Marriott ExecuStay hosted 15 guest in the racetack suite for the twin modified races held at Langley Speedway. It was also the first night for Winstead Motorsports sporting the Golden Eagle Energy Drink colors on the Modified. The opening night for Southside Speedway was to be the opening night for Golden Eagle, but Mother Nature had other ideas as rain cancelled the event.
The Following reprint courtsey of Langley Speedway:MEDIA CONTACT: Gary Daughtrey
The KeesVacations.com Modifieds ran a pair of 25-lap sprints and Mike Rudy swept the doubleheader to notch his first two victories of the season.
Shawn Balluzzo earned the pole for the first of the twin features, qualifying at 84.860 mph. Rudy was second-fastest, followed by Chris Johnson, Jimmy Humblet and Robbie Babb. Cameron Patrick, who came into the night with a four-race winning streak, didn’t post a lap and started near the tail of the 16-car field.
As the cars circulated on the pace laps, Johnson headed to the pits, giving up the third starting spot. He rejoined the rear of the field prior to the green flag. Babb moved up to third on the grid, while Joe Scarbrough slipped into the fifth position.
On the start, Balluzzo and Rudy dueled side-by-side with Balluzzo nosing ahead at the end of lap 1. He finally cleared Rudy in Turns 1 and 2 on lap 3. Rudy dropped in line behind Balluzzo and began to stalk the leader. Meanwhile, they were steadily pulling away from third-place Babb.
After tailing Balluzzo for the first 14 circuits, Rudy launched a bid for the top spot on lap 15, driving to the inside of the leader. He completed the pass as they headed into Turn 1 to begin lap 16. Just three laps later, Rudy had already manufactured a five-length advantage.
The first caution flag appeared on lap 20 for Joed Bruce’s spin in Turn 4. As the field gathered for a restart, Randy Monroe Jr. gave up the fourth spot in line, choosing to pull alongside Rudy.
While Monroe couldn’t overtake Rudy, he did manage to slide in line ahead of Balluzzo. After only one green-flag lap, the second, and final, yellow flag flew for Johnson’s spin off Turn 4.
On the last restart, Monroe poked the nose of his machine underneath Rudy as they roared into Turn 1. They battled neck-and-neck until lap 23 when Rudy regained command. As Rudy pulled away, Balluzzo moved to the inside of Monroe, swiping second on lap 24.
At the finish, Rudy was the winner by 0.622-second — about three lengths — over Balluzzo. Monroe was third, followed by Humblet and Patrick, who rallied from the 14th starting spot to take fifth.
The lineup for the 25-lap nightcap was determined by the finishing order of the first race, placing Rudy and Balluzzo on the front row.
The first attempt at a start went awry, resulting in the race’s only caution flag.
Finally under way, Rudy and Balluzzo race wheel-to-wheel until they reached Turns 3 and 4 where Rudy motored ahead. Balluzzo slipped into second, followed by Monroe, Patrick and a side-by-side tussle between Humblet and A.J. Winstead, which Winstead eventually won.
Balluzzo stayed within a couple car-lengths of Rudy for the first handful of laps. On lap 8, though, Rudy suddenly extended his advantage to four lengths and began to ease away. By the time the crossed flags were displayed, his lead had grown to nearly half a straightaway.
Passing the halfway mark, Patrick zeroed in on Monroe, looking to gain the third spot. Soon, though, he began to lose touch with Monroe, who maintained a solid grip on the position.
At the finish, Rudy was the winner by 1.351 seconds over Balluzzo. Monroe collected his second third-place finish of the evening, while Winstead and Humblet rounded out the top five.
In position for a top-five run, Patrick fell badly off the pace in the closing circuits and limped home in 10th.
KEESVACATIONS.COM MODIFIEDS – Twin 25s
Race #1
Fin. Pos. (Car #) Driver; Laps Compl.
1. (8) Mike Rudy; 25
2. (48) Shawn Balluzzo; 25
3. (03) Randy Monroe Jr.; 25
4. (11) Jimmy Humblet; 25
5. (20) Cameron Patrick; 25
6. (99) A.J. Winstead; 25
7. (44) Robbie Babb; 25
8. (08) Joe Scarbrough; 25
9. (1) Anthony Kincaid; 25
10. (36) Chris Johnson; 25
11. (87) Darrell Vance; 25
12. (77) Joed Bruce; 25
13. (17) Lauren Edgerton; 25
14. (71) Hunter Slayton; 22
15. (31) Chuck Britt; 15
16. (57) Robbie Davis; 4
Pole: Balluzzo – 84.860 mph.
Race #2
Fin. Pos. (Car #) Driver; Laps Compl.
1. (8) Mike Rudy; 25
2. (48) Shawn Balluzzo; 25
3. (03) Randy Monroe Jr.; 25
4. (99) A.J. Winstead; 25
5. (11) Jimmy Humblet; 25
6. (71) Hunter Slayton; 25
7. (36) Chris Johnson; 25
8. (44) Robbie Babb; 25
9. (1) Anthony Kincaid; 25
10. (20) Cameron Patrick; 25
11. (77) Joed Bruce; 25
12. (08) Joe Scarbrough; 25
13. (87) Darrell Vance; 24
14. (17) Lauren Edgerton; 23
15. (31) Chuck Britt; 17
16. (57) Robbie Davis; 5
Pole: Rudy – based on Race #1 finish.
