FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Eric Wells Earns $10,000 Payday in SNBS Fall Classic at Ponderosa Speedway

By Michael Despain

Contact: Chris Tilley
Southern Nationals Bonus Series P.R. Coordinator
606-219-1723 | tilleyracing@gmail.com

JUNCTION CITY, Ky. – November 5, 2016 – The Southern Nationals Bonus Series kicked off the month of November at Ponderosa Speedway in Junction City, KY on Saturday for the 26th Annual Fall Classic presented by Caton Industrial Painting and Eric Wells of Hazard, KY would be in the spotlight at the end of the event, having earned a $10,000 payday and his second career win in the track’s Fall Classic event. This would mark Wells’ first-career victory on the tour and his second personal victory of the season.

Wells would be the dominant car at the event as he would be the FK Rod Ends top qualifier, led all ten laps in winning his qualifying heat, and would cap the event off by leading all 50 circuits of the main event. The victory for Wells was his first career win with the tour and would aboard the David Wells owned Wells Motorsports/Convenient Lube/Penske Shocks sponsored #18 Longhorn Chassis powered by a Cornett Race Engine.

Wells would take the lead at the start of the 50 lap, $10,000 to win Southern Nationals Bonus Series sanctioned 26th Annual Fall Classic presented by Caton Industrial Painting, with Dave Hess, Jr. and Jason Welshan giving chase. Welshan would go second on lap 6 and give chase to Wells, who began working slower traffic on lap 9. Wells would weave his way in and out of heavy traffic and maintain a comfortable margin and would get clear race track when the caution waved on lap 19 for a slowed Justin Rattliff in turn two.

Back underway, Wells would again set a torrid pace out front, while Welshan would now get pressure from Kent Robinson and Steve Francis for the second position. While Wells again pulled away from the field, Robinson and Francis would duel for third until the caution waved again on lap 31 when Chris Ferguson’s mount would slow on the backchute. This restart would see Robinson motor around Welshan for the runner-up position and close slightly on Wells for the lead, but Wells would turn the wick up on his machine when he started working slower traffic on lap 41. Wells would begin to drive off from Robinson until one final caution waved on lap 46 for a stopped Jason Jamison in turn two.

The final restart would see Wells again shoot away from the competition and see the checkered flag first. Robinson and Welshan would settle for the remaining podium finishing positions with their second and third place finishes respectively, while Donald McIntosh and Steve Francis completed the top five. The remainder of the top ten would be led by 18th starting Ray Cook, followed by Jackie Boggs, Chris Carpenter, Billy Moyer, Jr., and Tim Dohm.

On Friday Night during the non-points Southern Nationals Bonus Series-sanctioned 16th Annual Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial feature, Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, W.V. scored his first win at the track notching the $3,000 payday over Eric Wells, Corey Conley, Steve Francis and Chris Ferguson.

The next event for the Southern Nationals Bonus Series will be the Showdown at Senoia at on November 11 and 12 at Senoia (Ga.) Raceway paying $10,000 to win. Friday’s action features practice, FK Rod Ends Qualifying and Heat races followed by Conseys and the 60-lap main event on Saturday Night.

Southern Nationals Bonus Series-Ponderosa Speedway-November 5, 2016
26th Annual Fall Classic presented by Caton Industrial Painting A-Main Finish:

1. Eric Wells-Hazard, Ky.
2. Kent Robinson-Bloomington, Ind.
3. Jason Welshan-Maryville, Tenn.
4. Donald McIntosh-Dawsonville, Ga.
5. Steve Francis-Bowling Green, Ky.
6. Ray Cook-Brasstown, N.C.
7. Jackie Boggs-Grayson, Ky.
8. Chris Carpenter-Parkersburg, W.V.
9. Billy Moyer, Jr.-Batesville, Ark.
10. Tim Dohm-Cross Lanes, W.V.
11. Chad Stapleton-Edinburgh, Ind.
12. Corey Conley-Wellsburg, W.V.
13. Dave Hess, Jr.-Waterford, Pa.
14. Michael Chilton-Salvisa, Ky.
15. Tyler Carpenter-Parkersburg, W.V.
16. James Rice-Verona, Ky.
17. Billy Ogle, Jr.-Knoxville, Tenn.
18. Jeremy Berwanger-Murray City, Ohio
19. Ryan King-Seymour, Tenn.
20. Doug Smith-Harriman, Tenn.
21. Jason Jameson-Lawrenceburg, Ind.
22. Chris Ferguson-Mount Holly, N.C.
23. Justin Rattliff-Campbellsville, Ky.

Entries- 37
Lap Leaders- 1 (Wells 1-50)
Cautions- 3 (lap 19-Rattliff; lap 31-Ferguson; lap 46-Jameson)
FK Rod Ends Top Qualifier- Eric Wells 13.346
Engine Bonus-525 Engine ($200): Doug Smith
Keyser Manufacturing 11th Place Award: Chad Stapleton
Provisional Starters- Doug Smith, Billy Ogle Jr., Justin Rattliff (track)

Heat One (top 4 transfer)- Eric Wells, Kent Robinson, Jason Jameson, Chris Carpenter, Michael Chilton, Billy Ogle, Jr., Dustin Linville, Tommy Bailey, Steve Smith, Jeff Rawlings

Heat Two (top 4 transfer)- Jason Welshan, Donald McIntosh, Billy Moyer, Jr., Chad Stapleton, Ryan King, Brandon Kinzer, Brent Larson, Brian Smith, Scott Crigler
Heat Three (top 4 transfer)- Dave Hess, Jr., Corey Conley, Steve Francis, Tyler Carpenter, Jeremy Berwagner, Levi Ashby, Justin Rattliff, Connor Meade, Steve Stollings

Heat Four (top 4 transfer)- Jackie Boggs, Chris Ferguson, Tim Dohm, James Rice, Ray Cook, Rusty Schlenk, Doug Smith, Steve Elliott, Keith Smith

B-Main One (top 2 transfer)- Michael Chilton, Ryan King, Dustin Linville, Brandon Kinzer, Brent Larson, Billy Ogle, Jr., Steve Smith, Tommy Bailey, Scott Crigler, Brian Smith, Jeff Rawlings

B-Main Two (top 2 transfer)- Ray Cook, Jeremy Berwanger, Levi Ashby, Justin Rattliff, Rusty Schlenk, Connor Meade, Steve Stollings, Doug Smith, Keith Smith

Friday’s 16th Annual Hugh “Junebug” Rowland Memorial presented by Yeager Insulation- Tim Dohm, Eric Wells, Corey Conley, Steve Francis, Chris Ferguson, Kent Robinson, Billy Moyer, Jr., Chris Carpenter, Ray Cook, Michael Chilton, Dave Hess, Jr., Brandon Kinzer, Jason Welshan, James Rice, Rusty Schlenk, Chad Stapleton, Donald McIntosh, Scott Crigler, Jackie Boggs, Dustin Linville

Current Southern Nationals Bonus Series Points (after November 5)
1. Donald McIntosh-2,114
2. David Payne-1,862
3. Ryan King-1,592
4. Doug Smith-1,537
5. Billy Ogle Jr.-1,171
6. Cory Hedge(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)-944
7. Mike Marlar-813
8. Kenny Collins-740
9. Jason Welshan-704
10. Jonathan Davenport-592

Southern Nationals Bonus Series Remaining Races:
November 11/12-Senoia Raceway-Senoia, GA-$10,000 to win (60 laps)
November 18/19-Boyd’s Speedway-Ringgold, GA-$10,000 to win (60 laps)