North Alabama Speedway
Beard's scary wreck overshadows Wallace victory
First responders check on Kyle Beard. (Sherry Kiser)
TUSCUMBIA, Ala. (Sept. 6) — Wendell Wallace of Batesville, Ark., pocketed $5,000 for capturing Sunday's Bama Brawl at North Alabama Speedway, the finale on the Long Lewis Ford Bama Super Series. Wallace's victory came on a night when another Arkansas driver, Kyle Beard of Trumann, suffered a mild concussion in frightening frontstretch accident that saw his No. 86 barrel-roll several times. | Slideshow
Wallace crossed the finish line ahead of Anthony Burroughs of Muscle Shoals, Ala., while Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, Tenn., James Ward of Lettsworth, La., and Chris Ragan of Ramer, Tenn., who wrapped up the title on the two-track miniseries at North Alabama and Moulton Speedway.
Beard's accident came in a consolation race as he battled out of turn four when Daniel Miller and Mark Dodson got together, pushing up the track. Beard was going by on the high side when his car launched off Dodson's machine at full speed, flying 20 feet off the track and slamming nose-first into the surface before barrel-rolling.
Beard was slumped over the steering wheel immediately after the accident, but became responsive a few moments later and went back to his pit area before heading to the hospital. His father Gary reported later in the night that CT scans showed a mild concussion.
Notes: Wallace's self-owned GRT Race Car is sponsored by Wincrest Farms and Bad Boy Mowers. ... Besides Beard, drivers failing to make the feature lineup were Tanner English, Patrick Michel, Seth McCormack, Kelly Hanvey and Mark Dodson.
Bama Brawl: (1) Wendell Wallace, (2) Anthony Burroughs, (3) Ronnie Johnson, (4) James Ward, (5) Chris Ragan, (6) Billy Moyer Jr., (7) Jamie Flannagan, (8) Terry English, (9) Michael McKleroy, (10) Bub McCool, (11) Brian Rickman, (12) Daniel Miller, (13) Brandon King, (14) Chris Noah, (15) Jeremy Broadus, (16) Mark Fields, (17) Ben Kittrell, (18) Jay Brinkley, (19) Josh Putnam, (20) Jerry Owens, (21) Chad Winkles, (22) Jerry Jackson, (23) Tim Busha, (24) Michael Greer.
Correction: Fixes Wallace's car owner
