By J.M. Hallas
PAIGE, Texas (March 10) – After scoring a Friday night win at Heart o’ Texas Speedway, Eric Tomlinson concluded a successful weekend by picking up the IMCA Modified feature win Saturday at Cotton Bowl Speedway.
Tomlinson, who started mid-pack, found a line on the bottom that suited his set up and methodically worked his way to the front where Rob Slott and Jeff Hoegh had been battling for the lead.
Tomlinson took control a little before halfway with Hoegh, Slott, Dalton Knox and Raymond McSpadden in the top five at the midway point. As the race wound down, Tomlinson built a lead while McSpadden was able to find the bottom to his liking, moving into the top three. At the checkers it was Tomlinson with the win.
Brandon Blaylock was best of the bunch in the Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMods, going wire to wire for the win. Blaylock was chased throughout the 20-lapper by Mike Wagner.
At the crossed flags it was Blaylock, Wagner, Jennings, Will Carter and Johnny Torres edging out Trevor Egbert for fifth.
Charles Cosper caught a couple breaks on his way to the IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature win. At the start of the 20-lap main Cosper, who got shuffled to mid-pack, was able to dodge a six-car melee that sidelined several cars.
It was three-wide for second before a mid-race caution that saw G.W. Egbert retire with mechanical issues after being involved in the lap 1 crash.
Cosper took advantage of track position on the restart to get by Nic Priem for the lead on lap 11. From there Cosper motored to half straight margin at the finish.
The season opener was the first Cotton Bowl event under the direction of MAN Racing. Mary Ann Naumann, a former racer herself and husband H.E. Naumann, another racer, have adequate experience in the racing field.