October 20, 2024

It’s been five years since Augie Grill visited Victory Lane with the Show Me The Money Pro Late Models at Montgomery Motor Speedway.

That, combined with a cancer diagnosis earlier this year, made this win an expectedly emotional one for Grill.

“I was diagnosed with cancer in June,” said Grill to track announcer Bill Roth 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.”

“I came from the era of me or Bubba Pollard or Chase Elliott winning every race,” said Grill to Short Track Scene’s Daniel Vining. “And I haven’t won a Super race since 2014. I can run Pros around the house here pretty easily, and I’m finally putting the pieces together to race these guys.”

Grill’s victory came in dominant fashion, with “Mr. Montgomery” himself checking out and putting on a clinic from the initial green flag to the checkered.

Fellow Grand American Race Car driver Jim Wall finished in the runner-up position after battling hard with Gavin Graham and Chris Tullis, resulting in significant damage to the right front fender of his no. 91 machine.

Jasper, Alabama’s John Bolen rounded out the podium in third, also claiming the Rogers-Dabbs Pro Late Model Challenge championship after a series of Pro Late Model races throughout the season at various Deep South tracks.

Gavin Graham finished fourth, with fifth place finisher Jake Finch being crowned as the 2024 Show Me The Money series champion. Finch already mathematically clinched the title before taking the green flag on Saturday, but continued his streak of not finishing outside of the top five at all during this season at Montgomery.

“It’s up to these Ronnie Sanders guys, they did a great job,” said Finch. “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.”

“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.”

Finch’s aforementioned Georgia Bulldogs did ultimately claim their win against the Texas Longhorns, making the night extra special for Finch, an avid University of Georgia fan.

Alabama Asphalt State Championship Results:

1. Augie Grill
2. Jim Wall
3. John Bolen
4. Gavin Graham
5. Jake Finch
6. Zack Dixon
7. Christopher Tullis
8. Aidan Potter -1 lap
9. Diogo Moscato -1 lap
10. Ryan Price -1 lap
11. Chase Spradlin -2 laps
12. Jeremy Williams -3 laps
13. Kenneth Canales -11 laps
14. Stephen Chunn -27 laps
15. Trey Grimes -35 laps
16. Jason Furrow -39 laps
17. George Phillips -43 laps
18. Garrett Gumm -46 laps
19. Clint Folsom -49 laps
20. Jake Daniels -53 laps
21. Brian Reeves – DNS

Photos: Reid Scott/Liberty Racing Review