HAMPTON, Ga. - Drivers returned to Atlanta Motor Speedway’s “Thunder Ring” twice last week for rounds 6 and 7 of “Thursday Thunder” Legends and Bandolero action.
On Wednesday night, the Outlaws feature showcased a thrilling clash between Georgia drivers Emma Britt and Kyle Bacon. The pair exchanged the lead back and forth throughout the first 19 laps after Bacon was forced to drive from back to front twice early in the race.
While the two continued to battle late in the race, Bryce Sanders had the best view in the house from the third position. His ability to remain patient ultimately paid off when the aggressiveness of both Britt and Bacon proved unsustainable, as both spun off track on the final lap, opening the door for Sanders who avoided the obstacles and drove to victory lane in dramatic fashion.
In the Byron Powersports Semi-Pro feature, Carson Brown jumped out to an early lead after the start and remained in control for the following eight laps. Looking for redemption after a disappointing Round 5, Donovan Strauss relentlessly tormented Brown until he was finally able to make a move for the lead on the ninth lap. Strauss only gained more speed after seizing the lead and successfully landed back in victory lane.
Nicholas Denton showed early success similar to that of Brown in the Bandits feature, but was ultimately no match for Beckham Malone, who snatched the lead on lap five and dominated the remainder of the race to earn his fourth victory in six races.
Landon Rapp appeared to be destined for victory lane, leading 24 of the WJP Investments Pro feature’s 25 laps. However, Gavin Graham got to his bumper just in time, making a timely pass on the last lap to grab his third win.
The Associates Group Young Lions feature’s shining star was T.J. DeCaire, who was able to fend off a pesky Josh Dickens for all 20 laps to become a two-time winner in 2022.
Josh Mullins matched DeCaire’s performance later in the night, leading every lap of the Masters feature to earn his spot in victory lane.
In other action, Wyatt Coffee led every lap of the Fr8Auctions Rookie Bandolero feature to claim his third win of the series and Coleman Moody controlled all 15 laps of the Chargers feature to add another win to his series total.
On Thursday night, the Bandits feature showcased a three way chess match between Beckham Malone, Nicholas Denton, and Lane Christensen. Each driver held the lead multiple times during the 20 lap feature, totaling nine separate lead changes. On lap 12, Malone was caught up in an incident leaving Denton and Christensen to fight for the lead during the remaining eight laps. After a caution late in the race, Denton would claim the lead for the final time after moving on Christensen. Denton refused to let go of the lead for the remainder of the race, making him a three time winner in the Bandits division.
In the Byron Powersports Semi-Pro feature, Jadyn Daniels started in the pole position and accelerated into a comfortable lead right away. Both Donovan Strauss and Mason Lastra filed in directly behind and immediately went to battle. That allowed Daniels to extend her lead. Strauss and Lastra would ultimately be involved in a caution on the 12th lap and sent to the back of the field. With little pressure from the cars in her rear view mirror Daniels maintained the lead for the final eight laps and drove off into victory lane.
Landon Rapp saw a similar situation unfold behind him, as drivers exchanged positions back and forth in the WJP Investments Pro feature. Rapp was cool under pressure, leading all 25 laps to win on back-to-back nights.
Kyle Bacon dominated the Chargers feature, leading all 15 laps to take his fourth race of the series.
Bacon would return later in the night to repeat his performance in the Outlaws feature. Bacon led the race from flag to flag, earning him his first Outlaws victory of the series and his third victory overall.
The Fr8Auctions Rookie Bandolero division held two feature races on Thursday night, crowning two decisive winners. Feature race number one showed a familiar face returning to victory lane after Wyatt Coffey led every lap to win his second feature in two nights. Wyatt Youngblood matched Coffey’s performance in the second feature, leading all 15 laps to earn his first victory of 2022.
In other action, Josh Mullins won the Masters feature for the second night in a row and three time series winner Josh Dickens was equally impressive in the Associates Group Young Lions feature, leading from flag to flag and earning a one-way ticket to victory lane.
Thursday Thunder action returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway for Championship Night on Thursday, June 30. For more information, visit AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.
Atlanta Motor Speedway – Hampton, GA
Thursday Thunder Round 6 – June 22, 2022
Young Lions
1. 88-T.J. DeCaire
2. 20-Josh Dickens
3. 15-Sean McElearney
4. 9R-Jackson Reynolds
5. 9-Garrett Erwin
6. 22-Gianni Esposito
7. 48-Noah Ryan
8. 8-Cooper Gaul
9. 17-Hudson Bulger
10. 29-Cole Robie
11. 24-Lanie Buice
Semi-Pro
1. 51-Donovan Strauss
2. 28-Carson Brown
3. 2-Jarrett Wagman
4. 17-Mason Lastra
5. 26-Dawson Sutton
6. 24Y-Luke Yarbrough
7. 31-Jason Treschl
8. 24-Jadyn Daniels
9. 41-Michael Gannon
10. 7-Jonathan Taylor
11. 5X-Jesse Martinez
12. 73-Ian Hampton
13. 44-Oliver Dibble
14. 30-Trey Tadrzak
15. 75-Amanda Woodall
Pro
1. 00-Gavin Graham
2. 28-Landon Rapp
3. 32-Jensen Jorgensen
4. 24-Cale Hall
5. 5-Garrett Gumm
6. 77-Sam Cornman
7. 7-Nathan Jackson
8. 9-Chris Dilbeck
9. 1-Timothy Watson
10. 88-Keaton Hendrix
11. 3-Taylor Jorgensen
12. 72-Nick Woodall
Masters
1. 21M-Josh Mullins
2. 72W-Robbie Woodall
3. 10-Benjamin Jones
4. 37-Phillip Young
5. 15-Bill Plemons, Jr.
6. 14-Mark Swan
7. 5-Ronnie Wehunt
Bandits
1. 23-Beckham Malone
2. 46-Nicholas Denton
3. 46C-Lane Christensen
4. 62-Dylan Bongiovanni
5. 24-Austin Bloodworth
6. 31-Darren Krantz, Jr.
7. 37-Carson Cauble
8. 38-Billy Lee
9. 7-Makenna Kendrew
Rookie Bandoleros
1. 2-Wyatt Coffey
2. 26-Emma Teal
3. 95-Javier Soto
4. 9-Luke Young
5. 99G-Topher Almon
6. 87-Briella Rudolph
7. 9S-Carson Sherman
8. 7-Paxton Sanders
9. 69-Matt Hodges
10. 1J-James Behnke
Outlaws
1. 15-Bryce Sanders
2. 48-Kyle Bacon
3. 28C-Conner Butler
4. 4-Mitchell Flater
5. 00-Katelyn Hicks
6. 99-Baylor O’Neil
7. 38-Emma Britt
8. 79-Neal Dulin
9. 3C-J.T. O’Connor
Chargers
1. 316-Coleman Moody
2. 54-David Anderson
3. 100-Travis Streetman
4. 3-Emily Arenas
5. 5-Jack Moon
6. 7-Lisa Young
Atlanta Motor Speedway – Hampton, GA
Thursday Thunder Round 7 – June 23, 2022
Young Lions
1. 20-Josh Dickens
2. 15-Sean McElearney
3. 22-Gianni Esposito
4. 24-Lanie Buice
5. 88-T.J. DeCaire
6. 8-Cooper Gaul
7. 9R-Jackson Reynolds
8. 4-Lacy Kuehl
9. 48-Noah Ryan
10. 29-Cole Robie
11. 9-Garrett Erwin
12. 17-Hudson Bulger
Semi-Pro
1. 24-Jadyn Daniels
2. 24Y-Luke Yarbrough
3. 41-Michael Gannon
4. 28-Carson Brown
5. 44-Oliver Dibble
6. 26-Dawson Sutton
7. 7-Jonathan Taylor
8. 5X-Jesse Martinez
9. 73-Ian Hampton
10. 30-Trey Tadrzak
11. 75-Amanda Woodall
12. 2-Jarrett Wagman
13. 17-Mason Lastra
14. 4-Tony Yawn III
15. 51-Donovan Strauss-BF
16. 31-Jason Treschl-BF
Pro
1. 28-Landon Rapp
2. 32-Jensen Jorgensen
3. 5-Garrett Gumm
4. 1-Timothy Watson
5. 00-Gavin Graham
6. 77-Sam Cornman
7. 24-Cale Hall
8. 3-Taylor Jorgensen
9. 25-Christopher Clanton
10. 4-Graham Campbell
11. 72-Nick Woodall
12. 88-Keaton Hendrix
13. 7-Nathan Jackson
Masters
1. 21M-Josh Mullins
2. 15-Bill Plemons, Jr.
3. 72W-Robbie Woodall
4. 10-Benjamin Jones
5. 37-Phillip Young
6. 14-Mark Swan
7. 5-Ronnie Wehunt
Bandits
1. 46D-Nicholas Denton
2. 46-Lane Christensen
3. 24-Austin Bloodworth
4. 37-Carson Cauble
5. 62-Dylan Bongiovanni
6. 38-Billy Lee
7. 31-Darren Krantz, Jr.
8. 7-Makenna Kendrew
9. 23-Beckham Malone
Rookie Bandoleros
1. 2-Wyatt Coffey
2. 26-Emma Teal
3. 69-Matt Hodges
4. 49K-Kerbi Mueller
5. 5-Lane Mueller
6. 95-Javier Soto
7. 9-Luke Young
8. 37-Wyatt Youngblood
9. 87-Briella Rudolph
10. 12-Kendall Stevens
11. 99T-Topher Almon
12. 1J-James Behnke
13. 7-Paxton Sanders
Outlaws
1. 48-Kyle Bacon
2. 15-Bryce Sanders
3. 4-Mitchell Flater
4. 38-Emma Britt
5. 8-Carter Erickson
6. 99-Baylor O’Neil
7. 79-Neal Dulin
8. 00-Katelyn Hicks
9. 28C-Conner Butler
10. 3C-J.T. O’Connor
Chargers
1. 48-Kyle Bacon
2. 55-Brody Graham
3. 316-Coleman Moody
4. 9-Abi Johnson
5. 100-Travis Streetman
6. 54-David Anderson
7. 3-Emily Arenas
8. 7-Lisa Young
9. 5-Jack Moon
10. 97-C.J. Almond
