Date: Monday, June 26, 2006 12:36 PM
Further Info: Steve Post (704) 784-6554 or SPost68@aol.com (mailto:SPost68@aol.com)

SHANE BRAFFORD WINS AGAIN AT CONCORD

CONCORD, N.C. – Shane Brafford of Concord extended his point lead Saturday night by winning the 100-lap NASCAR Coca-Cola late model stock feature on Independent Tribune Night. Other winners were: Jeff Melton of Monroe in the 50-lap Tommy Johnson’s Motorsports Warehouse limited late model feature; Steve Irvin of Concord in the 25-lap Golden Gait Trailers pure stock feature; Brad Ballard of Kannapolis in the 15-lap Speedway Plumbing fast and furious fours feature; and Adam Welch of Concord in the 35-lap 600 Racing thunder roadster feature.

Billy Lemmons of Salisbury took the early lead in the late model stock feature before last week’s winner, Chuck Crump of Star, moved past on lap 10. Crump looked solid at the point until a flat tire on lap 53 gave the top spot to Brafford. From that point, Brafford had control of the race scoring his second win of the season and the 13th of his career at the track. Shaun Mangam of Monroe, the 2003 track champion, had his best run of the season finishing second. Bryan “Dude” Thomas, also of Monroe, finished third. Jay Payne of Thomasville and Lemmons completed the top five.

Concord’s Kenny Brooks jumped into the early lead in the limited late model feature and held that until lap 13th when Melton, who started fourth, moved past. Melton held off a late race challenge from Ben Hinson of Kannapolis to win his first victory of the season and 28th of his career. Hinson finished second with Terry Hoggard of Concord third. Kenneth Cook of
Concord and Brooks rounded out the top five.

Kannapolis driver Alton Boyd led the first two laps in the pure stock feature before Irvin took over at the top spot. Irvin went on to score his third win of the year. Boyd finished second with David Miller of Stanfield third. Steve Ackerly of Monroe was fourth and Chad Allmon of Mt. Pleasant finished fifth.

Ballard, driving the “Sponge Bob” car started on the front row and led every lap enroute to the fast and furious four win. Ben Smith of Harrisburg made a last lap challenge and came up about half a car length short in a second place finish. Jeff Smith of Stanfield finished third.

Like last week, the thunder roadster feature was a duel between Drew Calhoun of Southern Pines and Kyle Beattie of Concord. Unlike last week, the two cars touched late in the race with each spinning and Welsh getting his first win of the season. Jim Fluharty of Concord was second and Tim Gray of Pontiac, Fla. was third.

Concord Motorsport Park sits idle this weekend with racing returning on July 8 with a 150-lap late model stock feature.
Concord Motorsport Park is located on highway 601 north of Midland and south of Concord. More information is available by calling (704) 782-4221 or online at www.concordmotorsportpark.com .

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