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Mason Leads Every Lap En Route to Modifieds of Mayhem Win; Ard Nudges Buttrick for Spectacular Victory

By Chuck Corder

How long does it take to erase a nightmare?

For veteran short-track driver Okie Mason, it took about an hour Friday night at Five Flags Speedway.

The 54 year old from Kushla, Ala., started the 50-lap Modifieds of Mayhem feature from the pole and never once relinquished it in a wire-to-wire trip to Victory Lane.

“I’m sorry I didn’t put on a great show, but sometimes it works that way,� Mason half-seriously apologized to the fans. “There ain’t a better feeling than winning in Pensacola and Five Flags.�

And that jolt of euphoria surely felt more rejuvenating after the miserable season Mason has endured whether he has been behind the wheel of a Super Stocks, Modifieds or Pro Trucks vehicle.

Just a few years ago, he was tying a bow on two track championships in two divisions. Mason also owns a Super Stocks Snowball Derby title.

Despite his struggles through 2016’s early months, the man who gives God all the glory doesn’t seem deterred and keeps a positive outlook.

“It’s a blast,� Mason said. “I love racing. It can be a wheelbarrow. As long as I can win, I love it.�

He stole the thunder from Jeff Letson and Donald Crocker, who finished second and third, respectively.

Letson added to his the Modifieds of Mayhem points lead with the runner-up finish.

“That was a good clean race,� Letson said. “Congratulations to Okie. Those guys have been working hard this year. We were pretty good, and I’m tickled with second.�

Both Letson and Crocker kept up with Mason during the opening half of the race. There was a four-car race for the lead with Adam Crawford running second much of the night.

Crocker and Crawford battled with Crawford deftly protecting second for the first 40 laps. When Crocker missed a golden opportunity to get underneath Crawford, Letson saw his opening and darted right by Crawford.

Crocker eventually got by Crawford on Lap 46.

“We had a good car,� Crocker said. “The car was handling great, but there’s something we’ve gotta work on to get better and we haven’t figured out what it is. It sure is aggravating.�

 

Faith Chapel Super Stocks

Todd Jones had an easy night Friday.

It took the lead from Bill Cooley on Lap 5 and extended his points lead in the Faith Chapel Super Stocks class with his third 25-lap feature win of the season.

“I guess it’s better be lucky than good,� Jones said. “We struggled last time. We thought we had fixed the problems, but it’s not living up to its potential right now.�

Young Andrue Nolen enjoyed his best career finish with a second and Cooley rounded out the podium in third.

Jones’ route to his route was a bit unexpected. The same field of nearly 10 cars had an enjoyable and competitive heat race. The promise of a second act never came to fruition.

 

The Dock on Pensacola Beach Sportsmen

Shanna Ard made his swan song count.

The two-time defending The Dock on Pensacola Beach Sportsmen track champion announced after his 35-lap Sportsmen Spectacular feature win Friday night at Five Flags that he’s going to give Pro Trucks a shot the rest of the season.

Ard put the bumper to Steve Buttrick on the back straightaway on Lap 28, got around the feared blue No. 33 and never looked back.

Buttrick finished runner-up to Ard and the two shared a long, semi-heated discussion in Victory Lane about racing etiquette. The two agreed to disagree, but shook hands as they returned to their respective cars.

“The car was hooked up pretty good,� Ard said. “That’s just racing with Steve. He’s done it to me.�

Ard repeatedly put his front fender to Buttrick’s bumper on preceding laps, but the four-time Sportsmen Snowball Derby champion wouldn’t budge.

Ard wasn’t letting up that easy, though. He remained Buttrick’s shadow all around the famed half-mile asphalt oval.

With seven laps remaining, he slammed into the back and jostled Buttrick. That time, Buttrick couldn’t right the ship and began to swerve down the back straightaway.

It was all Ard needed, as he became the fourth leader of the night, and Buttrick missed his chance at immediate payback.

“Shanna had the fastest car of the night, but I hate getting put sideways to get passed,� Buttrick said.

Gulf Breeze driver Shawn Laws rounded out the podium in third for his best career finish at Five Flags.

 

Butler U-Pull-It Bombers

B.J. Leytham’s win Friday at Five Flags was doubly sweet.

The Mobile-area driver got his fifth 25-lap Butler U-Pull-It Bombers feature win of the season and moved into first in the Bombers points standings.

Tommy Blocker was second and Derek “Kane� Long rounded out the podium in third.

Robert Balkum, who came into Friday as the Bombers points leader, carded his first DNF of the season when he broke a motor midway through the 20 lapper.

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