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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ben Shelton (msrmafia@gmail.com)
November 4th, 2011

Bub McCool Conquers 5th Annual Gumbo Nationals $7k Finale

Greenville, Mississippi (11/04/11) – A night after setting fast time and winning his heat race, Bub McCool dominated the 5th Annual Gumbo Nationals at Greenville Speedway (Greenville, Mississippi) to claim the $7,000 win, which was his first event title and his biggest win of the year.

Via their preliminary night performances on Friday night, McCool and Ronny Lee Hollingsworth started on the front row for the $7,000-to-win/$700-to-start, 70 lap feature.  As the race went green, McCool jumped to the lead with Hollingsworth, Jack Sullivan, Timothy Culp, and BJ Robinson in tow.  During the race’s opening laps a trio of cautions would wave with the most notable occurring on a lap 5 restart, when second place runner, Hollingsworth, spun from contention in turn two.  Several cars would spin to miss Hollingsworth, and despite minimal contact his night would come to an end.

As the race finally overcame the trio of early cautions, a driver on the move would be the eighth starting Kyle Pleasant, who moved past Culp for the fourth spot on lap seven.  Four laps later he would move past BJ Robinson for the third spot as he set his sights on the leaders, McCool and Sullivan. 

By lap 13 the leaders were in lapped traffic, and five laps later McCool would make contact with Kyle Beard as he attempted to lap him, causing Beard to spin from turn four to bring out the caution.  Beard would be able to rejoin the tail of the field as McCool, Sullivan, Pleasant, Culp, and Robinson prepared for a restart that would result in a caution free, 52 lap dash to the checkers.

On the restart, McCool would motor away from the field as Sullivan ran half a straightaway behind.  Third running Pleasant would soon find his hands full as he lost his brakes near the race’s midway point.  As the leaders began to close in on traffic, 24th starting, Rodney Wing, who used a PRO Dirt Car Series provisional to start the main event after experiencing various mechanical issues all weekend, was on the move and by lap 30 was up to the 8th position.  Ten laps later Wing would move into the sixth spot as he began to catch the lead pack.

With Wing on the move, McCool was enduring heavy lapped traffic, and he would use several daring slidejobs to work his way through traffic.  While Sullivan remained unchallenged for the second spot, an insane battle was transpiring for third through sixth as Pleasant, Camponovo, Culp, and Wing waged war as the four drivers diced through lapped traffic for position.

When the checkered flag flew it was McCool taking the win over Sullivan, Kyle Pleasant, Rodney Wing, and Ross Camponovo.

After giving his customized helmet with a mohawk on top to a lucky, young fan in the crowd, an elated McCool addressed the raucous fans.  He noted, “With the big blades (12” spoilers) being allowed for this event and knowing how slick this track is, I didn’t think we would be able to get the win.  This car was unbelievable tonight, and I can’t thank my crew enough.  To be able to win in front of so many friends and family here in Greenville means a lot to me!”

With his 17th to 9th run in the feature, Eric Cooley clinched the 2011 PRO Dirt Car Series Championship and the 2011 Jeff Burns Racing Engines Rookie of the Year honors.  The final tour standings were not available at press time.

The P.R.O. Super Late Model Series would to like to thank all of their sponsors including Southern Belle, Hoosier Race Tire, RacingJunk.com, American Race Tire, Jeff Burns Racing Engines, Miller Welders, DBR Starters, MRC Racing Collectables, GRT Race Cars, MSRMafia.com, Maximum Signs & Graphics, ADP Rivet, Stealth Carburetors, XS Power Batteries, and MidSouthRacing.com .

5th Annual Gumbo Nationals
Greenville Speedway (Greenville, MS)
November 4th-5th, 2011

Entries: 35 Representing Seven States (IN, AR, MS, LA, TN, GA, AL)
Southern Belle Fast Qualifier: Bub McCool (Group A & Overall)
                                                 Ronny Lee Hollingsworth (Group B)
Leaders: Bub McCool (1-70)
Southern Belle Pole Qualifier: Bub McCool
MRC Racing Collectibles Smooth Move Award: Rodney Wing
GRT Race Cars Hard Luck Award: Ronny Lee Hollingsworth
RacingJunk.com Qualifier #1 Winner: Eric Cooley
MSRMafia.com Qualifier #2 Winner: Kyle Beard
Hoosier Race Tires Top Performer Award: Bub McCool
DBR Starters 12th Place Award: BJ Robinson
Hard Charger: Rodney Wing (24th-4th)

Feature Results (70 Laps)
1.  Bub McCool (Vicksburg, MS)
2.  Jack Sullivan (Greenbrier, AR)
3.  Kyle Pleasant (Natchichoes, LA)
4.  Rodney Wing (Meridian, MS)
5.  Ross Camponovo (Clarksdale, MS)
6.  Timothy Culp (West Monroe, LA)
7.  Chad Thrash (Meridian, MS)
8.  Allen Tippen (Minden, LA)
9.  Eric Cooley (Fulton, MS)
10.  Dane Dacus (Lakeland, TN)
11.  Rick Rickman (Columbus, MS)
12.  BJ Robinson (Shreveport, LA)
13.  Josh Putnam (Killen, AL)
14.  Brian Rickman (Columbus, MS)
15.  Chad Dupont (Shreveport, LA)
16.  Mathew Turner (Dawsonville, GA)
17.  Doug Showah (Indianola, MS)
18.  Kyle Beard (Trumann, AR)
19.  Johnny Stokes (Columbus, MS)
20.  Tanner English (Benton, KY)
21.  Mike Palasini Jr. (Leland, MS)
22.  Neil Baggett (Shannon, MS)
23.  Greg Fore (Greenville, MS)
24.  Ronny Lee Hollingsworth (Northport, AL)

Last Chance Qualifier (Top 3 Transfer):
Dane Dacus, Mathew Turner, Doug Showah, Dewayne Estes, Clay Fisher, Chris Huckabay, Eddie Rickman, Chad Stapleton, Rodney Wing, Chad Washington, Gary Lawson

B-Main #1 (Top 2 Transfer):
Eric Cooley, Chad Thrash, Mathew Turner, Clay Fisher, Chris Huckabay, Eddie Rickman, Christopher Showah, Seth McCormack (DNS), Jamie Elam (DNS)

B-Main #2 (Top 2 Transfer):
Kyle Beard, Tanner English, Dane Dacus, Doug Showah, Chad Stapleton, Rodney Wing, Chad Washington, Dewayne Estes, Gary Lawson

Racing Junk Heat Race #1 (Top Four Transfer):
Bub McCool, Chad Dupont, Greg Fore, Neil Baggett, Eric Cooley, Seth McCormick, Eddie Rickman, Christopher Showah, Jamie Elam (DNS)

MRC Racing Collectibles Heat Race #2 (Top Four Transfer):
Timothy Culp, Ross Camponovo, Mike Palasini Jr., Josh Putnam, Mathew Turner, Chad Thrash, Clay Fisher, Bo Gordon (DNS)

MSRMafia.com Heat Race #3 (Top Four Transfer):
Ronny Lee Hollingsworth, BJ Robinson, Allen Tippen, Johnny Stokes, Tanner English, Dewayne Estes, Rodney Wing, Chad Washington, Gary Lawson

MidSouthRacing.com Heat Race #4 (Top Four Transfer):
Jack Sullivan, Kyle Pleasant, Rick Rickman, Brian Rickman, Kyle Beard, Chad Stapleton, Dane Dacus, Doug Showah