Justin South Sweeps Birthday Bash Twin 60′s at Montgomery

Justin South in victory lane after sweeping the Birthday Bash Twin 60 event at Montgomery Motor Speedway. (Speed51.com Photo)

Justin South Sweeps Birthday Bash Twin 60's at Montgomery

Alabama driver gets long overdue haircut in front of the fans

(Montgomery, AL) -- Justin South has had a long going bet with himself, his team, and his fans. His hair had grown out to shoulder length, and South vowed not to cut until he could finally get back to victory lane. He finally managed to do that this past Saturday night at Montgomery Motor Speedway, winning both of the Birthday Bash Twin 60 Pro Late Model races, sweeping the night. South honored his bet with MMS General Manager, Paul Boswell, and agreed to get his hair cut right under the flag stand for the fans to witness.

            It was Hunter Robbins who took the fast qualifier honors, however, setting the bar at 18.820 around the half-mile Montgomery Motor Speedway. That time was just .004 faster than second place qualifier, South. Robbins rolled a four on the giant inversion die, putting Ray Black Jr. and Kyle McCallum on the front row for race #1.

            McCallum jumped to the early lead with Robbins and South in tow. Those three battled nose to tail for the first half of the race, even splitting three-wide around a lapped car at one point. McCallum ran a slightly higher line than the other two drivers, and was able to use that momentum to surge off of the corners and maintain his lead. The three drivers put on a clinic in good hard clean racing until finally, right around the halfway point, when a spin by Will Brown brought out the caution flag.

            On the ensuing restart, Hunter Robbins slid up high in turn two opening the door for Justin South to pounce to the second spot. Just as they came around to complete the next lap, Robbins' machine came to a stop on the front stretch with a broken drive shaft, effectively ending his race. The team worked hard and got the car repaired in time for Robbins to make a couple of laps right at the end of race #1 to shake the car down, and he started on the tail for race #2.

            The next restart was the break South needed, rocketing past McCallum for the lead and never looking back. McCallum held on for second, with Dennis Reno Jr. taking the third place trophy in race #1.

            South rolled a four on the inversion die to set the lineup for race #2, once again putting Ray Black Jr. on the pole, but with Dennis Reno Jr. to his outside. The second row was made up of Kyle McCallum and Justin South.

            On the initial start, Robbins rocketed from his 8th place starting position up to fifth by the time the field hit turn 3. By lap 4, Robbins found himself in second chasing down South for the lead. Meanwhile, a great battle for third was brewing between Reno and Black. Those two continued to battle the entire way through the caution-free 60 lap race.

            South held on to win race two, Robbins didn't quite have enough to catch him and took home second, with Ray Black Jr. finally able to secure third from Dennis Reno Jr.

            South was a man of his word, and did what he promised the fans. The clippers came out and track photographer Tina Woods did the honors in shaving the long hair.

Justin South held up his end of the deal, getting his hair cut in front of the fans on the front stretch. (Speed51.com Photo)

            In local division action, Dwayne Wesenberg took the lead from Billy Ammons on lap 3 of the Street Stock feature and never looked back, taking the checkers in front of a hard charging David Wood and Joe Bethea Jr. While battling for fourth, Daniel Jacks and rookie, Cody  McCawley got together in turn 3, sending both drivers to the wall and out of the race to bring out the only caution. This allowed Whit Goode and Adam Freeman to sneak up and round out the top five.

            In the Mini Mod division, Joel Collier came from last place starting spot to take the lead from Lance Campell on lap 5 and never looked back. Ashley Bridgemon mounted a strong effort at the end, closing the gap on Collier, but simply ran out of laps and had to settle for second. Charlie Melvin rounded out the podium.

            In the Buzz division, Joshua Wood set fast time in qualifying, but rolled a "6" for the inversion. This put Perry Patino on the pole with Floyd Brown to his outside. Patino was able to lead flag-to-flag, but Joshua Wood charged through the field to come just two car-lengths short of Patino across the checkers. Tim Grace and John Musgrove finished side-by-side for third and fourth, and Mathew Robbins rounded out the top five.

            Montgomery Motor Speedway will be back in action on May 4, 2013, with the Southern Super Series 125 lap event for Super Late Models. This new series saw over 30 cars entered for its inaugural event at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville last month. Bubba Pollard, Stephen Nasse, Mike Garvey, DJ VanderLey, Donnie Wilson, Daniel Hemric, Augie Grill, Jeff Choquette, TJ Reaid, and many more are expected to compete for the season long 16-race championship.

            Nearly 30 cars are expected to compete for 125 laps on May 4. Also on May 4 will be the debut of the new Open Sportsman division. This division will see a variety of different cars compete, with a very simple rule package allowing nearly any car to be eligible. Street Stock and Buzz divisions will be in action as well.

            For more information about the Southern Super Series, log on to the series website at www.SouthernSuperSeries.com. For more information about Montgomery Motor Speedway, log on to the speedway website at www.MontgomerySpeedway.com or call the track office at (334) 262-6101.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

PLM Birthday Bash Twin 60's #1

1. 43 Justin South
2. 2 Kyle McCallum
3. x2 Dennis Reno Jr.
4. 19 Ray Black Jr.
5. 89 Sam Edwards
6. 24 JR Bolden
7. 10 Hunter Spivey
8. 18 Hunter Robbins
9. 58 Will Brown

PLM Birthday Bash Twin 60's #2

1. 43 Justin South
2. 18 Hunter Robbins
3. 19 Ray Black Jr.
4. x2 Dennis Reno Jr.
5. 10 Hunter Spivey
6. 89 Sam Edwards
7. 24 JR Bolden
8. 2 Kyle McCallum
9. DNS 58 Will Brown

Street Stock 25 Laps

1. 31 Dwayne Wesenberg
2. 24 David Wood
3. 33 Joe Bethea Jr.
4. 38 Whit Goode
5. 35 Adam Freeman
6. 1 Daniel Jacks
7. 2 Cody McCawley
8. 3 Billy Ammons

Mini Mod 15 Laps

1. 71 Joel Collier
2. 2 Ashley Bridgemon
3. 154 Charlie Melvin
4. 29 Lance Campbell

Buzz 20 Laps

1. 51 Perry Patino
2. 21 Joshua Wood
3. 18 Tim Grace
4. 22 Roger Wood
5. 36 Mathew Robbins
6. 48 Floyd Brown