Trey Poole Leads Every Lap En Route to First Legends Victory
Press Box
Eighteen-year-old Trey Poole saved the best for last in his rookie season in Legends Car racing. In the final week of the Thursday Thunder Series, Poole finally captured the elusive first victory in the No. 91 Aaron’s Dream Machine. If there was every any doubt that Poole could run up front, he put it to rest Thursday night as he led every lap in the Fuddrucker’s Semi-Pro heat race and feature event on his way to Victory Lane.
After weeks of starting heat races in the middle to the back of the pack, Poole finally pulled the pole starting position for the final heat race. Confident in the Aaron’s Dream Machine, Poole set out to protect the bottom line from the drop of the green flag. The No. 91 stayed out front for all eight laps of the heat race and earned Poole his first victory.
With the taste of victory fresh in his mouth, Poole was ready to hit the track for the feature race. Unfortunately he would have to wait, as the Semi-Pro feature race was the last on the night’s schedule. When the time finally came, Poole drove the Aaron’s Dream Machine to the pole position he earned from his heat race victory.
At the drop of the green flag, Poole took off in the Aaron’s Dream Machine beating the second-place car into the first turn. The two continued to run nose-to-tail for several laps. Following a lengthy red flag on lap nine, Poole got a great restart and jumped out to a two-car length lead. On the next lap, the second-place car would catch up to the bumper of the Aaron’s Dream Machine, but Poole wasn’t about to give up the lead without a fight. After bumping and banging for a few laps, Poole started to inch away. Coming to the white flag with the second and third place cars battling for position behind him, Poole was able to ease up into the corners and drive to his first victory in the No. 91 Aaron’s Dream Machine Legends Semi-Pro car.
“I am so excited I finally got my first win, and on top of that, at my home track,” Poole said from Papa John’s Victory Lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway. “Being out front, leading every lap was a nice change of pace, not having to deal with any of the melee going on back in the pack. I couldn’t have asked for a better night than the one we had. The Dream Machine was truly a ‘dream’ to drive tonight!
“I want to thank all of my friends and family, and all of my sponsors, Aaron’s, ABF, the Dawsonville Pool Room, and the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, for all of their support throughout the season. I can’t wait to get back out here for the Winter Flurry season!”
In the ten-week Thursday Thunder Series, Poole finished with one win, three top-fives, and seven top-tens driving in his uncle’s Bill Elliott Racing driver development program. His average start and finish were both 8.6. In the final championship standings, Poole claimed the sixth position with 817 points, 109 behind the leader.
