Chad Thrash had had enough of the dirty air.
More than halfway through Saturday night’s 40-lap Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series Super Late Models race at Magnolia Motor Speedway, the driver from Meridian was still stuck behind Justin McRee, who started sixth but took the lead on the third lap. The currents of air produced by McRee’s No. 25 car made Thrash’s trailing 1C car feel tight at times and loose at others.
By the 27th lap, he could wait no longer.
“It was time to pull the trigger,” Thrash said.
He did, shooting past McRee, pulling away from pole winner Spencer Hughes off a subsequent restart and winning by more than a second to claim the $3,000 first prize at Saturday’s Governor’s Cup event at The Mag.
“Any time you get clean air, it’s a lot better,” Thrash said.
Thrash continued his string of success, winning for the second time in as many MSCCS races this year. He’s also been successful in the Street Stock division, winning the feature at the General Tire Clash at The Mag on June 20.
“He’s hard to beat,” said McRee, who is from Woodstock, Alabama.
McRee thought he had the chance to best his “good buddy” and fellow racer Saturday night when he led 24 laps of the MSCCS feature race, benefitting from the “grip” offered by the water The Mag promoter Johnny Stokes sprinkled on the track before the race.
“I tried to take advantage of it as quick as I could to get out front, and it was going to work for us,” McRee said.
But his car was running hot, and McRee tried not to risk anything if he could help it.
“I was trying to run as smooth as I could and keep the motor temperature down as much as possible,” he said.
He knew he would have some challengers in the second half of the race, and Thrash showed him just how right he was when he took the lead on the 27th lap.
McRee’s car temperature spiked as he attempted to gun the throttle to make up ground. Not wanting to risk damaging an expensive motor, he pulled out of the race, prompting a caution.
“We’d been struggling really, really bad, so this is like a win just leading some laps tonight,” McRee said.
Thrash took advantage, shooting past Hughes and never threatening to give up first place until taking the checkered flag 13 laps later.
“We’ve got a little work to do,” Thrash said, “but we pulled it out.”
Hughes, Jamie Elam, Brian Rickman of Columbus and Michael Arnold rounded out the top five.
Rick Rickman of Columbus was eighth, Mark Dodson of Caledonia was 11th, and David Breazeale of Starkville was 19th.
Sportsman
Brett White waited until the last possible moment to make his move in Saturday’s 15-lap Glenn’s BBQ and Fish Late Model Sportsman feature race, and as usual, he delivered.
The Kosciusko driver watched Steens racer Mike Pickard and Tyler Burgess trade the lead through four cautions and 14 laps, then shot past Burgess on Turn 4 of the event’s final lap to grab the checkered flag.
Burgess, Tony Shelton of Steens, Colby Ponds of Caledonia and Caleb Pickard of Columbus rounded out the top five.
Mike Pickard was 10th, Josh Guest of West Point was 16th, and Jacob Wooten of Pheba was 19th.
Late Models
Jeremy Shaw of Millport, Alabama, kept up his dominance in the Crate Racin’ USA Late Models division with a win in Saturday’s 20-lap feature race.
Shaw beat out Bryant Marsh, Randall Beckwith, Grant Pearl and Jamie Pickard of Columbus for the victory.
Hunter Carroll of Columbus was 10th, with Mark Stokes of Steens 11th.
Street Stocks
Shay Knight of Steens took home the win in Saturday’s Three Star Tire and Auto Street Stock race, finishing more than four seconds ahead of second-place Hunter Holloway.
Bryan Fortner, Lee Ray of Columbus and Doug Dodd comprised the rest of the top five in the 15-lap event.
Dusty Dupler of Columbus finished 10th.
Factory Stocks
John Johnson IV of Ethelsville, Alabama, won the 15-lap Ranch House Diner Factory Stock feature on Saturday.
Johnson beat out Aidan Fletcher and John A. Beard Jr. — both of Columbus — as well as Justin Comer and Brandon Whitley to claim the prize.
Daniel Wiggins of Starkville was sixth, Bobby Barksdale of Columbus was eighth, and Thomas Gable of West Point was 13th.
Scooter Ware of West Point was 21st, and Tyler Beard of Columbus was 23rd.
Modifieds
Jason Byrd of Carbon Hill, Alabama, led the five-car field in Saturday’s 10-lap Open Wheel Modified division, claiming victory over Shane Burns.
Brent Burns of Steens, Wesley Cribbs and Chad Murray rounded out the field.
Hot Shots
Eli McKinney of Plantersville got the best of three other cars to win the eight-lap Hot Shots feature Saturday night.
Hailey Wade finished second, followed by Riley Sheedy. Ed Caulder of Columbus was fourth.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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