The command “Drivers Start Your Engines”, given by Brigadier General Kevin Stewart, snapped Bobby Watson’s Carteret County Speedway from a long winter's rest and the 2023 racing season roared to life Sunday April 2nd!
The “Solid Rock Carriers Jumpstart 165” featured Twin 40 lap races with a full field of Solid Rock Carrier Late Models and Brandon Clements quickly served notice he’d be a force to reckon with in both his Late Model and Mini Stock vehicles.
Qualifying suggested Dylan Newsome would be the driver to chase this picture perfect Sunday afternoon. The defending Late Model champion at Carteret, coming off a 2022 season featuring five consecutive wins, laid down the quick time of 16.406 seconds! Newsome, Stacy Puryear and Clements were the top three qualifiers but qualifying is not racing and on this sun filled Sunday, Clements was clearly on his game.
Clements, starting in row two, raced to the lead at the green and was never headed in a green to checkered yellow flag free 40 lap sprint. Win number one was in the books! Dylan Newsome took second with Ethan Johnson third. Johnson would say he had to back off late because of smoke in the car. The smoke issue would end Johnson’s day in the final Twin 40.
In between the Solid Rock Carriers late Model Twin 40’s, Clements took care of business in his No.7 Mini Stock with a walk in the park win over Travis Miller and Steve Sullivan. The easy win came as no surprise after Clements posted a dominating 17.999 qualifying time. Win number two was in the books!
Clements would go for the hat trick in the final Solid Rock Carriers Late Model Twin 40 but there was a catch. The field was inverted for this race meaning Clements would start towards the back of the field. The Kellum Law yellow flag flew after one lap and when the dust had settled, Clements was already in the top three. He would pick folks off one by one and as he had all day was seeing the field from his rearview mirror!
Clements took his third checkered flag out racing Dylan Newsome and Daniel Vuncannon, completing a dream day sweep! Clements conducted his post race interview with track announcer Allen Vick holding on to a broom to signify an opening day sweep.
While Clements was certainly the talk of the day there were a ton of other divisional races. The Legends opened their Carteret Speedway season and as he has in the past, Brenton Irving was dominant. Irving clocked the fastest qualifying time, 18.297 and he appeared even faster during the race. Irving took a big lead late in the B1 car and cruised to victory giving thumbs up as he took the checkered flag. Scotty Benford in the 51 was second and DJ “Mad Dog” Murphy third.
The Bombers had a tough time staying on the track with several spins and mishaps. Andrew Jackson in the 3-car avoided the mayhem by establishing a solid lead and when the race was finally called because of a time limit, Jackson took the checkered. Bob Snow and Eddie Humphrey finished second and third.
The Jr. Mini Cups showed up in solid numbers and put on a great race. These young future champions of the track were led by Michael Bivens in the 97. Bivens was the fast qualifier and it showed on the track. Bivens grabbed the lead and extended the margin even as he took the checkered flag. Unfortunately, in post race tech Bivens was disqualified handing the win over to Anthony Ventresca.
A small field of Bandoleros returned to Carteret Speedway for the first time in a few years. Once again this is a division of young, upcoming drivers with Sarah Whitesell getting the win. She led most of the race holding off Delany Gray for the win. Whitesell and Gray posted the top qualifying times respectively. Corbin Cannon finished third.
Carteret County Speedway fans were also treated to the Champ Karts! These go-karts race hard and fast and while their numbers will grow as the season progresses, the Champ Kart race may have had the most intrigue on this opening day. Brothers John and Lee Ottaway battled to the finish bumper to bumper. They exchanged the lead several times the final few laps before John Ottaway won with Lee on his bumper! Tony Arnold was a close third. Carteret County Speedway is hoping the Champ Kart numbers will grow and the division will become more regular.
The next race day is Sunday April 23rd, featuring a 50-lap Limited Late Model main event and Twin Bomber features, for more got to carteretspeedway.com/spring.