HAMPTON, Ga. - Dawson Fletcher looked to make the most of the opportunity to earn bonus points in Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Thursday Thunder Legends Series VP Racing Fuels Pro division on the front stretch “Thunder Ring.”
With the option to choose where to start in the field in order to try to earn bonus points, last week’s winner Fletcher chose to start last.
Although Cody Hall took the initial lead away from Rafe Slate, it was obvious that Fletcher was out to capitalize on his good fortune. Making his way up to fourth just five laps in, Fletcher seized the third position away from Slate on the sixth lap. By lap 20, Fletcher had passed Jensen Jorgensen and Hall. Fletcher ran with the lead and captured his second straight win of the season.
“I knew we had a great car thanks to Doug Stevens who has been perfect the past couple of weeks, explained Fletcher. “I felt confident in the car and knew that if I was slow and picked my way up to the front I might be able to get it.”
When asked why he chose to start last Fletcher said, “We missed one race and if we want to be in contention for points this is what we had to do. We had to start in the back and bring it to the front.”
In other action, the Rookie Bandoleros feature saw an upset victory. Bryson Matthews charged up to the front at the beginning of the race, while Lee Brown followed close behind. A misstep on the part of Matthews led to Brown taking over the lead. Both Brown and Matthews got too close for comfort, rubbing doors during the closing laps. As the leaders were battling it out, Shelby Schell snuck around the two to take the lead and ultimately the win.
The Chargers Division saw a three-car shootout. Max Hennebaul shot out to the front as the green flag waved. However, Hayden Swank would not be left behind in the dust. Swank and Hennebaul fought for the lead until the very end, where Hennebaul ended up taking home the victory.
The GRT Racing Driver Development Outlaws Division saw a non-stop battle for the lead between Blaise Maddox and Kenny Brady. Maddox jumped out front at the get go with Brady prowling in the third position.
As Brady moved into the second position, it seemed as if Maddox’s time up front would be short-lived. However, Maddox held tight to his lead, bumping and sliding against Brady for the coveted position. Scraping together during the entirety of the final lap, Maddox pulled away just enough to lock in his first win of the season.
Bill Plemons, Jr. led the way when the Masters Division took the green flag. The battle between himself and McDonough’s Robbie Woodall continued on throughout the event as they battled for the prime position and points lead.
Woodall caught up fast to Plemons, tapping his bumper along the way. Plemons continued to hold the top spot throughout the feature. A mistake from Mark Swan and Dennis Hecht ended the event under the caution, with Plemons earning his second victory of the season.
A couple of faulty starts in the Bandits feature led to Carson Ruark running away with the lead after the green flag officially dropped. Ryan Younginer would not give up easily, as he battled Ruark throughout the feature. Ruark would prove to be the best in the field as he pulled away for the win.
The Associates Group Insurance Young Lions Division turned into a scrappy battle between Lawson Ingold and Austin MacDonald. Ingold led a majority of the event, while MacDonald waited patiently in second. When Ingold turned the wheel too sharply in turn 2, he slid out of his groove, opening the door for MacDonald to seize the opportunity. MacDonald drove out front to his first ever Legends victory.
The Semi-Pro Division was a tale of perseverance. Right at the start, Jason Treschl led the way over the competition. Treschl hardly had a moment of peace, as his rearview mirror was full of the cars belonging to D.J. Canipe and Sammy Smith. Treschl dug deep to pull away from the duo, but faced soon a new threat as Davis Rochester crept up into second. Treschl prevailed by using up everything he and his car had to hold off Rochester to get the win.
Action returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Thunder Ring on Thursday, June 21. For more information, visit AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.
Atlanta Motor Speedway – Hampton, GA
Thursday Thunder – June 13, 2018
Week 3 Results
Pro Legends
1. Dawson Fletcher – Canton, GA
2. Hall Cody – Griffin, GA
3. Jensen Jorgensen – Stockbridge, GA
4. Rafe Slate – Eatonton, GA
5. Russell Fleeman – Dacula, GA
6. Jeff Holden – Gainesville, GA
7. Hunter Johnson – Griffin, GA
Rookie Bandoleros
1. Shelby Schell – Dublin, GA
2. Matthews Bryson – Dallas, GA
3. Lee Brown – Acworth, GA
4. Nathaniel Harry – Concord, NC
5. Gianni Esposito – Dacula, GA
6. Will Peacock – Eastman, GA
Chargers
1. Max Hennebaul – Monroe, GA
2. Hayden Swank – Woodstock, GA
3. Bob Anderson – Covington, GA
Outlaws
1. Blaise Maddox – Locust Grove, GA
2. Kenny Brady – Marietta, GA
3. Kenneth Henderson – Alto, GA
4. Tyler Newcomer – Woolsey, GA
5. Mason Maggio – Palm Beach Gardens, FL
6. Justin Campbell – Griffin, GA
7. Shelby Ruark – Suwanee, GA
8. Keaton Hendrix – Homerville, GA
9. Aprilia Holt – Senoia, GA
10. Tony Yawn – Roanoke, AL
11. Wilder Etheredge – Atlanta, GA
Masters Legends
1. Bill Plemons, Jr. – Locust Grove, GA
2. Robbie Woodall – McDonough, GA
3. Mark Swan – Athens, GA
4. Tony Armbruster – Covington, GA
5. Wade Brewer – Locust Grove, GA
6. Randy Shubert – Stone Mountain, GA
7. Wes Potter – Covington, GA
8. Dennis Hecht – Hoschton, GA
9. Bill Whatley – Acworth, GA
10. Barry Bowen – Jackson Lake, GA
Bandits
1. Carson Ruark – Suwanee, GA
2. Kelley Puckett – McDonough, GA
3. Ryan Younginer – Locust Grove, GA
4. Garrett Erwin – Covington, GA
5. Bailey North – Hampton, GA
6. Matthew Kade – Hampton, GA
7. Benjamin McKeehan – Monroe, GA
8. Carter Griffis – Homerville, GA
9. Denton Clem – Kathleen, GA
Young Lions Legends
1. Austin MacDonald – Pictou, Nova Scotia
2. Ryan Rackley – Valdosta, GA
3. Gage Roberts – Milledgeville, GA
4. Nathan Jackson – McDonough, GA
5. Blaze Crawford – Fayetteville, GA
6. Janson marchbanks – Anderson, SC
7. Ian Hampton – Stockbridge, GA
8. Ashton Whitener – Monticello, GA
9. Hunter Burns – Thomaston, GA
10. Clay Thompson – Bowersville, GA
11. Annabelle Mohwish – Cumming, GA
12. Lawson Ingold – Social Circle, GA
13. Michael Gannon – Canton, GA
14. Audrie Ruark – Suwanee, GA
DQ: Lucas Ruark – Suwanee, GA
Semi-Pro Legends
1. Jason Treschl – Lagrange, GA
2. Davis Rochester – Lebanon, TN
3. D.J. Canipe – Fallston, NC
4. Andrew Dollar – Atlanta, GA
5. Sammy Smith – Johnston, IA
6. Jay Coen – Dacula, GA
7. Nick Woodall – McDonough, GA
8. Cale Hall – Griffin, GA
9. Pierce Brewer – Locust Grove, GA
10. Amber Fleeman – Dacula, GA
11. Max Brady – Marietta, GA
12. Trey Tadrzak – Stockbridge, GA
13. Ricky Springer – McDonough, GA
14. Parker Brewer – Locust Grove, GA
