MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Report and photo by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman —
Call Donnie Wilson’s final practice effort on Saturday at Montgomery Motor Speedway the comeback of the weekend.
Less than 24 hours after his trailer broke down in Tennessee, leaving Wilson to transport his remaining tools and parts to the race track in a U-Haul open cargo trailer, the Oklahoma City veteran posted the fastest Super Late Model lap of the weekend at Montgomery Motor Speedway.
Wilson’s lap of 18.912 seconds (95.178 mph), set on his 20th and final trip around the venerable half-mile in the 45 minute session, was enough to top the field in advance of Saturday night’s two-lap time trials for the 51st running of the Alabama 200. The four-time Southern Super Series race winner is looking for his first-career win in the ‘200’ driving the No. 2W OKC Auto Works Ford.
Defending Alabama 200 champion Anderson Bowen got his quest for a second-consectuive ‘200’ victory off to a blazing start as well, touring MMS in 18.938 seconds (95.047) to slot in second-fastest behind the wheel of his No. 29 Copper Creek Hardware Ford.
All-time Southern Super Series winner and fast qualifier Bubba Pollard (18.966/94.907) was third on the speed charts, the final car to dip underneath the 19-second barrier at the wheel of his No. 26 FK Rod Ends/Classic Powder Coating Ford.
Rookie superstar Harrison Burton (19.069/94.394), who got his first-career SSS victory at Mobile Int’l Speedway in May, and defending NASCAR XFINITY Series champion Chase Elliott (19.092/94.280) made up the balance of the fast five.
Four-time Alabama 200 winner Augie Grill, who paced the first round of practice, slotted in 10th (19.237/93.570) in the final session.
Qualifying for the Southern Super Series-sanctioned 51st Alabama 200 is scheduled to roll off at approximately 8:30 p.m. Central time.
RESULTS: Southern Super Series Final Practice; Montgomery Motor Speedway; September 12, 2015
- #2W – Donnie Wilson, 18.912
- #29 – Anderson Bowen, 18.938
- #26 – Bubba Pollard, 18.966
- #12 – Harrison Burton, 19.069
- #9 – Chase Elliott, 19.092
- #98 – Ross Kenseth, 19.121
- #11 – Logan Boyett, 19.124
- #1 – Garrett Jones, 19.181
- #31 – Kyle Grissom, 19.202
- #112 – Augie Grill, 19.237
- #99 – Casey Smith, 19.278
- #71 – Johnny Brazier, 19.416
- #79 – Kyle Bryant, 19.429
- #43 – Dennis Schoenfeld, 19.479
- #24 – Christopher Tullis, 19.501
- #47 – Allen Karnes, 19.583
- #98 – Russell Fleeman, 19.663
- #58C – John Coffman, 20.764
- #58 – Bobby Deistler, 21.345
- #58B – Todd Brown, NT
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network. Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s. He is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for both the United Sprint Car Series and the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: speed77radio@gmail.com
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
