A Special Win for Augie Grill in Alabama State Asphalt Championship at Montgomery

Augie Grill won his 16th Show Me the Money Series event at Montgomery Motor Speedway on Saturday night, and it was arguably the most special.

The two-time Snowball Derby winner led nearly every lap in the 100-lap Pro Late Model feature during the Alabama State Asphalt Championship at Montgomery to close out the 2024 season. The victory marked his first since in the Show Me the Money Series since the 2019 Alabama 200.

Grill climbed out of his car to a lengthy celebration with his crew on the frontstretch before sharing during his post-race interview that he had been diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.

"I was diagnosed with cancer in June," said Grill in victory lane. "I took a break and realized I need to come back, try to have fun and be happy. I can't pick a better way to be happy."

Grill could not have been happier with how Saturday's race played out, jumping out to the early lead and only losing it briefly in a battle for the lead with Christopher Tullis. Even a late caution with seven laps to go could not slow down Grill, who crossed the line nearly four seconds ahead of Jim Wall and John Bolen.

"I've been working really hard," said Grill. "Me and David Ray been working really hard, Chris Mitchell's been working really hard on these cars. Keep getting them better, keep getting them better. It seemed like that last stint, we couldn't ever grasp. Maybe we've got a hold of that right now.

"That's the best car I've ever had here in a long time. It stayed with me all night, it never gave me any kind of grief."

Wall held on for a second-place finish despite a right-front fender caved in on his No. 91, occasionally emitting smoke as it rubbed against the tire in the closing laps. Everything held together long enough for Wall to take the checkered flag ahead of Bolen.

"As far as the right-front fender goes, I got into the 12 car [of Tullis] a little more than I wanted to," said Wall. "I hope he's alright. Me and Gavin Graham had a good race, and I got into his left-rear. He was trying to keep me pinned down there and it crushed the fender on the right-front. I wasn't sure if it was going to make it to the end, but it did and I'm happy to have it."

With the third-place finish, John Bolen secured the Rogers-Dabbs Performance Pro Late Model Challenge title for 2024. The seven-race series across four different tracks offered a $5,000 prize, with Bolen taking the top honors in the series.

"I appreciate them for putting that on," said Bolen. "It's been a long season for us. We've ran 20-some races and been all over it seems like. Really coming on strong lately. I feel like we missed it a little bit tonight, that put us in a hole in qualifying. A couple of adjustments short, but I still think we had a shot there at the end.

"Got ran over by one of the kids on the restart, and that set us back, had to run too hard. There on that last restart, we were too free in and didn't have anything for Jim."

Mathematically, Jake Finch locked up the Show Me the Money Series championship before taking the green flag on Saturday night. He concluded his title effort with a fifth-place finish.

"It's up to these Ronnie Sanders guys, they did a great job. We didn't have a good night tonight, really. Just struggled with tires. I don't know if this right-front came apart or what the deal was. We just struggled trying to get grip, we had no grip. We came in, made an adjustment, kind of made it better, and tried to keep our head in it the whole time."

Along with winning the Show Me the Money title, Finch had an ear to the ground regarding the Georgia Bulldogs' football game against the Texas Longhorns.

"I'm super excited to have that track championship. First run at it, to have a one-for-one is good. My Dawgs are winning, so tonight's not a bad night."

-Photo credit: Reid Scott, Liberty Racing Review

Alabama State Asphalt Championship Unofficial Results