January 30, 2010 – The annual Piggz All Star Race (500 miles at Talladega Super Speedway) was run today and all of the SER drivers made the select 34 car field. In qualifying congratulations were going out to Rick for winning the pole when suddenly Channing Bellew posted a Q lap at over 192 mph a new track qualifying record. In years past the SER drivers were caught up in wrecks and did not finish the race. However, this year they faired a bit better, Although Rob and Bob were eliminated from competition before the race reached the halfway point and Ray was to fall out later, Rod and Rod ran out front virtually all day accompanied by TSR’s JR Price and Caleb Lingle. With just 5 laps to go the 4 drivers were running up front with the win in reach for any of them. However, Price moved up the track putting Rod into the wall and bringing out the caution. That left Rick in second but coming through the tri-oval he got clipped by the #88 spinning him wildly into the infield. So after 495 laps this race had come down to was a 2 lap green flag shootout and, as always seems the case when this occurs at Talladega the finish was a wild one. Rod was 6th and Rick 10th as the final green flag was thrown. On the restart cars went everywhere sending some into the wall and others into the infield. However Rick and Rod managed t make it through cleanly. Heading down the back straight Rick started to move up to make it three wide with William Crabtree #79 on his inside and the #073 (Pete Rose) but Crabtree started coming up and when Rick moved up to avoid him contact was made with the #073 sensing both cars spinning. Meanwhile, Rod continued to race for the win trailing Lingle and with Crabtree on his rear bumper. Entering T3 Crabtree went low to try to pass Rod but touched the apron and making contact with Rod. Rod’s chance for the win was gone but he continued only to get hit by JR Price exiting tri-oval sending him into the wall. Meanwhile Rick had gotten righted and passed Rod and others to finish fifth. Rod eventually ended up finishing 8th. Most laps Led: Rod Merritts Sr – 62 |