HAMPTON, GA — By Jacob Seelman – Speed77 Radio for Race Chaser Online – William Byron may have just earned a new nickname: “The Comeback Kid”.

Byron’s furious rally after spinning out of second place to win one of two Legends Young Lions features as a part of Thursday Thunder at Atlanta Motor Speedway was a major highlight of the double feature evening. The first round of features was also credited as national qualifiers for all divisions in their points chases.

Racing action began with the Fun Junction Young Lions and the aforementioned Byron leading the first feature to the green flag. Payton Ryan moved inside of Byron and into the lead on Lap 4 and never looked back, winning the national qualifier over Woodrow Mullis and throwing his hat into the national points race.

William Plemons III led the first pro division feature to green, but could not hold it for long as Joey Padgett moved to the point on Lap 3. A lap later, Kason Plott took command and would never relinquish the top spot, holding tough despite a caution with 7 laps to go for the victory over Joey Padgett.

Riley Thornton started P1 in the first Allred Family Dentistry Semi-Pro feature, and following an early caution, Thornton led over Jay Coen. But it would continue to be Coen’s week to shine, because after a win at Charlotte Tuesday night in the Summer Shootout, Coen took the lead with eight laps to go in the race. However, an immediate caution set up a restart with seven circuits remaining and put Coen back to second behind Thornton. Ultimately though, Coen would clear Thornton with three laps remaining and hold on to capture his first Thursday Thunder win of the season.

Other national qualifier winners included Jensen Jorgensen (Outlaws); Chandler Smith (Bandits); Tina Johnson (Masters); and Ryan Howell (Beginner Bandits).

The second Fun Junction Young Lions feature got underway with Woodrow Mullis on point, but this feature would be highlighted by two spectacular moments. A Lap 1 caution flew when Alex Coffey and Payton Ryan locked together coming down the frontstraightaway, and going into Turn 1, Coffey clipped the grass and barrel-rolled a time and a half before coming to rest on his wheels. Mullis continued to lead as the race restarted, with a heavy challenge by the National Points Runner-Up, William Byron. A spin by Byron though, while running second, slowed the field again at Lap 7. In a furious charge, driver #25 rallied back, slipping by Mullis on the final lap to claim his third win of the season and first of the week, after his Shootout win from Tuesday night was overturned following review.

In the second pro division feature, Jordan Black started on pole and led the field to the green flag. William Plemons III took the lead at Lap 4, allowing Joey Padgett to move into second place. Plemons pulled away as he claimed his seventh win of the season behind a furious battle between teammates, with Padgett ultimately prevailing over Black for second.

Spencer Moseley led the second Masters feature to the green flag, but his lead was short-lived as Scott Moseley snagged the lead on the third lap. The pair held a comfortable buffer over the rest of the field, but a late-race caution bunched the field up for a frenetic scramble to the finish. Scott Moseley hung on by a razor-thin margin, scoring the victory three-wide at the checkered flag over Spencer Moseley and Skip Nichols.

In the second Allred Family Dentistry Semi Pro feature, Amber Fleeman led the field as the green flag fell and led early, but a pair of cautions set up a ten lap sprint to the finish. In a stunning surge, Coen muscled his way into the lead with 8 laps left and held the top spot en route to another win and a sweep of both features for the night. For Coen, it was his third straight Semi-Pro class win in three days following a race victory at Charlotte on Tuesday night.

Other second round feature winners included Ashton Winger (Outlaws); Zach Leonhardi (Bandits); and Ryan Howell (Beginner Bandits).

Short track racing returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway on Thursday, July 25 for championship night. Season points champions will be crowned in each division. For more information, go to atlantamotorspeedway.com!

PHOTO CREDIT: Tom Francisco, Speedpics.net

Thursday Thunder 7/21/13 Race Results

Outlaws Feature One:

1. Jensen Jorgensen (Stockbridge), 2. Chase Purdy (Gallion, Ala.), 3. Ashton Winger (Fayetteville), 4. Christopher Clanton (Brooks), 5. Alton Clark (Newnan), 6. Joshua Hicks (Senoia), 7. Eli Bailey (Johns Creek), 8. Miranda Meredith (Locust Grove), 9. Jacob Heafner (Dallas, NC). DQ – Miguel Cesar.

Bandits Feature One:

1. Chandler Smith (Talking Rock), 2. Zach Leonhardi (Cartersville), 3. Connor Younginer (Stockbridge), 4. Clay Thompson (Powersville), 5. Lee Hodges (Lake Park), 6. Lawson Ingold (Social Circle), 7. Abigail Marin (Peachtree City), 8. Austin Geer (Johns Creek), 9. Zachary Dabbs (Mooresville, NC), 10. Tristan Meredith (Locust Grove), 11. Nathan Jackson (McDonough) 12. Hayden Humphrey (Cornelius, NC), 13. Will McConnell (Dallas), DNS: Blake Cisenros (Houston, Texas).

Pro Feature One:

1. Kason Plott (Marietta), 2. Joey Padgett (Tallahassee, Fla.), 3. Jordan Black (Winter Springs, Fla.), 4. William Plemons III (Smyrna).

Masters Feature One:

1. Tina Johnson (Senoia), 2. Skip Nichols (Albany), 3. Ed Clark (Peachtree City), 4. Scott Moseley (McDonough), 5. Mark Swan (Dunwoody), 6. Robbie Woodall (McDonough), 7. Mike Kennedy (Alpharetta), 8. Phillip Young (Alpharetta), 9. John Ponzio (Tyrone), 10. Don Maness (Duluth) 11. Martin Snyder (Kennesaw), 12. Spencer Moseley (McDonough).

Allred Family Dentistry Semi-Pro Feature One:

1. Jay Coen (Dacula). 2. Riley Thornton (Peachtree City), 3. Brett Hardin (Acworth). 4. Taylor Jorgensen (Stockbridge), 5. Amber Fleeman (Dacula), 6. Aaron Bailey (Burlington, N.C.), 7. Jeff Holden (Gainesville), 8. Hub Talbot (Smyrna), DQ – William Martin (Douglasville),

Fun Junction Young Lions Feature One:

1. Payton Ryan (Concord, N.C.), 2. Woodrow Mullis (Hoboken), 3. William Byron (Charlotte, N.C.), 4. Alex Coffey (McDonough), 5. Dylan Murry (Cumming), 6. Blake Gaither (Nashville).

HEAR PAYTON’S POST-RACE INTERVIEW:  Payton Ryan ATL1 Winner

Beginner Bandolero Feature One:

1. Ryan Howell (McDonough). 2. Samuel Oliver (The Rock), 3. Ashton Brown.

Outlaws Feature Two:

1. Ashton Winger (Fayetteville), 2 Jensen Jorgensen (Stockbridge), 3. Alton Clark (Newnan), 4. Joshua Hicks (Senoia), 5. Jacob Heafner (Dallas, NC), 6. Christopher Clanton (Brooks), 7. Miranda Meredith (Locust Grove), 8. Eli Bailey (Johns Creek), 9. Chase Purdy (Gallion, Ala.), DNS: Ashton Brown.

Bandits Feature Two:

1. Zach Leonhardi (Cartersville), 2. Zachary Dabbs (Mooresville, NC), 3. Chandler Smith (Talking Rock), 4. Connor Younginer (Stockbridge), 5. Lee Hodges (Lake Park), 6. Clay Thompson (Powersville), 7. Abigail Marin (Peachtree City), 8. Austin Geer (Johns Creek), 9. Will McConnell (Dallas), 10. Tristan Meredith (Locust Grove), 11. Nathan Jackson (McDonough) 12. Hayden Humphrey (Cornelius, NC), 13. Lawson Ingold (Social Circle).

Pro Feature Two:

1. William Plemons III (Smyrna), 2. Joey Padgett (Tallahassee, Fla.), 3. Jordan Black (Winter Springs, Fla.).

HEAR WILLIAM’S POST -RACE INTERVIEW! William Plemons ATL2 Winner

Masters Feature Two:

1. Scott Moseley (McDonough), 2. Spencer Moseley (McDonough), 3. Skip Nichols (Albany), 4. Tina Johnson (Senoia), 5. Ed Clark (Peachtree City), 6. Mike Kennedy (Alpharetta), 7. Mark Swan (Dunwoody), 8. Phillip Young (Alpharetta), 9. Robbie Woodall (McDonough), 10. John Ponzio (Tyrone), 11. Don Maness (Duluth) 12. Martin Snyder (Kennesaw).

Allred Family Dentistry Semi-Pro Feature Two:

1. Jay Coen (Dacula), 2. William Martin (Douglasville), 3. Amber Fleeman (Dacula), 4. Riley Thornton (Peachtree City), 5. Taylor Jorgensen (Stockbridge), 6. Aaron Bailey (Burlington, N.C.), 7. Brett Hardin (Acworth), 8. Hub Talbot (Smyrna). 9. Jeff Holden (Gainesville).

HEAR JAY’S POST-RACE INTERVIEW: Jay Coen ATL1 Winner

Fun Junction Young Lions Feature Two:

1. William Byron (Charlotte, N.C.), 2. Woodrow Mullis (Hoboken), 3. Dylan Murry (Cumming), 4. Blake Gaither (Nashville). 5. Payton Ryan (Concord, N.C.), 6. Alex Coffey (McDonough).

HEAR WILLIAM’S POST-RACE INTERVIEW:  Will Byron ATL2 Winner

Beginner Bandolero Feature Two:

1. Ryan Howell (McDonough). 2. Samuel Oliver (The Rock), 3. Ashton Brown.