Houser, Masters and Hardwick take wins at Newport

Steve Houser earns top qualifier honors with a fast lap of 12.680 seconds (113.60 miles per hour) and led the first two laps of the Strange’s Custom Auto 100 lap Super Late Model feature. The completion of lap three would show Jeff Myers, who started from the outside pole position, in the top spot. Houser, Barry Lowe, Keith Rankin and Rusty Webb were all engaged in a race for the remaining spaces on the leader board.
The first caution period of the evening would come on lap six for fluid on the raceway. Once racing resumed Myers, Houser, Lowe, Webb, Rankin, Dale Gibson and Chris Corum were tucked nose-to-rear-bumper. Houser was overtaken by Lowe for second position on lap 11, as it appeared that Houser could be dealing with handling issues. Webb, Rankin and Gibson continued their battle for third position allowing Myers and Lowe to pull away from the field, and Houser continued to slip back.
Third place holder in the track championship points, Chris Corum, was forced to retire on lap 25 with mechanical issues, adding another night of bad luck to his race record.
The caution flag would again be displayed on lap 35 for the spinning car of Rankin, who had a flat left rear tire. For the restart it would be Myers, Lowe, Webb, Gibson, Houser, Chris Cochran, Ed Surrett, Terry Smith and Rankin on the lead lap. Only nine circuits would be completed before the third caution period came. Terry Smith’s Monte Carlo slowed exiting turn four and rolled to a stop on the front stretch. Smith and Houser retired to the pit area.
When the green flag waved again, Myers and Lowe drove away from the field. Webb and Gibson continued to fight for the third spot and Rankin was in fifth position as the last car on the lead lap.
As the laps were winding down it looked as though Myers would go into the record books as the Super Late Model feature winner for the sixth time in 2003. Then, lapped traffic became an issue for the leaders. Lowe closed in on Myers’ rear bumper, Myers slipped up the raceway allowing Lowe to get the nose of his Dodge Intrepid to the inside. The two raced side-by-side with Lowe overtaking the premier position on lap 86 and holding off Myers to earn his first Newport Speedway win. Webb and Gibson raced hard to the finish for 3rd and 4th positions and Rankin finished in the 5th slot, one lap in arrears. Sixth through tenth – Ed Surrett, Ronnie Romines, Chad Garrett, Daryl Campbell and Jonathan Storms. 11-15: Chris Cochran, Terry Smith, Brian Payne, Steve Houser and Eric Centers. Chris Corum and Gregg Carvey completed the field of 17 starters. Chad Winters was unable to start the event due to damages suffered in practice earlier in the afternoon.
Pure Stock
Pure Stock championship points leader Tim Masters adds one more win to his record. Josh Knight, Steve Penley, Danny Tracy and Masters were the first four racers to cross the finish line. However, post race technical inspections would not allow Knight, Penley and Tracy to maintain their positions, Masters was awarded the win, with Scott Ricker, Mark Deyton, Marvin Green and Tony Ball rounding out the top five. Joey English, Marion Green Phillip York Stacy Bailey, Marvin English and Todd Green complete the list of 14 entries.
Gary Kelley started from the outside post position and led every lap of the 20 lap Classic Cars feature. Fred McArthur, Brian Ball, Jay Ball and Marvin Carter round out the top five. 6-11 – Dustin Jenkins, Chuck Davis, Frog Ingle, David Carter, Earl McMahan and John Davis.
Fast qualifier, Brian Dinkins (16.36 seconds) and outside pole sitter Danny Tullock were re-positioned to the rear of the eleven car field of Modified Mini cars for the start of the race. Several attempts at giving the initial green flag were made and the two racers continued not to wait for the flag. Dinkins managed to race his way back to the front of the field and collect the win, he was followed by Jim Galloway, Tullock, Terry Poore and Cindy Poore. Sixth through eleventh – Dave Myers, Jim Galloway, Jr, Billy Kelly, Brad Seagle, Tony Stanton and Jason Morgan.
Legends
Fred Hardwick holds off a charging Adam Roberson to take the top honors in the 20 lap Legends event. Chris Wilson, John Memmer and Janice Humble complete the top five. Bill Bradley, Brian Murphy, Butch Irick, Mike Melton, Brian Bounds and Darrell Milewski complete the listing of eleven starters. Track championship points leader, Jeff Jordan was unable to start the event due to significant damage to his car suffered in an early afternoon practice session.
Mini
Billy Morie finally makes his way back to Victory Lane, picking up win number three of the season in the 15 lap Grand National Mini feature. James Rice, Tony Taylor, David Duncan and Jason Whitehead fill in the top five slots, with Paul Burford, Larry Peek and Lance Fye rounding out the field of eight starters.
Brent Stills drew the last starting spot for the Road Hog 20 lap feature. This disadvantage didn’t hinder Stills in any way. By the completion of lap five he’d picked his way into the fourth position and by lap seven he was at the top of the leader board. Stills managed to hold off Blake Kelly, Stephen Davis, Chad McGaha, and Tony Baxter to pick up the win. Jackie Ramsey, Matthew Presnell, Roy McGaha, Tony Kent, Todd Cureton and Marty Shetley rounded out the field.
Baby Road Hog
Stephen Bolduc starts the night in a new car and ends his night in VictoryLane. Bolduc led each lap of the 15 lap Baby Road Hog event. David Ramsey,Leo Payne, Brian Pruett and Ricky Rice fill in the top five positions.