Spencer Hughes has won all across the state and from Super Late Models and Street Stocks to go-karts and modifieds.
But Hughes was winless at The Bullring entering the Labor Day races at Columbus Speedway.
That changed Monday, as Hughes started on the pole and won the Durrence Layne Late Model feature. For the second-straight night, Hughes, who drives Super Late Models full time for Leon Henderson, drove Corinth’s Heath Johnson’s F44 car. Hughes rebounded from finishing 33rd in the Street Stocks feature Saturday at Whynot with a runner-up Sunday at Magnolia Motor Speedway and a win at Columbus.
“This is a pretty special Monday, a lot better than most,” Hughes said. “I just have to give a big thanks to Heath Johnson, who gave me a great piece.”
Steve Russell took second, while Cole Cameron, Scott Ladner, and Kyle Shaw rounded out the top five. Russell cut Hughes’ lead to a few car lengths at one point, but Hughes navigated a pair of lap cars along the bottom and cruised unchallenged for the win.
The afternoon race made for a tricky, dusty racing surface, which eliminated the top from already narrow corners.
“It’s almost like asphalt racing, really,” Hughes said. “You had to make sure you didn’t blow out a tire because it’s so hot and so abrasive. It’s not my favorite type of racing, but we got the job done.”
Hughes will return to Super Late Models at the Cotton Pickin’ 100 at Magnolia and the next State Series race at Jackson. He’s still searching for his first Super Late Model win of the season.
“I hope it’s coming, and I really feel like it is,” Hughes said. “We’ve been a lot better the last few times we’ve raced. We just haven’t been able to finish it off. We’ve been working hard in the shop the last couple of weeks, Wayne and Leon down there, so I hope we’ll get something figured out.
In other race action, Lee Ray held off Dewayne Estes for his 12th feature win of the year. Ray and Estes opened up a sizable lead on the rest of the field by lap five, and raced door to door in the last two laps. Estes tried to pass Ray through the middle and on the bottom, but Ray held him off. Charles Christian, Doug Dodd, and Hayden Moran rounded out the top five.
Tony Shelton again drove for Roman Ponds and won his second 602 Sportsman feature in as many days. Caleb Pickard, Chace Pennington, Chris Wood, and Colby Ponds rounded out the top five.
Brett White won the Super Late Model feature. Robert Moore took second, while Jason Michau took third.
John Smart won the Mini Stocks feature. Tony Coffman, Bo Minor, Roy Whitner, and Sam Ramsey rounded out the top five.
Johnny Pannell won the Factory Stocks feature. Tyler Moak, Cody Chism, Nathan Page, and Kevin McWilliams rounded out the top five.
Ricky Dawson won the Outlaw Street feature. Jeff Daniel finished second, while Scott Leach and Laney McCullough finished third and fourth.
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