Taylor captures first career win

Johnny Sims

Hank Taylor, left, and his father, Ricky, were all smiles in victory lane Saturday night when he won the Crate Sportsman race for his first career win at Lancaster Motor Speedway.

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Johnny Sims

Jody Bigham captured his first win of the 2011 Lancaster Motor Speedway season on Saturday night in the Super Street race.

Hank Taylor posted his first career win at Lancaster Motor Speedway to highlight action at Lancaster Motor Speedway.

In the Crate Sportsman main, the front row had Timbo Mangum and young Hank Taylor.

When the green flag fell, it was Mangum, Taylor, Brandy Baker and Tyler Love battling for the lead entering turn one.

As the drivers exited turn two, Mangum led over Taylor and Baker.

Mangum put some distance between himself and the rest of the field.

During the race’s middle stages, there was a scary crash as Landon Carson would go over the turn three and four wall. Carson was OK.  During the long delay, Mangum pitted with problems on his No. 5 machine.

Taylor took advantage to gain the lead. When the green fell to restart the race, it was Taylor, Baker and Kevin Blackwell in the top three.

Taylor took a good restart on the field and entered turn one with a two-car length lead over Baker.

As the laps ticked off and after numerous cautions, the race went to a green and white together.

When the green flag waved to restart the race, Taylor again took a good restart on the field.

As Taylor came out of turn four, all of the LMS fans cheered, clapping and waving their hats for the 13-year-old Taylor.

As Taylor made his way down the front straightaway after the race, track announcer Duane Goins interviewed an emotional Shannon Taylor, Hank’s mother.

Taylor, an A.R. Rucker Middle School student, swung his car around near turn one and came down the front straightaway facing the crowd.

Taylor waved to the cheering crowd. Taylor pulled into a very crowded victory lane. As soon as Taylor exited his race car, the crowd erupted into cheers again for the young driver. Instead of the traditional mud bath for first-time winners, Taylor slid his way into the mud. Top 5: Taylor, Baker, Kevin Blackwell, Dillon Crook and Jacob Catoe.

u In the Super Street main, the front row had Jeff Knight and Jody Bigham.

At the green, it was Knight, Bigham, Brent Hodges and Johnny Starkey battling for the lead entering turn one.

Exiting turn two, it was Knight and Bigham battling for the lead. Bigham led with a hard-charging Knight on his bumper.

As the lead duo was dueling for the lead, Hodges slowly worked his way to them.

Bigham and Knight raced each other hard, causing Knight to get loose midway through the race and this allowed Hodges to pass.

Hodges, on his birthday, made a hard charge on Bigham. Hodges pulled up on Bigham’s back bumper and followed in Bigham’s tire tracks.

During the race’s late stages, Hodges made his move in turns three and four. Hodges got loose which was just enough for Bigham to pull away and capture his first win this season.

Top 5: Bigham, Hodges, Knight, Joey Engelbrecht and Johnny Starkey.

u In the Pure Street main event, the front row was “The Buford Bandit” Kevin Blackwell and “Burn ‘em Down” Steve Hinson.

When the green flag fell, it was Hinson, Blackwell, Jerry Sexton and Ryan Whitaker battling for the lead entering turn one.

Exiting turn two, it was Hinson with the lead over Sexton and Blackwell.

As the laps ticked off, it was Hinson and Sexton putting on a show for the top spot. Hinson, on a winless drought as of late, was seeking to return to victory lane on this night and collect the $500 payday.

As the laps ticked off, Hinson led, with Sexton running second. A hard-charging James Marion worked his way up through the field. On this night, Hinson would not be denied as he won for the $500 payday. Top 5: Hinson, Marion, Sexton, Whitaker, Pebo Johnson.

u In the NDRA Dirt Wars main event, the front row had Ron “Tha Bull”  Parker and pole winner Steve Banal.

When the green flag fell, it was Parker, Banal, Timbo Mangum and Matt Stover battling for the lead entering turn one. Exiting turn two, it was Parker with the lead over a hard-charging Banal.

As the laps passed, Parker and Banal pulled away from the field.

The battle for fourth was intense all night as drivers such as Brandy Baker, Matt Stover, Chris Cheek, Anthony Sanders, Matt Long and others battled for position.

On every restart, there was a new fourth-place car. The night’s hard charger was Matt Long.

Long worked his way up through the field, passing cars on the high and low side. Back up front. it was still Parker with a three- or four-car length lead over Banal.

On this night, Parker collected his second $3,000-to-win race on the weekend as Parker earned the $3,000 payday at Carolina on Friday night for the first NDRA Dirt Wars race.

Top 5: Parker, Banal, Long, Mangum and Baker.

u In the Vintage main, the front row had Brian Crump and Mike Helms.

When the green fell, it was Crump, Helms, Steve Helms and Kenneth Deese battling for the lead entering turn one.

Exiting turn two, Crump led over Mike Helms.

All eyes were on the No. 45 purple Mustang of Marty Spittle, who started seventh and worked his way  through the field.

Spittle charged by drivers down the straightaways, showing the true speed and power of his Mustang. As Spittle roared down the straightaways, the LMS fans cheered Spittle as he worked his way by the top five and into the lead.

Once Spittle had the lead, he pulled about a straight over second-place Deese. Top 5: Spittle, Deese, Shaun Mangum, Ben Helms and Brian Crump.

If you missed any of the action from this past Saturday night, or from any of this year, Jackie Sims will have DVDs for sale in the pits and stands for $10.

Jackie will also have end-of-the-year DVDs for sale as a tribute to the 2011 race season and races of season’s past.

Johnny Sims will have on-track action pictures for sale and victory lane pictures for sale as well. For details on LMS, visit the track website, www.lancasterspeedway.net, or visit the track’s two Facebook pages. To discuss track action, or your favorite driver visit www.DirtRaceFans.com and register.