Hohenwald, TN – March 1, 2008 – The Atwood Outlaw, T.J. Herndon from Atwood, Tennessee started seventh and then raced through a field of top open wheel modified drivers from four states field into victory lane in the 30-lap 2008 season-opener for the Rislone USCS Modified Series “Modified Thunder” Tour www.uscsracing.com at Checkered Flag Speedway www.checkeredflagspeedway.com in Hohenwald, Tennessee on Saturday evening. Herndon collected $1200.00 for his efforts
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Herndon followed early leader Steven Holcomb from Sante Fe, Tennessee and 2007 series runner-up, Ashley Newman from Ripley, Tennessee for the first twelve laps. Holcomb appeared to have things under control and to be racing to his first Rislone USCS Modified Series win before coasting to the infield with a broken rear-end. On lap thirteen. At that point Newman took the point and lead until lap seventeen when a caution flag flew for a spinning car. This placed Herndon directly on his tail.
On the next lap, Herndon charged past in his #1 Shaw by Taylor car and held off Newman and then Bart Richardson from Bradford, Tennessee the balance of the distant to win the feature race and start the season as the series Championship points-leader. Herndon shared the series 2006 crown with Ben Reed from Munford, Tennessee. Richardson finished in the runner-up position and Newman followed in third place after the three leaders raced wheel-to-wheel for the final twelve laps of the main event. Tony Simmons from Rogersville, Alabama finished in the fourth position and Danny Gentry from Tennessee rounded out the top five with his best Rislone USCS Modified Series finish to date.
Young Ray Alexander from Mantachie, Mississippi headed the next group in sixth place after starting eighteenth. Eddie Rhinehart from Lawrenceburg, Tennessee was seventh followed by todd Bates from Hurricane Mills, Tennessee in eighth, Cory Schmidt from Tennessee Ridge, Tennessee finished in the ninth position and 2006 series co-champion, Ben Reed from Munford, Tennessee rounded out the top ten.
Steven Holcomb started the nights Rislone USCS Modified racing action off by winning the Aero Race Wheels First Heat. Then, Tony Simmons scored a victory in the R.H.S. (Racing Head Service) Second Heat race. Defending series champion, Shane Stephens from Arlington, Tennessee won the Bars Leaks Third Heat and then blew an engine after crossing the finish-line to end his evening. Holcomb also captured the six-lap Rislone Power Dash that determined the final order for the top six cars in the feature.
Ray Alexander garnered the Tennison Brothers, Inc. Metals Hard Charger award for his charge past twelve cars into sixth place after starting eighteenth.
The next Rislone USCS Modified Series race is a two-day event next Friday and Saturday nights (March 7th-8th) at Greenville Speedway in the 1st Annual “Frost Buster Classic. For more info visit www.greenvillespeedway.net For O’Reilly USCS info visit www.uscsracing.com
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Rislone Power Dash: 6-laps Winner – Steven Holcomb
OFFICIAL RESULTS – Rislone USCS Modified Seriesat Checkered Flag Speedway on March 1, 2008
Rislone USCS Modified Feature 30 laps
POS CAR # DRIVER
1 – 1 TJ Herndon
2 – 1 Bart Richardson
3 - 73 Ashley Newman
4 - G1 Tony Simmons
5 - 115 Danny Gentry
6 - F80 Ray Alexander
7 - 93 Eddie Rhinehart
8 - B25 Todd Bates
9 - 119 Cory Schmidt
10 - 07 Ben Reed
11 - 9 Brad Qualls
12 – 12R Ron Bailey
13 - 12 Lucas Lee
14 - 98 Eric Hickerson
15 - 89 J.R. Keaton
16 - H17 Steven Holcomb
17 - 15 Henry Hanger
18 - 96 Robby Arnold
19 – 55 Michael Lee
20- 11 Jake Tucker
DNS 15 Shane Stephens
DNS 74 Doug Harrington
DNS 89 Joseph Liester
DNS 95 Mike Dale
Aero Race Wheels 1st Heat winner: Steven Holcomb
R.H..S 2nd Heat winner: Danny Gentry
Bars Leaks 3r Heat winner: Shane Stephens
Rislone Power Dash winner: Steven Holcomb
Tennison Brother Inc. Hardcharger: Ray Alexander started 18th finished 6th
JE Pistons Top Gun Award: T.J. Herndon