Boland takes checkered flag and big check at Queen City Speedway
By By Steve Swogetinsky / Special to The Star
November 1, 2004
Mike Boland took the lead on the 92nd lap Saturday night and went on to claim first place in the 2004 Mello Yello Fall Classic 100-lap Late Model race at the Queen City Speedway.
The final race night of the season was run before a packed house.
Boland started seventh. Anthony Rushing quickly took the lead from pole-sitter Billy Drake of Bloomington, Ill., and held it for most of the race.
Boland quickly moved up to third place behind Rushing and James Dean. In the 22nd lap, Dean began to fade and Boland moved into second place.
That's where he stayed except for the 61st lap when his teammate, Rodney Wing, briefly took second place. But Boland had already made his move and was waiting to spring it at the right time.
The drivers were given a 10-minute pit stop after the 50th lap to refuel and make what adjustments they could. Boland changed his right back tire and he said it paid off.
Rushing was strong for most of the race and was able to pull away from Boland after restarts or when they went into the corners. But that changed after the 10th caution flag of the night stopped the race in the 89th lap.
Boland stayed close and went in front on the 92nd lap. He was not challenged during the last eight laps.
Rushing finished in second followed by Wing in third, Chris McElhenney in fourth and Mike Ladner in fifth. Tombo Callahan of Weir finished sixth, followed by Jason Smith in seventh, Marty Hardy in eighth, Drake in ninth and Dean in 10th.
During the 50-lap break, officials re-worked the track with a motor-grader and Boland said that played a big part in his win.
It was a long night for Wing, who had to leave the track twice because of car problems. At the start of the race, he had a tire go flat. Then after the restart from the 50-lap pit, his battery went dead.
In both cases, Wing had to go to the back of the lead lap. But he quickly worked his way through the field and stayed in the top five.
The rest of the show
Ben Stephens of Hattiesburg started on the pole and never trailed in the caution-flag marred Modified Division race.
Bill Taylor came in second, followed by George Gilbert.
Jamie Tollison won the Late Model Stock Division race, followed by J.D. Henley in second and Joe Roberts in third.
Jason Boleware was the winner in the Pure Street Division. Tim Rutledge came in second with Corey Murphy paced finishing third.
Steve Bryan won first place in the Mini-Stock Division. Chris Stegall came in second followed by Bill Pullium Jr.
