It had been a long couple of years for Jamie Sudduth.
The Millport, Alabama, native and Street Stocks competitor hadn’t placed the No. 11 in victory lane since 2015. But that changed Friday night at Columbus Speedway where he’d pass friend, and sometimes fill-in driver for the No. 11, Brian Rickman with two laps to go to win the Street Stocks feature.
Sudduth started on the poll, but Rickman had the lead by lap 7. Sudduth overtook Rickman on lap 13 off turn four, opened up a car-length lead and held on for the win.
“I knew I could get him,” Sudduth said. “I was a little faster than he was. He just kept bobbing, so I got him there on the bottom and made up a lot of ground in turns one and two.
“He got to pushing a little bit in turns three and four, and that’s where I got him. That turn’s a bit different, so I just drove by him there on the bottom.”
Rickman, who finished second, said he couldn’t go off the corners as good as he wanted to.
“I thought we were pretty good when we first fired up,” Rickman said. “I have an open motor, and Jamie’s got a 602, so it’s hard for these open motors to outrun a 602, for some reason. I figured, once I got ahead of him, I’d be pretty good. But I guess I slipped up and let him get by me.
“I’d rather him lead the whole race then get passed on the last two laps, but it was fun. I enjoy racing this thing. It’s less stress and good times. Jamie’s a good buddy.”
Rickman, reigning Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series champion, will return to Super Late Models next week in Jackson, where the State Series opens its season.
Billy Tedford, Brian Fortner, and Eddie Rickman rounded out the top five.
Shelton skates by Holloway in 602s
After a mid-race caution flag that fell just as he’d taken the lead, Tony Shelton thought his only opportunity to win the race had passed.
Shelton, who won the season opener at Columbus, was passed on lap four and spent six-straight laps closing to Mitchell Holloway’s bumper, only to see his advantage dissipate exiting the corners.
Shelton made his move on lap 18, sliding under Holloway in turn two and holding on for his second 602 Sportsman feature win of the season.
“I had no idea he was that close behind me,” Shelton said. “I moved up high to find a groove to sail on, and he came under me. Had no idea. When he got by me, I had to step it up a notch. I tried overdriving it some and he’d get away from me.
“With two or three to go, I finally got him and got the momentum into the corner. Going into one and two, I had a whole lot more traction there. He was going a little high, a little slick, and I was down in the traction, making up ground. I’d run in there real hard, turn, and finally got by him.”
Mitchell finished second, while Daniel Gann, Randy Bush, and Jackson McCool rounded out the top five.
In other race action:
n Chase Washington won the NeSmith Crate Late Models feature. Justin Carter, Kyle Shaw, Eric Carr, and Chad McCool rounded out the top five.
n John Johnson won the Factory Stocks feature. John Beard, Logan Lux, Bob McCann, and Colby Taylor rounded out the top five.
n Allen Gilreath won the Mini Stocks feature. Nick Deese, Anthony Hall, Toby Yarbrough, and Matt Meadows rounded out the top five.
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