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Setzer Claims Pepsi 250 Win at Tri-County

by Pat Simmons

Hudson, NC (April 15, 2005) - Mark Setzer grabbed the lead on lap 117 of Friday night’s  Pepsi 250 at Tri-County Motor Speedway in Hudson, NC, to take the win and the $3000.00 prize. A large number of fans braved the chilly weather to attend the opening race for the speedway and no one was disappointed with the show.

Setzer started eighth on the field after qualifying fastest with a new track record of 16.129.  The old record of 16.130 was set by Chrissy Oliver a number of years ago.  A roll of the dice dictated the number of cars inverted and this made Setzer have to work for his money.

At the drop of the green, Jacky Workman, who started on the point, was passed by Josh Goble, but Workman fought back, taking the lead until lap 25, when Junior Franks battled his way around Workman.  Setzer, driving the Lackey Motorsports’  mount, was still making his way toward the front, dealing with each position as he came to it.  When he made his way up to challenge Franks for the top spot Setzer made his move.  Franks continued to pressure Setzer, but on lap 127 Franks slowed and came to the pits.  He found he had a lose coil wire, which caused him to lose power and his night was over.

Jay Gerst took over second, but was unable to catch Setzer and that was where he would be when the checkered flag fell.

Dexter Canipe, Jr. came across the stripe in third, with Stephen Leicht taking a break from the ASA circuit to take home fourth.

Dennis Queen was fifth, Bill Cassavaugh sixth, Kevin Leicht seventh and Josh Goble piloted the Mulberry Motorsports’ ride to eighth.

Workman fell to ninth and Jason Grant completed the top ten.

Monty Cox was fastest in the Pepsi Super Stocks to take the win after starting from the sixth position and having to work his way through traffic.

Kevin Dill gave Cox a run for his money was but was unable to take the lead and had to settle for second.  Scott Franklin drove his Camaro to third with Marshall Sutton taking home fourth.  Russell Goforth was fifth, Chuck Suddreth was sixth, Jon Waterhouse seventh, Raymond Burrow eighth, Kaleb Pressley ninth and Mark Livingston was tenth.

In the Hudson Superette Street Stocks David Smith found his way into victory lane after drawing the pole position.  Smith was quick to take the lead and had to battle Kevin Eby to keep the point.

Eby was second with Blane Huffman third, Jamey Mitchum fourth and Bobby Sutton fifth.

Josh Burchette was sixth, Jonathon Smith seventh, Ernie Harris eighth, David Manis ninth and Jim Ledden finished out the top ten.

In the Mini Stock feature Hank Hefner blasted his way to the front on the second lap to go on for the win, but Hefner had to hold off a hard charging Doug Setzer.

Setzer came across the stripe in second with Arnold Propst third, Kenny Campbell fourth and Jason Cochran fifth.

David Hasson rolled off the line in fourth in the Fast and Furious and it took four laps to make his way to the front.  When he did Hasson had Jeff Poston in tow and Poston was determined to get by Hasson but ran out of laps and finished in second.  Ronald Dale McNeill was third, Stephen Clippard fourth and Adam Hatton collected fifth place money.

Jeff Banks took the lead on the fourth lap of the Tri-County Minis feature to take the trophy with Ryan Carson second, Andrew Bagwell third, David Duncan fourth and Duncan Gant was fifth.

Next Friday night Tri-County will feature Twin 50 lap features for the Late Model Stocks with $1000.00 to win each race as the posted prize.  There will be racing in all other divisions plus an “Early Bird Special.”  Four early tickets holders will have tickets drawn for a chance to win a $25 cash prize each.

For more information call the speedway at 828-726-6600 or go to the web site at www.tricountymotorspeedway.com.

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