved around Dickson to take over the lead for the remainder of the race to get his 9th series win. Riley Hickman of Cleveland, TN., worked his magic at the bottom of the shiny slick 3/8ths mile from his 11th starting spot for a second place finish, third went to Dickson, fourth to Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN., and fifth place went to Austin Horton of Newnan, GA., from his 15h starting spot.

Finishing out the top ten were Clint Smith, Ashton Winger, Dillon Tidmore, Todd Morrow and Jason Fitzgerald

Sunday afternoon had 33 cars check in for the 40 lap event and in SUNOCO Race Fuels Qualifying Jason Hiett of Oxford, AL., and Austin Smith of Cedartown, GA., set fast time for their respective groups giving them the front row starting spots, with Smith having overall fast time.

Smith would then use this to his advantage as he would lead his first laps with the Southern All Stars and built a huge lead early in the race only to have Chris Madden of Gray Court, SC., who has the knowledge and skill of working lapped traffic at East Alabama to his advantage and he took over the top spot from Smith on lap 20 and then went on to get Southern All Star career win 50. Hiett worked his way around Smith in the latter stages of the race but could not run down Madden for the win and had to settle for the second spot, third went to Smith in his best run with the series this year, fourth to Casey Roberts who was also crowned the Alabama State Champion for 2016 and fifth place went to the 2016 and now four time Southern All Star Champion Riley Hickman, who clinched his fourth straight title after second place in points Brad Skinner of Spring Hill, TN., had to retire early because of a broke fan blade that went through radiator.

Sixth place went to Joe Armistead, seventh to Austin Horton, eighth to Ivedent Lloyd Jr, ninth to Jason Fitzgerald and tenth to Clint Smith
The Southern All Stars would like to thank all the fans that sweated it out in the near 100 degree temperatures for the weekend, the drivers and teams for participating with the series and putting on a great show, Billy, William and Alexis and all the staff at East Alabama and look forward to sanctioning the 39th Annual Alabama State Championships in 2017.

SATURDAY FINISH PENDING TIRE TEST RESULTS: 1.Casey Roberts; 2.Riley Hickman; 3.Gar Dickson; 4.Ronnie Johnson; 5.Austin Horton; 6.Clint Smith; 7.Ashton Winger; 8.Dillon Tidmore; 9.Todd Morrow; 10.Jason Fitzgerald; 11.Brad Skinner; 12.Joey Coulter; 13.Joey Armistead; 14.Austin Smith; 15.Zach Leonhardi; 16.Joe Armistead; 17.Jim Rogers; 18.Mike Nasworthy; 19.Tod Darda; 20.Tristen Sealy; 21.Jimmy Sharpe Jr; 22.Jason Hiett; 23.Jake Knowles; 24.Ivedent Lloyd Jr
DNS: Ricky Culpepper; Ryan Crane; Keith Edge; Frank Ingram; Brian Reese; Cass Fowler; Steve Roberts

SUNDAY FINISH PENDING TIRE TEST RESULTS: 1.Chris Madden; 2.Jason Hiett; 3.Austin Smith; 4.Casey Roberts; 5.Riley Hickman; 6.Joe Armistead; 7.Austin Horton; 8.Ivedent Lloyd Jr; 9.Jason Fitzgerald; 10.Clint Smith; 11.Joey Coulter; 12.Jake Knowles; 13.Austin Smith; 14.Ryan Crane; 15.Dillon Tidmore; 16.Mike Nasworthy; 17.Jimmy Sharpe Jr; 18.Jom Rogers; 19.Ashton Winger; 20.Brad Skinner; 21.Todd Morrow; 22.Ricky Culpepper; 23.Gar Dickson; 24.Steve Roberts
DNS: Frank Ingram; Tom Maddox; Ronnie Johnson, Tod Darda; Zach Leonhardi; Joey Armistead; Blake Spencer; Cass Fowler, Brian Reese

SOUTHERN ALL STAR POINTS STANDINGS: 1.Riley Hickman 1278; 2.Brad Skinner 1150; 3.Jim Rogers 1024; 4.Todd Morrow 856; 5.Casey Roberts 740; 6.Austin Horton 630; 7.Dillon Tidmore 476; 8.Ashton Winger 432; 9.Jason Hiett 432; 10.Dylan Ames 422.