Tempers Flare in LoO Stock Cars Season Opener

February 4th 2024, Words by AJ Hunsinger; Photos by AS Photography, Thomas Levister, James Murphy

The League of Outlaws IMCA Style Stock Cars headed to Volusia for the 2024 Season 1 Opener and things were hot as several drivers were heated with one another. At the conclusion, it would be Jamie Massey that would claim the checkered flag after a great 30 laps of racing. James A Murphy came home in 2nd place and Jared Murphy brought his #1 machine home in 3rd.

Robert Floyd, would lead the field to green in heat race one. Immediately, there was intense racing from 2nd place on back as Robert Floyd pulled away to a comfortable lead early on. By lap, Jared Murphy and AJ Hunsinger would overtake Floyd and the two of them would battle for the win. Jared Murphy won heat race 1 with Hunsinger in 2nd and Floyd in 3rd.

Grady Ehrman, started on the inside of row number one in heat 2 with Jamie Massey to his outside. The two of them would go door to door trading paint, beating and banging under some hard racing and they each had some words to exchange after their heat race prior to the feature event. Jamie Massey won heat race 2 with James Murphy finishing 2nd and Grady Ehrman finishing 3rd.

16 drivers would take the green flag for the League of Outlaws IMCA Style Stock Cars season opener at Volusia Speedway for a 30 lap feature event. Leading them off of turn 4 was Jared Murphy after winning heat race 1 with Massey starting outside pole. Jared Murphy lead the first lap but the #19 of Massey would power pass on the outside lane and lead the remainder of the race. Hunsinger also made his way past Murphy as the three of them were three wide for the lead. The first caution would fly as a couple of cars in the rear of the field made contact in turn 1 sending a car sideways.

Green flag back out and it was Massey and Hunsinger separating themselves from the rest of the field were fighting and jockeying for position. By lap 18, Hunsinger fell back to 4th place as James Murphy and Chris Cox, who started back in 8th place, made their way ahead of Hunsinger. Lap 23, the second yellow flag would fly as Grady Ehrman and Thomas Levister made contact causing Ehrman’s #43 car to spin in turn 1.

On the restart, Hunsinger got a great jump and was able to re-pass Cox for 3rd place. Then, Jared Murphy passed Hunsinger for 3rd. Lap 26, the third caution would come out as Robert Floyd and James Stockton got together, sending Stockton around. With just 5 laps remaining, the race went back to green flag. James Murphy challenged for the lead hard but Jamie Massey would win the 30 lap feature leading all but one lap. On the final corner of the race, Grady Ehrman and Trevor Doyle, were racing hard coming to the checkered and Doyle would spin off turn 4, resulting in a 16th place finish.

After the drivers crossed the finish line, there were some issues in turns one and two resulting in post race penalties. Bradlee Means and Grady Ehrman would both be charged with post race contact penalties. Each driver were penalized 10 points for the post race incidents.

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