Anderson Wins The Kiss My Grits 125 At Hotlanta!!!

The Sure Fire Racing League was at the Atlanta Motor Speedway this week for the “Kiss My Grits 125”. Nineteen cars took the grid for this event and it was the #77 of Justin Andersen to bring home the checkered flag. Jim Whaley Jr. had your fast time of 28.227, but due to some electrical issues, Whaley had to start in the rear. This put the #911 of Clifton Cockrell and the #55 of Thomas Christ on the front row. When the green flag dropped it was Clifton Cockrell out in front, but it was Thomas Christ who would lead the first lap. Not to be outdone, the #77 of Justin Anderson, would challenge and take over the lead from Christ on Lap 2.

Lap 8 would see the first of 10 cautions for the day. The #66 Nick Zautner would self-spin, losing control of his car in Turn 1, complaining of fluid on the track. Back to green flag racing, it wasn’t long before the caution flag flew again on Lap 15. This time it was Turn 4 that took the #912 Vernon Margheim, getting him loose. Just barely overcorrecting, this spin sent Vernon into the outside wall and in to the path of #13 Carson Poe. It was Poe’s quick thinking of using his one fast repair to replace his blown engine that kept him going. Margheim’s crew was also able to get the #912 off of pit road quickly and back into the race.

On the backstretch of Lap 23, the #923 of Curtis Aho and the #56 Chuck Shaw Jr. rubbed a little paint which sent both cars into a spin. No one else was involved and both drivers were able to continue. Caution once again, this time on Lap 31 when the #27 Terry Walters loses control of his Ford Fusion in the dog-leg skidding across the grass. Reentering the track in Turn 1, Walters clipped the rear quarter panel of the #04 Tim Kelleher, spinning the #04 hard into the outside wall.

The caution flag is in the air on Lap 42 as the #38 Dennis Brasfield slaps the outside wall coming out of Turn 4. Trying to avoid Brasfield, the #55 Thomas Christ drove his machine down low into the grass. Both drivers trying to gain control of their cars kept the wreckage off the track. Lap 48, the #51 Paul Cohen, afraid of hitting the wall coming out of Turn 4, pulls down into the side of the #11 William Davis, bringing out the caution.

Once again, the #27 of Terry Walters brings out the caution flag as he loses control of his car, this time in the dog leg and smashes his car into the outside wall, finishing his day of racing. Lap 80 saw the #33 Mark Koschik fishtail in Turn 3 and with nowhere to go, the #55 Christ gets in to the rear of Koschik slamming him into the outside wall. Badly damaged, Koschik was able to limp his machine to his pits where he utilized his fast repair and his pit crew brought the Mesa Engineering Ford Fusion back to life.

On Lap 89, the veteran driver of the #38, Dennis Brasfield, self-spun coming out of Turn 2 as he was trying to get close enough to the leader to challenge for the lead spot. Brasfield car was not damaged at all and no one else was involved. But on Lap 105 Brasfield gets into the #51 Paul Cohen, damaging both cars. With both cars trying to make it around the track, smoking badly, the flagman had no choice but to throw the caution flag for the final time.

A great job done by all and a great race for fans. Congratulations to Justin Anderson on his win followed by the #911 Clifton Cockrell. Thomas Christ came home in 3rd place with the #87 Ray Ritenour in 4th and the #923 Curtis Aho rounded out the top 5.

Join us once again next Sunday as the Sure Fire Racing League travels to the Martinsville Speedway for the Matt Kenseth’s Revenge 150.