Posted on Thu, Sep. 20, 2007

by: Scott Vernor 

Brafford's 3rd-place finish moves him into division points lead

Chad Mullis of Mint Hill won the 50-lap race for NASCAR late-model stocks Saturday at Concord Motorsport Park.

Terry Brooks Jr. of Concord was second; Shane Brafford of Concord, third; Bryan Thomas of Monroe, fourth; and Toby Parese of Mohnton, Pa., fifth.

Brafford's third-place finish allowed him to take over first place in the season standings from Chuck Crump of Star, who finished 10th in the race. Brafford leads Crump by eight points.

In the limited late models, Mike Terry of Charlotte won the 40-lap race. Brian Conforth of Cape Coral, Fla., was second, and Bobby Measmer Jr. of Concord finished third.

The finish drew the points chase in that division four points narrower: Measmer leads Terry now by 34.

In pure stocks, Billy Symanski Jr. of Mint Hill won the 30-lap race. Ben Smith of Harrisburg was second, Brian Love of Mount Pleasant was third and points leader Charles Hutto of Monroe finished fourth.

Those results also narrowed the division standings by four points: Hutto now leads Smith by eight points.

Jake Simpson of Albemarle won the 20-lap event for Fast and Furious Fours. And Evan Cupples of Concord got his first victory in the special Fast and Furious Fours race for drivers who had never won a race.

Legends and Bandoleros raced on the park's quarter-mile oval track on Sunday.

Bandoleros winners: John Holleman of Winston-Salem, Beginner Bandits; Jesse Little of Sherrill's Ford, Bandits; Dylan Pack of Stanfield, Young Guns; and Kendall Sellers of Kannapolis, Outlaws.

Legends winners: Devin Layser of Wingate, Semi-Pro Chargers; John Stancill of Ayden, Semi-Pro; Jordan Anderson of Columbia, Pro; Charles Kiser of Walnut Cove, Masters.

Legends and Bandoleros will race again Friday and Saturday on the quarter-mile oval. Pit gates will open at 5:30 p.m., rotating practice will start at 6:10, heat races will begin at 7:45 and feature races will be after that. Grandstand general admission is $7 for adults and free for age 11 and younger with a ticketed adult.

Also this weekend, the park will feature the Pebble Pushers Custom Car & Truck Show on Saturday and Sunday.

The half-mile tri-oval will be idle this weekend, resuming competition Sept. 29 with twin 60-lap races for late models, a 40-lap race for limited late models, a 30-lap race for pure stocks, a 20-lap event for Fast and Furious Fours and a 25-lap race for Thunder Roadsters.

Concord Motorsport Park is on U.S. 601 south of Concord and north of Midland. Details: 704-782-4221

 Charlotte.com - The Charlotte Observer