Oct 09, 2009 - Night Of Champions Results!

In the final and most decisive race of the year, Pace resident Keith Thorpe had a plan.

"Stay out of wrecks, stay out of wrecks, stay out of wrecks," Thorpe said Friday , immediately after the Tom Thumb 100 race at Five Flags Speedway.

That part worked. But while his Pro Late Model race machine escaped damage, it failed to pass post-race inspection, causing another shocking shift in a major event at Five Flags.

Thorpe, who finished fifth in Friday's season-finale, initially celebrated winning the PLM season title. Not so fast.

More than an hour later, his car was disqualified in post-race inspection for a violation with the engine. Also disqualified, David Jones, who finished second in the race behind Bubba Pollard.

The disqualifications and revamped, official results occurred after the News Journal's print deadline, thus causing the printed story in Saturday's paper to be incorrect.

Thorpe was leading the Pro Late Model series points race entering Friday's Night of Champions.

It was another difficult ending at Five Flags, just like last December in the Snowball Derby when disqualifications changed the outcome of the signature race.

In this case, Thorpe stayed solid throughout the 100-lap feature, running in sixth for most of the race.

Georgia resident Pollard won the race in the final laps after Jones, who was the race's polesitter, led for 92 laps.

Jones' second place finish was then voided by his post-race disqualification.

"My car just got freaked," Jones said , prior to getting disqualifed, explaining his drop to second place. "Chase Elliott was pushing me real hard early, and really, I didn't want to pushed that hard. ... But I don't mind losing to Bubba. He's good."

Pollard said staying calm was the key to grabbing the win.

Other Battles

T.J. Reiad, from Acworth, Ga., finished third. The race was part of the final event of the regular-season at Five Flags. Next up is Snowball Derby week Dec. 3-6 with races in all classes, culminating with the Snowball Derby for Super Late Model cars.

Elliott, son of NASCAR legend Bill Elliott, finished fourth but was in second for 76 laps before dropping back to third. Reiad overtook Elliott on the final six laps.



Thorpe was in a close points race with Ronnie Smith, who had car trouble throughout the race. On lap 43, Smith spun out on the back straightaway because of a flat tire.

The race was a four-tire race, meaning drivers had to finish all 100 laps without a tire change. Because Smith was forced to fix his tire, he was penalized a lap but then regained it on another caution on lap 51. He finished the race in 12th place.

Bomber Series

William Goulet won the Bomber series championship race and the points championship.

Goulet was broken up after the win, which said was a tribute to his mother battling cancer. His mother was at the race to watch her son.

"I'm just happy my mom's still alive and she was here to watch the race," Goulet said. "My mom's got breast cancer, and it was a tribute to her for me to win when she could make it out to watch me race."

Goulet began the race in the middle of the pack in 11th. But on lap 4, Goulet was able to surge into fourth.

Goulet continued to move ahead and grabbed first on lap 7. Goulet then led the next 18 laps to take the victory.

Goulet was in a close points race with Mike Kitchen, who finished about nine cars back from Goulet. Kitchen was in the lead in points entering the race, with Goulet just 13 points behind him.

Pete Kitchen, who said he is retiring from racing, finished the race in second place. Eddie Hobbs finished third.