SENOIA, Ga. - McKenna Nelms wrote a page of history at Georgia’s Senoia Raceway on Saturday night, as the 15-year-old became the youngest female to ever win a main event at the 3/8-mile clay speedway.
The Newnan, Georgia high school student held off a late race charge from former track champion Jason Williams en route to the checkered flag and the victory in the Late Model Sportsman feature.
Nelms took the lead from fast qualifier Billy Stevenson on the second lap, and went largely unchallenged until Williams began to close with eight laps to go.
Williams cut down the nearly two-second advantage Nelms had built and closed on the leader’s back bumper with a lap and a half remaining. With the white flag in the air, Nelms and Williams raced door-to-door. Williams’ car bobbled in turn two, allowing Nelms to move back out front.
Nelms drove away to the victory while Williams had to settle for second. Stevens finished in third, with Curtis Turner in fourth and Jack Mills in fifth.
In other action, Dalton Cook dominated the Limited Late Model feature to take the victory over Dusty Jones, with Joey Armistead in third, Jimmy Johnson in fourth and Jordy Nipper in fifth.
Matt Dooley led flag-to-flag to score the Crate Late Model feature victory. Wayne Harbin finished in second, with Cruz Skinner in third.
J.J. Garrett was the winner in the Mini Stock feature, edging out Bo Minor for the victory. Tommy Faulkner came home in third, with Mark Newton in fourth and John Turner in fifth.
Robbie Woodall took the victory in the Legends feature, with Christopher Clanton, Jami Weimer, Brian Weimer and Mike Grindle rounded out the top five.
The Bomber feature was marred by a scary moment when Dorough Bright tangled with Dustin Smith turn one. The contact sent Bright’s car rolling into the wall roof first before coming to rest on its roof. Bright was extricated from his car feeling ok, but then later on taken to the hospital by his family.
Meanwhile, Brandon McDaniel held off Smith, who recovered from the earlier incident to be flagged the winner of the feature. But McDaniel lost the race in post-race tech after being disqualified for an illegal body. This handed Smith the win and moved Ben Wells to second, with Tim Harmon in third.
Jeff Robinson picked up his first career win at Senoia Raceway in the Riley’s Warriors Charger feature. Jordan Benefield finished second, with Mike Abercrombie third.
Lucas Pittman scored his first career Senoia Raceway victory as well in the Hot Shots feature, with Brandon Henderson in second and Cory Greene in third.
Senoia Raceway returns to action with “Showdown At Senoia” on October 18-20. For more info, visit SenoiaRaceway.com.
Senoia Raceway – Senoia, GA
Race Results – September 29, 2018
Late Model Sportsman
1. McKenna Nelms
2. Jason Williams
3. Billy Stevenson
4. Curtis Turner
5. Jack Mills
6. Mason Massey
7. Tanner Collins
8. Cole Compton
9. Jason Turner
10. Dalton Grindle
11. Chris Arnett
DNS: Todd Brewster
Limited Late Models
1. Dalton Cook
2. Dusty Jones
3. Joey Armistead
4. Jimmy Johnson
5. Jordy Nipper
6. Glenn Morris
7. Chris Carr
8. Thomas Mewborn
9. Shane Fulcher
10. Bailey Williams
11. Corey Payton
12. Jamie Carr
Crate Late Models
1. Matt Dooley
2. Wayne Harbin
3. Cruz Skinner
4. Jorday Nipper
5. Marty Massey
6. Dow Kirkland
7. Lee Fuller
8. Mason Massey
Hobby
1. Keith West
2. Ben Wells
3. Tim Harmon
4. Landon DeGraff
5. Ted Willingham
6. Larry Bednar
7. Chris Kozusnik
8. T.J. Joiner
9. Phillip Wallace
Bomber
1. Dustin Smith
2. Curtis Turner
3. Charlie Garrett
4. Vern Miller
5. T.J. Boetz
6. Dorough Bright
7. Scott Amoson
8. Kyle McClure
9. Larry Pierce
DQ: Brandon McDaniel
Mini Stock
1. J.J. Garrett, Auburn
2. Bo Minor
3. Tommy Faulkner
4. Mark Newton
5. John Turner
6. Joshua Till
Hot Shot
1. Lucas Pittman
2. Brandon Henderson
3. Cory Greene
4. Cale Burford
5. Cory Wilson
6. Mark Meyer
Chargers
1. Jeff Robinson
2. Jordan Benefield
3. Mike Abercrombie
4. Dave McWilliams
5. Johnny Stinchcomb
DNS: Bo Minor
Legends
1. Robbie Wooddall
2. Christopher Clanton
3. Jami Weimer
4. Brian Weimer
5. Mike Grindle
