Dillon Bassett Tops Late Model Stocks For Hickory Victory

Dillon Bassett scored the Late Model Stock victory Saturday night at Hickory Motor Speedway. Photo by Sherri Stearns

Fans came out in droves Saturday night to watch Dillon Bassett pick up the victory in the second round of the Paramount KIA Big 10 Racing Challenge featuring the Bojangles’ Late Models at Hickor Motor Speedway in Newton, NC.

Josh Berry brought the 25-car Bojangles’ Late Model field to the green flag. Berry pulled away from the competition during the early laps, leaving the remainder of the field to stretch out single file. Dillon Bassett worked his way into the top three from a 10th place starting position by lap 10. The first caution of the event came out on lap 31 and was followed by multi-car pile up and a red flag during the restart.

As green-flag racing resumed, Shane Lee took over the lead, but fell back to second on lap 34 when Bassett settled into the top spot. Garrett Jones and William Byron used the momentum from Bassett to work around Lee and settled into second and third, respectively. Bassett held on to the lead as cautions continued to litter the remaining laps, picking up the win. Byron, Landon Huffman, Travis Swaim and Anthony Anders rounded out the top five.

In other action, Evan Duggins started the 35-lap event for the Gold King Limited Late Models from the pole position, but was challenged early in the race by Dexter Canipe, Jr. As the early laps ticked away, Duggins remained out front while Canipe received pressure Sheflon Clay as they battled for the second spot. Action picked up during the final 10 laps as Canipe challenged Duggins for the lead. The two competitors made contact coming out to turn two, bringing out the first caution of the race on lap 27. Despite the contact, both drivers managed to remain out front and restated the race in first and second place.

Another pack of cars connected on the following lap, sending multiple cars hard into the outside turn one wall, forcing race officials to display the red flag for extensive track cleanup.

Canipe held the lead when the field returned to green and survived multiple caution periods during the final laps only to receive one final challenge from Duggins with two laps remaining. Duggins took the checkered flag first, while Canipe settled for second. Trent Barnes finished in third, with Charlie Watson in fourth and Casey Pierce in fifth.

Spencer Boyd guided the Super Truck division to the green flag for their 35-lap event, but quickly fell to second on the first lap when Mark Johnson took over the top spot. The first caution waved on lap eight after Derrick Mathis spun in turn one, stacking up the field for a restart that allowed Boyd to regain the lead and pull away from his fellow competitors. Boyd went on to capture the win. Johnson came home in second, with Whitney Lail in third, Lee Queen in fourth and Tai Davidson in fifth.

Seasoned Street Stock veteran Marshall Sutton led the field to green for their feature, but had to contend with pressure from Mark Whitten. Sutton utilized lap traffic to buld an advantage. A competitive battle ensued behind the race leader between Whitten, Ben Ebeling, Jonathan Smith and Kevin Eby during the final laps for position. Sutton went on to score the win. Ebeling finished in second, with Smith third, Eby fourth and Kevin Townsend in fifth.

Chase Pollard started on the pole for the Four Cylinder feature, but fell to second early as Matt Elledge charged to the lead. Pollard kept pressure on Elledge in an attempt to regain the lead, but spun out on lap nine heading out of turn two, bring out the first caution. Elledge restarted form the top spot, and remained out front while Pollard worked his way through the field, and settled into second by lap 10. Elledge went on to pick up the win, with Pollard, Robert Trivette, Curtis Pardue and Rodney Trivette rounding out the top five.

The Bench-Built Transmissions Sportsmen Racing Classics hit the track for a 25-lap event with Jeffery Melton leading the way. It didn’t take long for the competition to string out as Melton continued to pace the field. Melton went on to lead all 25 laps leaving the Shane Bradford, Don Fenn, Larry Bob Park to complete the top five.

The NASCAR Whelen All-American Series will take a break next Saturday, April 19 as the PASS Super Late Models invade the Hickory Speedway for the Easter Bunny 150.

For more information, visit hickorymotorspeedway.com.

Hickory Motor Speedway – Newton, NC
Race Results – April 12, 2014