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Wade Walker (52) and Osman Jones (9) take laps in their 602 Late Models. (BRANDON SUMRALL | SPECIAL)

Kevin Crocker (36) and Ted Denson (6) take the green flag in the Factory Stock class main race. (BRANDON SUMRALL | SPECIAL)

Brandon Crosby and his team celebrate a second-place finish in the 602 Late Model main race. (BRANDON SUMRALL | SPECIAL)

Wade Walker embraces his trophy for finishing third in the 602 Late Model main race. (BRANDON SUMRALL | SPECIAL)

An overhead shot of Buckshot Speedway on their opening night on March 25 that welcomed over 90 cars to the facility. (BRANDON SUMRALL | SPECIAL)

By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

Buckshot Speedway opened its gates for the first Saturday night of racing on March 25. Thousands of fans watched six different classes, and over 90 cars compete deep into the Alabama night.

The night’s action got started with the 602 late models. Osman Jones started on the pole and led every lap in route to the win. Jones raced twice at The Bullseye in 2022 and came away with a win and a third-place finish.

“It felt pretty good (out there tonight), and just trying to stay away from those lap cars,” Jones said. “Buckshot Speedway’s crew has done an amazing job with the track, and all in all it was a very good night.”

In the 604 late models, Kendall Franklin put a drive together that even surprised himself to take the win. In his first 604 race of the season, Franklin took home the big money in a step up in competition.

“This is pretty big,” Franklin said. “I expected to come out here and struggle with the bigger competition, but winning boosts my confidence for sure. I did not think I would be top three, so that is pretty good.”

Greg Wilkins made it two wins in as many nights taking the factory stock class main narrowly edging out Derrick Price. Wilkins won at the Talladega Short Track on March 24 and the momentum carried over into the first factory stock race of the season at Buckshot.

The buzz four-cylinder class had over 25 cars show up to race, so the class had to be split up into two main races. After Joey Gainey took the A main, Daniel Jacks took the checkered flag in the B main. Jacks, who is normally an asphalt racer, said he just comes out to Buckshot for fun on the dirt.

“We just come here to play is all we do,” Jacks said. “We are taking the year off from asphalt and are coming out here.”

Looking ahead, Buckshot is holding a practice session on March 30 from 7-10 p.m. On March 31, Buckshot Speedway is hosting the Schaeffer’s Spring Nationals late models for the first time ever in the series’ fifth race of the 2023 season, and $7,553 will be on the line to the winner.

604 and 602 late models, open-wheeled modified, factory stock and buzz four- and six-cylinder classes will all be in action on March 31 as well. Grandstand entry is $20 for spectators, and pit entry is $40.

On April 1, a full race program of 604 and 602 late models, open-wheeled modified, factory stock and buzz four- and six-cylinder classes will be held. Grandstand entry for spectators is $12, and pit entry is $30. There will be no limited late model races on either night.

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