EASTABOGA, Ala. - David Brannon held off the cold and held off a hard charging Donald McIntosh to score the victory in the Sunday’s 25th annual Ice Bowl at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala.
Brannon, from Elora, Tenn., scored the win in the dirt Super Late Model feature driving the Elora Gin Company Special. The 50 lap race ran flag-to-flag without a caution.
The race lived up to its billing, as the temperature was 31 degrees at feature race time, with a wind chill of 27 degrees. Despite the chill in the air, there was hot racing on the track.
Brannon started on the pole position, with the defending race champion Tim Roszell starting on the outside of the front row. Brannon and Roszell waged a side-by-side war for the point in the opening laps with Roszell leading the first two laps. Brannon led lap three, Roszell led the fourth lap and Brannon led lap five.
Roszell took the lead on lap six, and held it for five laps until Brannon drove to the low side on lap 11 to take the lead. From there, he would go lead the rest of the distance. McIntosh, of Dawsonville, Ga., tried to move up to challenge in the closing laps of the race, but was unable to post a threat.
Brannon scored the win and the $6,000 top prize. McIntosh finished second, with Jason Hiett taking the third spot. Tim Busha came from the 14th starting spot to finish fourth and earn the Hard Charger of the Race Award. Ethan Hunter was fifth.
Michael Page, William Thomas, Austin Kirkpatrick, Roszell and Brian Connor rounded out the top ten.
In other action, William Thomas, of Phenix City, Ala., drove the J.W. Miller Land and Timber Special to a $3,000 victory in the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series 50-lap main event, Round 1 of the eight-race RockAuto.com Winter Shootout. It marked Thomas’ second Ice Bowl trophy.
The track was multi-groove for the NeSmith Late Models, as pole sitter Jimmy Elliott found the bottom groove to his liking early in the race, leading the first 14 laps. Veteran wheelman Ray Cook dusted found traction in the high line and sailed around the outside of Elliott to take the lead on lap 15. Meanwhile, Thomas found a groove he liked in the middle of the track.
Thomas methodically worked his way to the front of the pack, and took the lead from Cook on lap 32. Once he established himself in the lead, Thomas never looked back and led the rest of the way unchallenged.
Cook finished second second, with third going to Chase Edge. Elliott took the fourth spot, and John Ownbey was fifth.
Thirteen-year-old Cruz Skinner, Ethan Hunter, Ryan King, Greg Martin and Brandon Williams rounded out the top ten.
With the Ice Bowl in the books, officials at Talladega Short Track can now focus on the construction of a new control tower and main concession stand for the speedway. The original structures were lost in a fire on Dec. 27.
For more information on upcoming events at the speedway, visit TalladegaShortTrack.com.
The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series RockAuto.com Winter Shootout continues January 28-29 at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL, followed by a pair of races at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, GA on February 5 and 6 and two races at Cochran Motor Speedway in Cochran, GA on February 27 and 28.
For more information, visit NesmithRacing.com.
Talladega Short Track – Eastaboga, AL
25th Annual Ice Bowl – Jan. 10, 2016
POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS
1. 1 33 David Brannon Elora, TN 50
2. 3 7 Donald McIntosh Dawsonville, GA 50
3. 5 1 Jason Hiett Lincoln, AL 50
4. 14 15 Tim Busha Boaz, AL 50
5. 6 15h Ethan Hunter Chattanooga, TN 50
6. 12 18 Michael Page Douglasville, GA 50
7. 4 A19 William Thomas Phenix City, AL 50
8. 8 58 Austin Kirkpatrick Ocala, FL 50
9. 2 25 Tim Roszell Anniston, AL 50
10. 9 77 Brian Connor Augusta, GA 49
11. 18 86 Brian Rickman Columbus, MS 49
12. 10 15b Brian Smith Sand Rock, AL 49
13. 11 11 Cruz Skinner Oxford, AL 49
14. 13 35 Dallas Cooper Talladega, AL 49
15. 24 29 Jason Welshan Maryville, TN 49
16. 22 62 Cody King McDonough, GA 49
17. 15 376 Mark Bangs Rainbow City, AL 48
18. 9 57 Josh Adkins Talladega, AL 48
19. 23 85 Tom Maddox Centre, AL 48
20. 20 G9 Eric Grainger Dallas, GA 48
21. 19 55 Terrance Nowell Phenix City, AL 48
22. 16 15h Luke Hoffner Tubotville, PA 48
23. 17 41 Ted Lackey Munford, AL 32
24. 21 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC 7
NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series
25th Annual Ice Bowl – Jan. 10, 2016
POS STRT CAR # DRIVER HOMETOWN LAPS
1. 9 19 William Thomas Phenix City, AL 50
2. 5 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC 50
3. 12 18 Chase Edge LaFayette, AL 50
4. 1 J39 Jimmy Elliott Cleveland, TN 50
5. 10 25 John Ownbey Cleveland, TN 50
6. 14 11 Cruz Skinner – Y Oxford, AL 50
7. 13 3 Ethan Hunter Chattanooga, TN 50
8. 2 30 Ryan King Seymour, TN 50
9. 8 24 Greg Martin Oliver Springs, TN 50
10. 3 95 Brandon Williams Crossville, TN 50
11. 6 17x Adam Gauldin Talladega, AL 50
12. 20 14 Tyler Clem – Y St. Petersburg, FL 50
13. 21 39 Eddie King Jr. Knoxville, TN 49
14. 24 C57 Dallas Cooper Talladega, AL 49
15. 18 57 Josh Adkins Talladega, AL 49
16. 16 14x Will Herrington Cochran, GA 48
17. 17 29 Jason Welshan Maryville, TN 33
18. 22 521 Mickey Trosclair Luling, LA 27
19. 15 85 Tom Maddox Centre, AL 26
20. 7 00m Monte Skinner Saraland, AL 22
21. 11 23 Ahnna Parkhurst – Y Evans, GA 16
22. 4 8 Grant Pearl Anniston, AL 15
23. 23 22 Will Roland – Y Jasper, GA 12
24. 19 5 Rodney Weaver Danville, AL 6
Y – Denotes Sunoco Young Guns Challenge Series Driver
