7/14/2024
CRUSA Late Model Sportsman Tour
Gresham Becomes The Seventh Different Winner Of 2024
The inaugural season of the Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts Crate Racin' USA Late Model Sportsman Tour returned to Magnolia Motor Speedway on Saturday night for the 20th Annual Governor's Cup, offering a $2,000 prize to the winner. This marked the series' second appearance in 2024, following the 602 World Championships on May 25th and 26th, where Braden Mitchell claimed victory in the $4,000-to-win feature.
Mario Gresham, a driver from Rome, Georgia, kicked off the event by winning the BMF Race Cars Fastest Qualifier award with a time of 15.029 seconds, leading ahead of Terry Wilson from West, MS, and Logan Bradford from Huntsville, AL. The lineup for the main event was determined by three Chevrolet Performance heat races, with Gresham securing victory in his heat, along with Wilson and Bradford winning their respective heats, setting the stage for the 30-lap, $2,000-to-win main event.
Gresham led the field to the green flag and held the lead for the first four laps until Wilson overtook him. However, the race was interrupted by a caution caused by David Todd from Lauderdale, MS. When racing resumed, Wilson led with 25 laps remaining, while Gresham and Josh Parkerson from Millspring, MS battled for the runner-up position for the next 10 laps. The race took an intriguing turn with 15 laps to go as Wilson encountered lapped traffic and Gresham seized the opportunity, reclaiming the lead on lap 17.
The race saw more interruptions with Jason Garver from Starke, FL experiencing engine trouble in turn four, prompting another caution with 13 laps to go. Despite efforts to restart the race, Jordan Phillips from Logan, AL spun out with 11 laps left. When racing resumed, a collision involving Chase Giddens and Colby Ponds caused a multi-car pileup on the restart, necessitating a red flag. After cleanup, racing resumed briefly until Josh Mosley from Gilbertown, AL hit the wall, causing heavy damage and slowing the field with two laps remaining.
A green-white-checkered finish attempted to settle the race, but chaos ensued again when second and third place cars driven by Josh Parkerson and Bailey Callahan made contact, spinning out and colliding with the outside retaining wall in turn one. Following the removal of the second red flag, the race attempted another green-white-checkered finish, which Mario Gresham successfully navigated to claim his first career victory in the Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts Crate Racin' USA Late Model Sportsman Tour. This win marked the seventh different winner in as many races in the 2024 season.
July 13th - Magnolia Motor Speedway Results: 30 lap feature
- 21 Mario Gresham-Rome, GA
- 46 Bryson MitchelL-Russelville, AL
- 33W Terry Wilson-West, MS
- 67 Logan Bradford-Huntsville, AL
- 2S Kyle Shaw-Millport, AL
- 54 Chace Pennington-Steens, MS
- 61 Caleb Ashby-Cunningham, TN
- 55 Andy Pippin-Meridian, MS
- 95 Blake McNeill-Waynesboro, MS
- 9 Ellie Hughes Callahan-Meridian, MS
- 12 Steven Bryant-Moultrie, GA
- 12C Chase Giddens-Moultrie, GA
- 51 Colby Ponds-Caledonia, MS
- 1776 Scooter Fredrickson-Gulf Shores, AL
- 59 Jay Downs-Leland, MS
- 7 Chase Dewberry -Louisville , MS
- 27 David Todd-Lauderdale, MS
- 33 Jordan Phillips-Logan, AL
- 127 Josh Parkerson-Millspring, MS
- 20 Bailey Callahan-Weir, MS
- 1J Josh Mosley-Gilbertown , AL
- 11X Johnathan Thompson-Smithville, MS
- 28 Bradley Price-Hamilton, AL
- B1 Brodi Owens-Columbus, MS
- 01 Jason Garver-Starke, FL
- 36 TJ Davis-Caledonia, MS
Car Count: 28
Lap Leaders:
Mario Gresham-Rome, GA - 18
Terry Wilson-West, MS - 13
BMF Race Cars - Fastest Qualifier:
Mario Gresham-Rome, GA (15.029)
Eagle Racing Engines, - Hard Charger:
Blake McNeill-Waynesboro, MS | 21st to 9th (+12)
CRUSA Late Model Sportsman Tour Points:
- 61 Caleb Ashby 570 (-)
- 67 Logan Bradford 558 (-12)
- 12C Chase Giddens 556 (-14)
- 21 Mario Gresham 352 (-218)
- 100 Dillard Hatchett 276 (-294)
- 1776 Donald Fredrickson 276 (-294)
- 127 Josh Parkerson 248 (-322)
- 20 Bailey Callahan 244 (-326)
- 51 Colby Ponds 228 (-342)
- 2 Tyler Burgess 224 (-346)
2024 CRUSA Late Model Sportsman Tour Schedule:
Fri. - March 15: Talladega Short Track - RAINED OUT
Fri./Sat. - March 29-30: Needmore Speedway - JASON GARVER
Sat., April 6: North Alabama Speedway - RICHIE STEPHENS
Sat., April 20: I-75 Raceway - BRADY LEE
Sat., May 4: Whynot Motorsports Park - TYLER BURGESS
Sat./Sun., May 25-26: Magnolia Motor Speedway - BRYSON MITCHELL
Sat., June 8: Cochran Motor Speedway - KENNY COLLINS
Sat., July 13: Magnolia Motor Speedway - MARIO GRESHAM
Fri., Aug. 16: Moulton Speedway - $2,000 to-win
Sat., Aug. 17: Talladega Short Track - $3,000 to-win
Fri./Sat., Sept. 20-21: East Alabama Motor Speedway - TBA
Sun., Nov. 17: Cherokee Speedway – Blue Gray 100* - $2,000 to-win
*(Cherokee is co-sanctioned with Mid-East 602 Series)
CRUSA Late Model Sportsman Tour - Marketing Partners:
Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts
Chevrolet Performance
Hoosier Racing Tire
VP Racing Fuels
VP Racing Lubricants
BMF Race Cars ($100 - Fast Time Award)
Eagle Racing Engines ($100 - Hard Charger Award)
Hickman Manufacturing ($100 - Tough Luck Award)
Cruise with the Champions (B-Main Sponsor)
Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, LLC
KRC Power Steering
Willy's Carburetor & Dyno Shop
Velocita by Melissa Markewitz
Competition Racing Equipment,Inc.
Savage Chassis
Sin City Bail Bonds
Photo Credit: Mario Gresham Racing FB
Article Credit: Cody Earley
