Trio of Burke County drivers find winner’s circle

The revival of racing at HorsePower Park is far from complete, but the track is no longer on life support.

After a revolving door of promoters since March, new lead man Chandler Barker feels right for the job. While there is still a lot of work to do, the future of the track seems brighter than it has in recent times, with that point illustrated by 72 racecars on the property for seven different divisions of half-mile, dirt-track action on July 11.

Fresh off back-to-back wins on the asphalt at nearby Tri-County Speedway, Connelly Springs driver Johnny Reynolds won an action-packed Renegade feature at HorsePower Park.

Reynolds hadn’t raced on dirt in eight years, but with Tri-County off for the weekend and all the buzz around the Burke County track, he decided to come play in the mud.

Reynolds led all 12 laps, but the winner from the previous week, Jacob Funderburke, was on his bumper the entire time. The two were door-to-door coming off turn four on the final lap, and Reynolds beat Funderburke to the checkered flag by less than 6 inches, ahead of Brian Sipe in third place. Jackson Thomas had won the first Renegade heat race, and Reynolds claimed the second.

Justin Murray was the class of the field in the Crown Vic feature. He and his No. M1 machine led the opening 10 laps. Caution flags bunched up the field several times, but each time, Murray drove away from the pack.

However, the final caution came with two laps remaining as Murray suffered a flat right-rear tire. Drexel driver Joey Barker inherited the lead after that and stayed in front the final laps to take the victory.

Murray drove from sixth to second in the final laps. Zac Moore was third, followed by local drivers Homer Cool and KK Barker. Murray had taken the opening heat race in the division, and Brandon Lingerfelt won the second.

Points leader Freddy Frady from Marion won the 12-lap Thunder Bomber feature. Jonathan Holcombe was second ahead of Nathan Starnes. The “Morganton Missile” Tim Moretz was fourth, and Connelly Springs driver Benny Peeler rounded out the top five. Hunter Funderburke won the first heat, and Frady won the second.

Avery White took a great-handling machine and dominated the FWD feature. Points leader Kevin Saam of Rhodhiss started last due to not entering his heat race and finished in the runner-up position. Haydon Brody won the opening FWD heat race, and White won the second.

Brayden Saam led the opening half of the Young Guns feature before Blake Pringle made the winning pass on the sixth lap. Tucker Quinn finished third. The three finished the same way in the series’ lone heat race.

Twelve of the best Pro Four teams in the Carolinas also descended on the track for a $1,000 payday. In an action-packed thriller, Cody Verbos beat Clay Ross to the victory. Mason Pugh, Patrick Annas, and Dylan Smith rounded out the top five.

The Bell and Bell Vintage Modified series also made its debut at the clay oval as Jeremy Cumbee and his No. 36 coupe beat Ron Pope for the victory.

HorsePower Park returns to action on July 25.

Smart among the winners at HMS

Hickory Motor Speedway was back in action on July 11, with twin 40-lap Limited Late Model races headlining the evening, which also included six other series.

Jackson Tovo won the pole in the opening limited race with his brother, Ethan, starting second. On the drop of the green flag, Ethan took the top position and led the opening laps. Points leader Paityn Feyen was bumped by Don Carlton on the 18th lap, and the two spun and collected second-place-in-points Mark Johnson. The crash ended Johnson’s night, and he finished last.

Jackson then took over the lead when Ethan slowed and had to pit. Part-time Craftsman Truck Series driver Toni Breidinger from California worked her way up to second and put a lot of pressure on the leader.

Breidinger and Jackson battled until she spun coming off turn four while attempting to take the lead, and Jackson paced the field the final 18 laps for the victory. Jake Freeman finished ahead of Mexican-born Chispa Rodriguez. Lenoir drivers Owen Wilson and Carlton rounded out the top five, with Breidinger recovering for sixth place.

The top eight drivers were then inverted to start the second 40-lapper.

Feyen started on the point and led until Breidinger passed her to take the lead. Breidinger stayed out front in her Mike Kline Motorsports Toyota to win her first-ever late model feature. Dexter Canipe Jr., filling in for his son, Dexter III, finished second, and Ethan Tovo was third.

Second-generation driver Steve Smart of Connelly Springs continued his dominance in the Renegade division. Smart started on the pole and led all 20 laps to pick up another victory. Jordon Cook was second, and Matthew Chambers was third. Smart thanked his crew for all their hard work in making his No. 16 so fast.

Michael Bumgarner and Jacob Hayes finished the 35-lap Super Truck feature the same way they started. The duo qualified first and second, respectively, ran 1-2 throughout, and finished 1-2 as well.

In other action, Justin Gareis brought home the winner’s trophy in the Baby Grand division, Tristan Barnes won the Super Street feature, Theo Salomao won the Legends Car race, and Jackson Jones took home the Bandoleros victory.

HMS returns to action today (July 18) with six divisions of racing again.