Lewis is Late Model CHAMPION for 2010

At a track based in a town known for its Stampede, Kentucky’s Allen Lewis won a rodeo of a Late Model 250 to claim the 2nd Annual Late Model Championship. Lewis, driving the #155 NOS Energy Drink/ParkerHammons.com Toyota started 3rd in the twenty-five car field and would lead a race high 138-lap en route to the victory. Lewis was chased most of the second half of the race by runner-up David Krikorian (Los Angeles, CA) while a wreck with six laps to go would promote Selden, New York’s Jeff Rogers to third, Justin McLeod (London, ON) to fourth and Marc Williams (Moncton, NB) to fifth.

The race featured a rash of yellow flags in the first half of the event which took a toll on many of the pre-race favorites. The action began in turn three on lap one as Ryan Cook (Seneca Falls, NY) spun, collecting event administrator Tim Terry (Truro, NS) and pre-race favorite Chris Ciriello (Waterbury, CT) in the aftermath. Cambridge, Ontario’s Justin Collison showed speed in the practice session but like Ciriello had tough luck in his heat race, which relegate Collison to a starting position at the back. The #13 London Recreational ride had electrical problems and was sidelined after seventeen laps.

The turning point of the race would happened on lap 101. Pole sitter Parker Hammons (Midland, NC) led the first seventy-nine laps of the race before hitting pit road for his first stop of the event. On his way back to the front of the field, he would make contact with Connecticut’s Wayne Wildermuth, sending both cars to the rear of the field for the next restart on lap 91. Hammons worked his way up to eighth ten laps later but was tagged in the rear by ‘09 Delaware Speedway Chaos Car Champ Tyssen Toll (London, ON) after the two battled hard for the eighth spot. Hammons made hard contact with the wall and causing excessive damage to his #115 NOS Energy Drink Camry. He then drove backwards on the track and ran into then leader David Day, which resulted in the disqualification of Hammons. Teammate Justin Fuller would also end up retiring at that point, shortly after a spectacular barrel roll ten laps earlier.

Lewis would take over the lead on lap 105, giving it up on two occasions to Krikorian (four laps) and Robert Matthews (Vernon, BC/five laps). Multiple green flag runs would highlight the second half, including a forty lap green flag run to a caution with six laps remaining. Justin Wilson (Lake City, FL) and Chris Carroll (Victoria, BC) came together to bring out the final caution as the two put on a spirited battle for third. The two collected Southern Racing Online driver Andy Colleran (Long Island, NY), relegating the trio to finishes outside the top five.

Two fifty lap heat races set the front half of the grid for the 250-lap feature. Parker Hammons and Chris Carroll took the checkers in those qualifying races. David Krikorian gets to nod for the Hard Charger award, gaining twenty positions from his twenty-second starting position to come home as the runner up in the 2010 event. Southern Racing Online’s Ed House (Dallas, TX) gets recognition with the “Keep on Truckin’” Award after coming home ten laps down following an early incident which caused extensive damage to his #4 car. Ciriello wins the Hard Luck Award after early feature incidents and a tough heat race put the #59 New London Speed Works Dodge in the garage after 57 circuits.

Krikorian, Justin McLeod and Chris Carroll were also honored in the post-race show on RLMtv.com as the only three drivers to complete the full distance in the first two Late Model Championship events. Marc Williams and former S1Motorsports Aero88 Champ Bobby DiDomenico are second in that category as the two have completed 498 of the 500 laps completed in the first two Late Model Championship events. For the second consecutive year, Justin McLeod is the top finishing Canadian – coming home with a fourth place finish at Race City.

Stay tuned to S1Motorsports.com for more information on the 2011 Late Model Championships as it will return for its third season. In the event’s two year existence, the Late Model Championships has established itself as one of the most respected and biggest events in the simulation community when it comes to short track events. Without the support of supporters RaceLM, RLMtv, S1Motorsports.com and TimTerry.ca along with all the drivers the event would not be the same. A big thank you goes out to those who made the 2010 event a success!

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – Late Model 250 Powered by RaceLM
Finish Position, (Start), Car Number, Name, Hometown, Sponsor/Make, Laps Completed, Laps Led
1 (3) #155 Allen Lewis – London, KY – NOS Energy Drink/ParkerHammons.com Toyota – 250 – 158*
2 (22) #60 David Krikorian – Los Angeles, CA – Precision JLM Chevrolet – 250 – 4
3 (6) #99x Jeff Rogers – Selden, NY – NOS Energy Drink Chevrolet – 250 – 0
4 (4) #22 Justin McLeod – London, ON – Total Lubricants Chevrolet – 250 – 0
5 (24) #54 Marc Williams – Moncton, NB – Port City Racecars/Barely Used Auto Parts Chevrolet – 250 – 0
6 (2) #99 Chris Carroll – Victoria, BC – Addidas Chevrolet – 250 – 0
7 (7) #29 Robert Matthews – Vernon, BC – Precise Engine Chevrolet – 250 – 5
8 (17) #5 Andy Colleran – Long Island, NY – ZipZoomFly Ford – 250 – 0
9 (20) #400 Bobby DiDomenico – Roanoke, VA – Snicker’s Chevrolet – 249 – 0
10 (15) #38 Austin Penney – Kitchener, ON – Cambridge Rigging Ford – 249 – 0
11 (13) #6 Justin Wilson – Lake City, FL – Nike Chevrolet – 246 – 0
12 (10) #43 Willy Larkin – Riverglade, NB – MRL Racing Honda – 246 – 0
13 (21) #4 Ed House – Dallas, TX – Bailey’s Chevrolet – 240 – 0
14 (25) #73 Wayne Wildermuth – New London, CT – Liberty Hill Home Inspection Chevrolet – 179 – 0
15 (11) #27 Tyssen Toll – London, ON – Miller Genuine Draft Ford – 150 – 0
16 (18) #98 Bobby Robinson – Easley, SC – TSW Chevrolet – 149 – 0
17 (23) #73x Ron Larkin Jr – Dundas, ON – Larkin Racing/3unit.ca Dodge – 148 – 0
18 (9) #05 David Day – Lake Havasu City, AZ – FOX Racing Dodge – 133 – 24
19 (5) #151 Justin Fuller – Smithville Flats, NY – NOS Energy Drink/ParkerHammons.com Toyota – 101 – 0
20 (14) #007 Mike Butler – Columbia, SC – Dodge – 92 – 0
21 (19) #59 Chris Ciriello – Waterbury, CT – New London Speed Works Dodge – 57 – 0
22 (16) #13 Justin Collison – Cambridge, ON – London Recreation Chevrolet – 17 – 0
23 (8) #24 Ryan Cook – Seneca Falls, NY – DuPont Chevrolet – 2 – 0
24 (12) #08 Tim Terry – Truro, NS – TimTerryOnline.com Toyota – 1 – 0
DQ (1) #115 Parker Hammons – Midland, NC – NOS Energy Drink/ParkerHammons.com Toyota – 101 – 79
DNS #51 Justin Brooks – McColl, SC
DNS #2 David Young – Victorville, CA
DNS #62 Daniel Gomez – Colombia, SC
DNS #50 Roy Cutshaw – Montgomery, IL

Race Leaders – Parker Hammons (Grid – 79), David Day (80 – 103), Allen Lewis (105 – 154), David Krikorian (155 – 158), Lewis (159 – 205), Robert Matthews (206 – 210), Lewis (211 – 250)
Lead Changes: 6 (5 Drivers)
Cautions: 17
Hard Charger: David Krikorian (+20 Positions)
Hard Luck Award: Chris Ciriello
Keep On Truckin’ Award: Ed House
Highest Finishing Canadian: Justin McLeod
Heat Winners: Parker Hammons, Chris Carroll
Fast Lap Award: Allen Lewis (17.886s)