HAMPTON, Ga. - With sunshine and very few clouds in the sky, Mother Nature provided the perfect conditions for the third week of Furious Five series Legends and Bandolero racing on Atlanta Motor Speedway’s ¼-mile Thunder Ring Saturday afternoon.
In a race that saw some tempers and trouble for several competitors, Lucas Ruark was rewarded for a flawless effort in the Young Lions feature. Ruark led from the pole and held serve on several restarts to take the checkered flag first, followed closely by second place Michael Gannon.
Lawson Ingold put on a show in the Semi-Pro feature, charging up from his seventh place starting position all the way to second. The one car Ingold couldn’t catch was the No. 72 of Nick Woodall, who set a blistering pace from the pole, even while working through lap traffic. Woodall led all 20 laps on the way to victory, followed by Ingold.
In Masters action, Doug Stevens was stellar, leading all 20 laps from the pole on the way to victory. Bill Plemons, Jr. and Robbie Woodall had a tight race for second, with Plemons prevailing and Woodall settling for third.
Jensen and Taylor Jorgensen led the way in the Pro series race, pursued closely by Cale and Cody Hall. While Jensen Jorgensen led from the pole and built a healthy lead, Taylor Jorgensen fought for second with both Cale and Cody Hall throughout. When the checkered flag waived, Jensen Jorgensen was the victor, followed by Taylor Jorgensen in second, Cale Hall in third, and Cody Hall in fourth.
In addition to Saturday’s scheduled slate, each Bandolero division ran a second feature to make up races from February 23 that was affected by weather.
In the first Rookie Bandolero feature, polesitter Gianni Esposito led throughout, but not without fending off several challenges from Bailey Buchanan. The final challenge came with two laps to go when Buchanan took the inside line on Esposito in turn 1, but a skid by Buchanan allowed Esposito to keep the lead and ultimately the victory.
The second feature saw Briana Freeman lead the first nine laps, but a spin on lap 10 cost her the lead. Esposito inherited the top spot and didn’t look back, leading the final six laps and taking his second win of the day over second place Bailey Buchanan and Freeman, who recovered to finish third.
Garrett Gumm led from the pole early in the first Bandit race, but surrendered the lead to Kyle Bacon nine laps into the 20 lap feature. The pair ran nose to tail for several laps, with Gumm making several attempts to retake the lead from Bacon. With just a few laps to go Gumm pushed wide exiting turn 2, taking him out of the battle for the win. Bacon held on from there, taking the checkered flag over Lee Brown in second.
Bacon set the pace throughout the second Bandit feature, leading all 15 laps en route to his second win of the day, followed by Brown in second and Gumm in third.
In Outlaws competition, Mason Maggio and Kenny Brady split the two races with Maggio the winner of race one and Brady fending off Maggio to win race two.
The Legends and Bandoleros take to the Thunder Ring again on April 6 for the penultimate races of the Furious Five series. For more information, visit AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.
Atlanta Motor Speedway – Hampton, GA
Furious Five Series – March 23, 2019
Week Three Results
Young Lions
1. Lucas Ruark – Suwanee, GA
2. Michael Gannon – Canton, GA
3. Kenneth Henderson – Alto, GA
4. Nathan Jackson – McDonough, GA
5. Tony Yawn III – Roanoke, AL
6. Timothy Watson – Panama City, FL
7. Ashton Whitener – Monticello, GA
8. Carson Ruark – Suwanee, GA
9. Keaton Hendrix – Homerville, GA
10. Cole Cash – Bethlahem, GA
11. Cutter Love
Semi-Pro
1. Nick Woodall – Canton, GA
2. Lawson Ingold – Social Circle, GA
3. Parker Brewer – Locust Grove, GA
4. Ian Hampton – Stockbridge, GA
5. Ricky Springer – McDonough, GA
6. Max Brady – Marietta, GA
7. Audrie Ruark – Suwanee, GA
8. Zac Bacon – Buchanan, GA
9. Russell Shore – Jefferson, GA
10. Trent Barfield – Hamilton, GA
11. Ronnie Ragan – Cataula, GA
12. Trey Tadrzak – Stockbridge, GA
13. Jessie Thomas – Braselton, GA
14. Colt Logan – Athens, GA
Pro
1. Jensen Jorgensen – Stockbridge, GA
2. Taylor Jorgensen – Stockbridge, GA
3. Cale Hall – Griffin, GA
4. Cody Hall – Griffin, GA
5. Hunter Johnson – Griffin, GA
6. Gauntt Hudgins – Savannah, GA
7. Christopher Almon Sr. – Moreland, GA
8. Tony Yawn – Roanoke, AL
Masters
1. Doug Stevens – Griffin, GA
2. Bill Plemons, Jr. – Locust Grove, GA
3. Robbie Woodall – McDonough, GA
4. Mark Swan – Athens, GA
5. Wade Brewer – Locust Grove, GA
6. Dennis Hecht – Hoschton, GA
7. Tony Armbruster – Covington, GA
8. Randy Shubert – Stone Mountain, GA
9. Troy French – Fairvurn, GA
10. Aaron Crossley – Woodstock, GA
11. Kevin Vaughn – Grovetown, GA
Bandits Race 1
1. Kyle Bacon – Buchanan, GA
2. Lee Brown – Acworth, GA
3. Garrett Gumm – Brooks, GA
4. Will Peacock – Eastman, GA
Rookie Bandoleros Race 1
1. Gianni Esposito – Dacula, GA
2. Mitchell Flater – Conyers, GA
3. Sebastain Asztalos – Temple, GA
4. Baylor O’Neil – Grantville, GA
5. Bailey Buchanan – Senoia, GA
6. Briana Freeman – Bremen, GA
7. Nathaniel Harry – Concord, NC
8. Shelby Schell – Dublin, GA
9. Christopher Almon – Moreland, GA
Outlaws Race 1
1. Mason Maggio – Palm Beach Gardens, FL
2. Kelley Puckett – McDonough, GA
3. Shelby Ruark – Suwanee, GA
4. Clay Hocutt – Mobile, AL
5. Ryan Younginer – Locust Grove, GA
6. Matthew Kade – Hampton, GA
7. Bailey North – Hampton, GA
DQ: Kenny Brady – Marietta, GA
Bandits Race 2
1. Kyle Bacon – Buchanan, GA
2. Lee Brown – Acworth, GA
3. Garrett Gumm – Brooks, GA
Rookie Bandoleros Race 2
1. Gianni Esposito – Dacula, GA
2. Bailey Buchanan – Senoia, GA
3. Briana Freeman – Bremen, GA
4. Baylor O’Neil – Grantville, GA
5. Mitchell Flater – Conyers, GA
6. Christopher Almon – Moreland, GA
DQ: Sebastain Asztalos – Temple, GA
Outlaws Race 2
1. Kenny Brady – Marietta, GA
2. Mason Maggio – Palm Beach Gardens, FL
3. Kelley Puckett – McDonough, GA
4. Shelby Ruark – Suwanee, GA
5. Matthew Kade – Hampton, GA
6. Ryan Younginer – Locust Grove, GA
7. Clay Hocutt – Mobile, AL
8. Sarah Sullivan – Gulf Shores, AL
9. Bailey North – Hampton, GA
