LateModelStock.com - News

Results from the Craftman Tools Event

KENLY N.C. _ Veteran Mooresville driver Freddie Query is described as the king of Late Model Sportsman auto racing at Southern National Speedway by division upstart Steve Mendenhall of Clayton.

"He's just Freddie," said crew member Bill Powell of New Bern.

Query continued to be Freddie _ again dominating the 75-lap Craftsman Night at the Races 260 feature on Saturday night.

The 49-year-old Query has ruled four of his six starts at SNS this season. In one non-winning race, he was leading until his Monte Carlo malfunctioned in the closing laps. In the other, Query rode out front until being summoned to the pits to allow track officials to check for an oil leak.

"I have been doing it for a long time," Query said with a shrug of his success. "We go every night to win and I have been really fortunate to win about half of the races I've been in."

Winning Saturday night's other races at SNS were Tony Grady of Raleigh in Late Model Stock, 2000 champion Brandon Head of Goldsboro in Pro Trucks, Stacy Wood of Benson in Super Stock and Scott Davis of Goldsboro in Stock Look-Alike.

In his latest win, Query was not fazed by six cautions _ two of which were caused by spectacular multi-car wrecks. Query's Monte Carlo, owned by Wayne Hassell of New Bern, sailed out front from the pole and set the pace from flag to flag.

"The car was as good as last time, but the engine was not," Query said. "We had a problem with the carburetor. But it was good enough."

Powell assures Query's team expects to win.

"Nothing less," Powell added. "That's why Freddie runs with us. We won at Peach State (Georgia) Wednesday night. We work on the car four nights a week. The car never stays still."

"Query is so good on setups," said Mendenhall. "He knows so many tricks of the trade and knows how to read tracks."

Mendenhall, who started fourth in a Monte Carlo, matched his career-best finish of second, finishing between acclaimed drivers Query and Fuquay-Varina's Randy Renfrow, who said he will return to NASCAR Craftsman Trucks racing on a limited basis next season.

"That's tough," Mendenhall said of finishing between Query and Renfrow. "We have complained so much about a loose race car that it was totally opposite tonight. But we are going to take this and build off it. We were running against the best up there. And aytime you can keep him (Query) in sight, you're OK."

Query prevailed by nearly a straightaway against Mendenhall. Renfrow, who started on the outside front row, brought his Dodge across the stripe third. The performance encouraged the veteran driver.

"We were a little loose in the middle, but we had a pretty good race," Renfrow said. "We're close _ we'll be all right. If we had a bigger carburetor, we could outrun them, but this 390 carburetor has kind of choked the Dodge down.

"We're still in the experimental stage. I haven't raced here much in a few years and I have to get back to the things we used to do and get that trucks stuff out of me."

Points leader Jim Kelley of Newport salvaged fourth in a Monte Carlo, while former champion Shelton McNair Jr. of Plymouth capitalized on a tremendous break to storm from the rear to a fifth-place finish.

After a hole in a tire forced him to the pits, McNair parked and climbed from his racer. But a wreck occurred before another lap was completed. The crew hurriedly readied his car and McNair returned to the fray.

But Powell insists McNair, Renfrow, Kelley, Mendenhall and the rest are going to have to "step it up" to stay with Query.

"I hope they don't catch me," Query said. "But if they do, I'll work harder and get back in front again."

Saturday night's 10-car field was the second smallest of the 2001 season in the Late Model Stock division at Southern National Speedway.

But Raleigh driver Tony Grady contends a 25-car field would not have affected the outcome.

"We were awfully good," Grady said after dominating the 75-lap Late Model Stock feature in the Craftsman Night at the Races 260 auto racing program.

Grady notched his second 2001 triumph after starting on the outside front row in is red Monte Carlo. However, Grady did not reach Victory Lane until racing door-to-door with both rookie Stephen Rhodes of Goldsboro and Clayton's Steve Mendenhall for several laps.

Grady, a consistent top-three finisher the last several races, finally worked past Rhodes' Monte Carlo.

"He had me worried," Grady said of Rhodes' reluctance to let him pass. "He didn't give the old man any respect. When you get hung up on the outside, it's tough. I didn't want to let Steve get too far away. Either I could fall in line behind him (Rhodes) or give it a hard burst and try to get around him. But he (Rhodes) did a pretty good job."

Grady got around Mendenhall's Grand Prix and inherited the lead for keeps on lap 40.

"After I got by him (Rhodes), I saw what was happening to Steve," Grady said. "It was a matter of time. I think we have about got this new car figured out."

Mendenhall hoped to benefit from a furious duel for second place between Grady, Mendenhall, Wilson's Billy Ray Lucas and Newport's Jim Kelley at the start.

"I was hoping they would use their tires up," Mendenhall said, "but they have been racing in this division a good while and know what they're doing."

Mendenhall continued to battle his racer's loose condition and Lucas, the points leader, maneuvered his Monte Carlo into second place on lap 49. Lucas stayed there.

"The car was good and the driving was good," Lucas said, "but qualifying (fourth) beat me again. We were running him down; every lap, we were catching him."

This was a night that Lucas needed the customary 100 laps. But only two points were shaved off his lead. Mendenhall settled for third after sitting on the pole for the third time.

"Our qualifying efforts are fantastic," Mendenhall said. "Naturally it's easier to stay up front. But were are not out in left field on this _ we're close. We kept fighting a loose condition and both cars (Grady and Lucas) were patient with me. I had rather be in third place than get knocked out and finish last."

Kelley, in a Monte Carlo, staved off Rhodes for fourth place.