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Buttrick Continues Dominance, Collects Another Checkered in 35-Lap Sportsman Spectacular

By Chuck Corder

Plenty of drivers in plenty of classes have etched their names into the abrasive asphalt at Five Flags Speedway.

Perhaps no one is leaving the legacy of Steve Buttrick.

The Cantonment driver added to his ever-expanding resume in the Sportsman division with another trip to Victory Lane on Friday at Five Flags.

Buttrick made a nifty move by Shanna Ard for the lead on Lap 22 of the 35-lap Spectacular and ran away from the rest of the 13-car field.

Ard, who led for most of the night, coasted home for second while defending track champion Brannon Fowler took home third.

“Was a lotta fun driving it tonight,� Buttrick said. “The car was good.�

It has been that way for the last three years.

Buttrick has posted nearly 25 victories in this class during that span, including capturing back-to-back Sportsman features at the annual Snowball Derby the last two Decembers.

He flirted with his own track record in qualifying, but started sixth when he rolled the die to set the invert for the 12-car field.

Buttrick wasted little time, reaching second by Lap 11. He pulled to the bumper of Ard and bided his time.

Buttrick never forced the issue until, showing his nose several times but practicing patience rather than stubbornness.

He finally passed Ard after going high in Turn 1 and then dive-bombing to the apron. Buttrick cruised by Ard on the back straightaway.

“We were lucky to finish second,� Ard said. “I didn’t think I was going to make it on the start of the race.�

Sportsman 35-Lap Feature Results—1. Steve Buttrick, 2. Shann Ard, 3. Brannon Fowler, 4. Randy Thompson, 5. Scott Barbaric, 6. Bubba Winslow, 7. James Patrick, 8. Marty White, 9. Michael Couture, 10. Ethan Hardin, 11. Paul Mathis, 12. Calvin Cook

 

Super Stocks

Bubba Winslow couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate his 22nd birthday.

The Cantonment driver and Super Stocks season points leader won for the second time in as many races.

Randy Thompson finished second and John Shuffler in third.

“We struggled a little bit on the Sportsman car, but we made up for it in this division,� said Winslow, who finished sixth in the 35-lap Sportsman Spectacular.

Thompson got by Mike Moore for the lead on Lap 9, but he had little time to enjoy it. Winslow easily skated by Thompson moments later.

“We’ve been working on this car and trying to get it better. I think we’re real close,� Thompson said.

Super Stocks 25-Lap Feature Results—1. Bubba Winslow, 2. Randy Thompson, 3. John Shuffler, 4. Charlie Skipper Jr., 5. Joe Mahuron, 6. Brandon Harris, 7. Courtney Rodrigues, 8. Mike Austin, 9. Mike Moore

 

Modifieds

Chris Cotto was on a mission.

He got out front in his brand new No. 17 on the opening lap and held off a charging Scooter Grice in the closing laps.

Donnie Hamrac, who won the Modifieds opener last month, took third to maintain the points lead for the season

“We were prepared this week,� Cotto said.

Grice closed in on Cotto with four laps left. It seemed as if his early decision to lay back and save his stuff for the right was going to pay off.

Grice nearly had enough, but Cotto beat him to the line by less than a car length.

“I tried to make it a race at the end,� Grice said. “It was just a little too late. I couldn’t get it done this time; maybe next week.�

Modifieds 25-Lap Feature Results—1. Chris Cotto, 2. Scooter Grice, 3. Donnie Hamrac, 4. Korey Ruble, 5. Todd Jones, 6. Nathan Ingersoll, 7. Kevyn Terry, 8. Brandon Howell, 9. Michael Swilley, 10. David Beale

 

Bombers

Gary Goodwin had his silver No. 23 on a rail.

The defending track champ in the Bombers division collected his second checkered flag in a row.

He assumed the points lead after Brandon Burks, who came into Friday atop the standings, blew a tire early on and did not finish the 20-lap feature.

Leonard Craig Jr. did his late papa proud with a runner-up finish.

“I think it might be rough (today) with rain, so I’ll get to sleep in,� said Goodwin, the charter boat fishing captain on the weekdays.

Having Burks and Goodwin start near the back of the pack, 11th and 12th respectively, made things interesting from the get-go.

Goodwin jumped way to the outside as the green flag dropped and made it four-wide coming across.

The start was waved off. So was the next one.

Goodwin went from 12th to second in three laps and assumed the lead on Lap 4. Burks was on Goodwin’s bumper.

Then things literally fell off on Lap 6. Burks lost the right front wheel on the backstretch and had to pull it into the pits, as the tire bounded through turn Nos. 3 and 4.

It was a crushing DNF for the former points leader.

What made it double jeopardy is Burks’ nemesis, Goodwin, was out front.

The other intriguing storyline of the night was the dynamite debut of dirt-track youngster Ryan Fowler.

The rookie came from the tail-end all the way up to fifth with 12 completed laps, chewing up veteran drivers left and right.

“It was my first time on asphalt, matter of fact,� Fowler said.

Bombers 20-Lap Feature Results—1. Gary Goodwin, 2. Leonard Craig Jr., 3. Ryan Fowler, 4. Kenny Williams, 5. Tracy Soles, 6. Michael Nelson, 7. Robert Balkum, 8. John Kevin Merritt, 9. Brandon Nettles, 10. Tim Norman, 11. Matt Culbertson, 12. Tommy Lowery, 13. Brandon Burks, 14. Gary Burkett Sr., 15. William Davis

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