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Right Place, Right Time: Others Misfortunes Assist in Hamrac’s 50-Lap Modifieds Victory

By Chuck Corder

Luck has always played a part in racing.

Donnie Hamrac is one heckuva hotshoe. The Semmes, Ala., native doesn’t need to rely on luck to earn wins.

Hamrac owns two Modified track titles at Five Flags Speedway and has won the last two Modified Snowball Derby crowns.

But even the best of drivers depend on fate to land in Victory Lane.

Fortune shined on Hamrac when he captured the 50-lap Modifieds of Mayhem season debut Friday at the famed half-mile asphalt oval on Marty White Appreciation Night.

“It’s always great to run here,� Hamrac said. “For some reason, we always run good here. This right here pays the bills.�

Jeff Letson of Madison, Ala., finished second and Ryan Redmond rounded out the podium.

The night belonged to White, the former Sportsman driver and longtime local radio personality, beginning with a heartfelt tribute.

White’s wife, Donna White, roasted her lovable husband for a few minutes before a collection of friends, fellow drivers and local dignitaries added to the fanfare.

Mayor Ashton Hayward and Gov. Rick Scott (R) each sent written proclamations honoring White. Five Flags general manager awarded White a humorous trophy of an upside-down car at its top and a premium 65-gallon Yeti cooler.

“Marty White, you’re just a man that means so much to us,� Bryant praised White. “Thanks for everything you’ve ever done at Five Flags.�

Hamrac collected the winner’s check thanks to then-leaders Billy Melvin and Ryan Paul racing each other hard with only 11 laps remaining.

Paul had been on the back of Melvin’s No. 145 bumper for nearly 10 laps when the pair approached Turn No. 3 on Lap 39.

Paul tried to kamikaze deep to the apron with Melvin still maintaining his advantage. The move proved costly for both, as Paul barely grazed Melvin’s bumper, causing both cars to go for synchronized spins.

It paved the way for Hamrac, who was lurking several car lengths back in third. Hamrac qualified seventh, as Paul took the pole, but had climbed to third by Lap 29.

Paul may have started on the pole, but Melvin immediately shot to the outside and took the lead in No. Turn 2 quickly. He rapidly built it into a six-car-length advantage in five laps.

Hamrac, who started seventh, had climbed up to third by Lap 29.

Melvin began to navigate lapped traffic halfway through, allowing Paul to pull closer to the bumper of Melvin’s No. 145.

Paul peeked underneath Melvin at Lap 32, but Melvin slammed the door as the two Mods raced along the apron.

Melvin had no margin for error. Meanwhile, Paul was licking his chops waiting for the savvy veteran to slip up or bobble and give him the daylight he desperately sought.

He got his wish when Melvin got loose going into Turn No. 3, but Paul failed to avoid a spin of his own.

Hamrac was lucky to have put himself in position to come away with a win, and extend his points lead in the Modifieds of Mayhem standings.

 

Beef O’ Brady’s Sportsman

Steve Buttrick hadn’t brought his blue No. 33 Sportsman to Victory Lane all season.

Earlier this year, the Cantonment driver had wheeled Jimmy Goodwin’s to a win while Buttrick’s car underwent some repairs.

His “slump� — using the term very loosely — ended with a win during the 25-lap feature Friday at Five Flags Speedway.

Buttrick held off Brannon Fowler, who did his best to get around his arch nemesis, but settled for a second-place finish. Jim Pokrant, fresh off his first career feature win last month, notched his second podium finish with a third.

“It was nice to finish a race with this car,� Buttrick said. “It was fun racing Brannon and all these guys.�

Dayton Sidner continued to his season of improvement by quickly assuming the lead and holding it until Buttrick took over for good on Lap 7.

Shanna Ard came into the night holding a 17-point lead over Pokrant. It appeared that cushion was comfortably secure, as Ard seemed content to glide around the half-mile in third until disaster stuck late.

His right front wheel locked up and Ard slipped to a last-place finish. Ard’s demise aided Pokrant in cutting his deficit to six points.

Despite never getting around him, Fowler was all over Buttrick’s bumper. The two perennial favorites continued their ongoing rivalry in the final seven laps, but Buttrick never budged enough to provide the opening Fowler needed.

 

Motorcycles

There are no guarantees in life except death, taxes and Rob McClendon victories at Five Flags Speedway.

The “Magic Man� once again dominated a 12-lap Motorcycles feature Friday at Pensacola’s high banks.

“I appreciate everybody staying out and watching us two-wheel guys,� McClendon said. “I hope we put on a great show for us.�

 

Kids Bike Races

Jayden Sank won the 5-under age group, and he was happy to explain his recipe for success.

“I practiced at my house on the road,� Sank said.

Aleign Mouton, 5, who finished runner-up to Sank raced nearly an extra lap around the track before track officials “blackflagged� her.

Rocky Boyd won the 6 to 9 age group handily.

“It was hard because I had to hurry,� he said.

Devin Mills cruised to Victory Lane with little challenge in 10 to 12 group on a bike that had oversized tires. Thankfully, there was no technical inspection for the young folks Friday.

“It can go on the beach or sand,� Mills described.

Sam Roberts won the 13 years-and-older division

 

Super Stocks

It was only a four-car field for the Super Stocks’ 25-lap feature Friday at Five Flags Speedway.

That did nothing to diminish the drama Bubba Winslow and young Dave Nolen waged at the famed half-mile asphalt oval.

Nolen led all but two laps Friday. When he lost clean air the first time, the recent Tate High School graduate made a daring slingshot move underneath Winslow to reclaim the lead.

But with two laps left, Nolen flat-spotted the tires just across the start-finish line. The hiccup opened the door for Winslow, who zoomed pass Nolen coming out of Turn 2 and never looked back.

“It’s a 25-lap race, so you don’t always win it on the first one,� said Winslow, a previous track champion in this division a few years ago. “Dave is definitely getting faster. Those guys are going in the right direction for sure.�

Despite the heartbreaking loss, Nolen remained upbeat about the improvements he has made this year alone.

“We lost the power steering coming outta Turn (No.) 4,� Nolen said. “The car yanked down and that’s when Winslow came up from behind us.�

 

Butler U-Pull-It Bombers

It was a race that took three attempts to start Friday at Five Flags Speedway.

But once the 20-lap Bombers feature got underway, it left an indelible impression.

When the dust settled, Mobile’s Robert Loper had captured his second win in as many months.

Fellow Mobile-area driver David Johnson and points leader Geno Denmark made a valiant charge from the back of the pack to finish third.

“It has been an awesome year so far,� Loper said. “I can’t thank my sponsors enough.�

Denmark, a three-time winner this year in Pensacola, was involved in an accident when pole sitter Corey Pittman lost control of his No. 34 all by himself.

The rest of the 17-car field managed to avoid Pittman’s troubles except for Denmark and Jay Whalen.

Denmark pitted twice, but still managed to hustle down a podium finish.

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