51 Leftovers: Gulf Coast Championship Series

Casey Smith, Spinners and Speeders 

By Elgin Traylor

The Points Chase is On

Chase Elliott can look at the Gulf Coast Championship Standings and sees his name at the top of the list.  But many seasoned veterans are chasing the second-generation driver.  Elliott scored his first win at Five Flags Speedway and will look to hang on to the top spot when the series returns in June.

Gulf Coast Standings

Official Points after 3 of 10 races

1Chase Elliott    495

2Bubba Pollard  467

3Jeff Fultz          445

4Johanna Long  439

5Casey Smith    422

6Josh Hamner   422

7Donnie Wilson 404

8Augie Grill       400

9Mike Garvey    359

10Ryan Lawler   336

11Eddie Mercer 293

12Allen Karnes  284

13.Chris Davidson,       248

14.Dave Mader, III       240

15.Jeremy Rice            227

16.Danny Bagwell        201

17.    Wayne Niedecken, Jr.    174

18.Rocky Boyd    161

19.Brandon Carlson      158

20.Casey Roderick         149

21.Paul Kelly      144

22.Ron McDonald116

23.John Bolen,   106

24.David Rogers, 104

25.Steven Davis   99

26.Korey Ruble    76

27.Tyler Millwood          59

28.Mike Fritts        50

29.Dale Little       46

Augie Grill Still Searching For Right Combo

Augie Grill has been scratching his head all season long.  Nothing has changed on the house car for Grand American Race Cars, but that little bit of luck needed to win races is gone.  In April, Grill led 90 plus laps in the Blizzard Series opener and didn’t even finish the race.  The next night, he was leading when he got run over on the racetrack.  At Five Flags, the second time around he had an average fourth-place finish.   Don’t count him out, he could be a real factor soon.

Radar Guns and Penalties

Ricky Brooks hasn’t had to toss anyone out this season in the Gulf Coast Championship Series, but he’s already made some changes for the next event.   Brooks told the drivers at Mobile that radar guns will now be used on pit road after Josh Hamner sped off pit road at a high rate of speed raising everyone’s eyebrows. 

“That was one of the stupidest things I have ever seen on pit road,” said Brooks. 

Many questions were asked, but the drivers got the message.  We’ll see who get’s stopped by Brooks’ officials first in June.

Points Leader Has Bad Night

Many people are wondering what happened to Jeff Fultz at Five Flags Speedway.  He went into the race as the point leader, but was never a factor in the race.

“That was embarrassing,” said Fultz. “We broke something in the rear end.  We got it fixed, but we were lucky to still get a top 10 at the end of the night.” 

Fultz slipped to third in the overall standings, but still leads the Miller Lite Standings at Mobile international Speedway.

Lucky Me

Casey Smith, John Bolen, Mike Garvey, Eddie Mercer, Allen Karnes and several others had problems that left them without a chance to race in the Miller Lite 100 on Saturday. However, the weather was the saving grace for them as the event was not run keeping them in the hunt for both the Gulf Coast Championship Series and the Miller Lite Series at Mobile. 

Hamner Turns the Corner with KBM

Don’t look now, but it seems as if Josh Hamner has turned the corner and his effort with Kyle Busch Motorsports.  After an off qualifying run, Hamner worked his way to fifth and then got the lead on a great pit stop.  Hamner help on to the top spot for a few laps and then slipped back to second. 

Hamner was also very fast at Mobile which means he could be the next winner in the Gulf Coast Championship Series.

Video Leftovers

Whether you need presence, exposure or maximum exposure, or want a 51-designed site you manage yourself, 51 Sports services can give you that extra edge over the competition.  Click here for details.

Chase Elliott beats Josh Hamner and Bubba Pollard to the line in the Blizzard Series Papa John's 100 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola,

Casey Smith made the most out a wrecked racecar and race back to the top five before a pit stop set him back several spots. Still with a banged up car he finished 11th.

Ryan Lawler went for a wild flip in the first Super Late Model event of the season at Mobile International Speedway (AL). Lawler tells Speed 51 how it went down. 

Chase Elliott leads the Gulf Coast Standings. (51 Sports Photo)

Josh Hamner didn't get a ticket, but he raised some eyebrows going off pit road.  (51 Sports Photo)

Jeff Fultz didn't have the type of weekend he would like to have had.  (51 Sports Photo)

Casey Smith finished the race with his door banged up.  (51 Sports Photo)

Five Flags Blizzard Standings

Official Points after 2 of 5 races

1   Bubba Pollard

2   Chase Elliott

3   Johanna Long

4   Jeff Fultz

5   Donnie Wilson

6   Josh Hamner

-   Casey Smith

8   Augie Grill

9   Chris Davidson

10   Mike Garvey

11   Ryan Lawler

12   Jeremy Rice

13   Danny Bagwell

14   Allen Karnes

15   Wayne Niedecken, Jr.

16   Eddie Mercer

17   Rocky Boyd, II

18   Brandon Carlson

19   Paul Kelley

20   Dave Mader III

21   Ron McDonald

22   John Bolen

23   David Rogers

24   Korey Ruble

25   Tyler Millwood

26   Mike Fritts

27   Dale Little

Mobile Miller Lite Standings

Official Points after 1 of 5 races

1   Jeff Fultz

2   Chase Elliott

3   Josh Hamner

-   Casey Smith

5   Casey Roderick

6   Johanna Long

7   Augie Grill

8   Donnie Wilson

9   Bubba Pollard

10   Mike Garvey

11   Eddie Mercer

12   Dave Mader III

13   Ryan Lawler

14   Allen Karnes

15   Steven Davis

339

337

297

273

269

266

266

260

248

233

232

227

201

182

174

173

161

158

144

132

116

106

104

76

59

50

46

172

158

156

156

149

142

140

135

128

126

120

108

104

102

99