Inaugural RC / MoonPie ASA SAT Race
Peltier Drives to Victory in Inaugural RC / MoonPie ASA SAT Race
36 Late Models Provide Plenty of Sparks for Fans in Bayou 100 at Mobile Int’l Speedway
The Bayou 100, the much anticipated first event of the RC Cola/MoonPie ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour, delivered on its promise of giving fans a chance at seeing drivers from across the country beat-and-bang their way from the moment the green flag dropped. At the conclusion of the historic day at the legendary Mobile International Speedway in Alabama, it was North Carolina’s Preston Peltier who wrote himself into the record books as the series first winner.
“I tell you what, after a hard year that we had last year, this really means a lot,” said Peltier with a smile. “We prepared most of the winter with this crate motor and only got a few laps on it before we came here. We really didn’t know what to expect, so this is awesome.”
The action happened early and often at Mobile Int’l, with Georgia driver Jess Mattox grabbing the lead from his outside pole spot on the first lap.
Early in the race, Steven Davis and Peltier positioned themselves ahead of the storm brewing behind them. During a few restarts, several cars got jammed up in front of the healthy crowd on hand at Mobile.
Peltier, in fact, was a survivor of one of those mêlées. During a lap-27 restart, Peltier and fast-qualifier Jeremy Mullinex made contact. Mullinex spun in turn one and sat broadside in the middle of the track as cars attempted to dodge him. Two drivers weren’t so lucky; Logan Boyett slammed into Mullinex and 2007 Georgia Asphalt Series Champion Russell Fleeman was involved as well. The incident ended the night for all three drivers.
“We got good restarts behind Jess Mattox, and then the next thing I know, I was around. Then Logan got in there and ran into me,” said Mullinex. “I guess he didn’t have anywhere to go. It’s just a rough race. The 5-car (Peltier) got into us, ran down onto the apron; I don’t really know what he was thinking.”
On the ensuing restart, the field got bunched up at the front and contact sent several cars spinning in turn one, including Jess Mattox, Josh Hamner, Jay Middleton, and Tyler Millwood. Mattox went over to Peltier’s car during the red-flag period and exchanged words with the eventual winner of the race.
“I just told him I didn’t appreciate what he’d done. It was early in the race and I was just riding, and I guess he just got a little impatient,” said Mattox. “He tore up a lot of good cars. It was early in the race and he was getting pretty stupid. He should’ve calmed down a little bit.”
Peltier expressed his opinion on the restarts and his view of the incident with Mattox.
“There was something funny going on with the restarts,” said Peltier. “They’d (the front row) speed up and they’d slow down and then they’d speed up again, and they were jumbling guys up. They wrecked a ton of racecars tonight. They need to keep a smooth, consistent pace when that pace car leaves the racetrack, and when the green flag comes out you go.
“I just told him I didn’t appreciate what he’d done. It was early in the race and I was just riding, and I guess he just got a little impatient,” said Mattox. “He tore up a lot of good cars. It was early in the race and he was getting pretty stupid. He should’ve calmed down a little bit.”
Peltier expressed his opinion on the restarts and his view of the incident with Mattox.
“There was something funny going on with the restarts,” said Peltier. “They’d (the front row) speed up and they’d slow down and then they’d speed up again, and they were jumbling guys up. They wrecked a ton of racecars tonight. They need to keep a smooth, consistent pace when that pace car leaves the racetrack, and when the green flag comes out you go.
Following this critical turn of events, Michael Pope and John Bolen had their turn at trying to catch Peltier in the remaining laps, to no avail. Peltier claimed the victory and the large trophy that came with it.
“A couple lapped cars got together in front of me there while I was leading the race, and man these AP Brakes are awesome, because they’re the only reason I stopped.”
Peltier said his sponsors put up the money to skip a race closer to home just so he could come down and race at the famed Mobile International Speedway.
“I have to thank ARP Bodies, AP Brakes, and absolutely, definitely Chevrolet. Without them, I wouldn’t be here tonight, that’s for sure. The only reason I’m here racing is Chevrolet. We could’ve run at Hickory since it’s real close to home, but Chevrolet’s backing us to run this ASA deal, and as long as the money holds out, we’ll be here.”
Rounding out the top five in the Bayou 100 were Pope, Bolen, Chris Fontaine, and Brandon Johnson.
Round number two of the RC Cola / MoonPie ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour will come on Saturday, April 5th, at Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, GA. Pit Gates open at 11:30am with practice commencing at 1:45pm. Qualifying is slated for 6:30pm with the 100-lap feature scheduled for 8:30pm. If you would like more information regarding the event, please visit the official website of ASA SAT at www.asasoutheast.com.
For more media inquiries, sponsorship and promotional information regarding the ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour, contact Stan Narrison at (678) 373-9851 and be sure to visit www.asasoutheastasphalttour.com for all ASA Southeast Tour news. For technical and rule information, call Micky Cain at (678) 373-9851.
To learn more of the Daytona Beach, Florida-based Racing Speed Associates or the American Speed Association Racing Member Track program, call (386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information from racetracks and regional tours involved in the American Speed Association, visit www.asaracing.com.
