Veteran driver Jon Lisenbee, of Weaverville, N.C., earned an emotional first career victory in Saturday’s Bandit Big Rig Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway, holding off all challengers to claim the trophy at the inaugural Bandit Bristol Battle.
Lisenbee, nicknamed “Red Beard,” took advantage of a crash on lap 21 involving Brian Bayer that brought out a late caution. Lisenbee then powered his No. 7 rig past race-long leader Randy Briggs on lap 23 and charged to the front. He rumbled on to take the checkered flag at the historic half-mile all-concrete high-banked oval, ahead of second place finisher Scott Treadway and third place finisher Marshall “Pig Pen” Davis. Briggs, who led the first 22 laps, finished fourth.
“Just being here is amazing, knowing you’ve run the same track that all the greats have,” said Lisenbee, who earned $10,000 for the victory. “All of my family was here tonight, so that was special, and this is the first win for me. We’ve had some chances in the past but fell short, but tonight everything came together to get the win. I just looked at my tires and they looked as good as they did when we started. The caution at the end helped us a little bit. It’s Bristol, baby!!!”
Ricky “Rude” Proffitt, whose hopes for another season championship were put in jeopardy when he crashed out of the 15-lap #2 Challenge Race earlier in the afternoon, rallied in the main race to finish fifth in his colorful No. 14 rig, which proved to be good enough to claim the championship title.
Proffitt won Heat Race #2 and finished second in the popular Bandit Shootout Races, which added to his championship points total. Proffitt claimed the season championship by only three points over second place series finisher Mark Noble, who finished sixth in the main feature race.
“It’s incredible,” Proffitt said, who won $20,000, a custom ring and trophy for scoring his third consecutive series crown. “I’d like to thank the Lord first of all. I’ve got a great team behind me with my wife and kids. This is awesome. It came down to nothing. It was 13 points coming in here and I think I won it by three. My stomach has been in knots. To win this three times in a row, all it’s done has made the target that much bigger on my back. I’m going to go for a fourth next year.”
Other race winners during the day included: Darren Proffitt (Heat Race No. 1); Ricky Proffitt (Heat Race No. 2); Mark Noble (Heat Race No. 3); Darren Proffitt (Bandit Shootout); Allen Boles (Bandit Challenge Race No. 1); Mark Noble (Bandit Challenge Race No. 2); Jon Lisenbee (Bandit Top Qualifier).
BMS PR
