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Finally, Turner Turns into Victory Lane

BIRMINGHAM, AL--Defending Southern All Star Series Champion Ricky Turner has been near the top of the point standings all of the 2001 season, leading since the series third race. But one thing had been missing from his 2001 record, a trip to Victory Lane. Friday night, he removed that zero, winning the 100-lap event at Birmingham International Raceway.

J. R. Norris led the way in Garrison Racing Equipment Pole Qualifying with a time of 19.704, three tenths off of his track record. Norris rolled a two, swapping front row starting spots with John Wilkinson III.

Wilkinson got the jump on the 18-car field, taking the lead heading into turn one. Wilkinson pulled out to a four car-length lead over Norris, but it was Turner that had one of the fastest cars on the track. Turner, starting sixth, moved into fifth on lap 16. Four laps later, he moved inside of Doug Reid for fourth place, then past Ken McFarland for third three laps later.

Ronnie Sanders used the inside groove to pick up a couple of spots, while Wilkinson continued to lead. At the halfway point, Wilkinson led, followed by Norris, Turner, McFarland, and Jackie McGuire.

A caution on lap 57 brought everybody to the pits, with the exception of Chris Mullinax. Mullinax had pitted earlier, and took the lead. Jason Hogan was first out of the pits and took the lead when Mullinax pitted 10 laps later.

Hogan, who skipped his high school graduation ceremonies to race at BIR, led the field to the restart on lap 70 with Turner following close behind. Wilkinson restarted in eighth, but was charging back to the front, moving into fifth on lap 73 and fourth on lap 75. Turner closed to Hogan's bumper on lap 77, and dove to the inside coming out of turn four to take the lead. Hogan was beginning to fade, and McFarland got past him one lap later for second, and Wilkinson got by for third on lap 82.

McGuire's spin on lap 87 set up a 10-lap sprint to the finish. Turner led the field to the green, followed by McFarland, Wilkinson, Hogan, and Sanders. Turner jumped out to a four car-length lead on the start, but McFarland and Wilkinson gobbled that lead up quickly. Wilkinson was looking for a way past McFarland while McFarland was trying to set up Turner. With McFarland and Wilkinson battling for second, however, Turner was able to drive his line.

As the three entered turn three on the final lap, Wilkinson dove inside of McFarland. McFarland, trying to get one last shot at Turner, smoked the right rear tire coming off of the turn, allowing Wilkinson to pull along side. Wilkinson got a good run on the inside and beat McFarland back to the line by at least an inch for second place as Turner was winning by a car-length. Hogan held on for fourth, with Sanders fifth. Sixth through tenth went to J.R. Dudley, Mullinax, Dave Mader III, Mike Langston, and McGuire.

"We had a great pit stop, getting out ahead of McFarland and Wilkinson. Once I got past Hogan, I could set my pace and run my line", Turner commented after the race. Referring to his four second place finishes, "It's good to finally close the deal, "We've run good enough to win, just haven't won. We needed it bad to get our confidence back"

The series moves to the fast ¼-mile Huntsville Speedway Friday for a 200-lap event.

Results

1. Ricky Turner
2. John Wilkinson III
3. Ken McFarland
4. Jason Hogan
5. Ronnie Sanders
6. J.R. Dudley
7. Chris Mullinax
8. Dave Mader III
9. Mike Langston
10. Jackie McGuire
11. Darrell Brown
12. Heath Ray
13. David Hole
14. J.R. Norris
15. Heath Hindman
16. Doug Reid
17. Jeremy Rice
18. Stanley Smith