The North Carolina Mason

May/June 2013

North Carolina Mason

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Page 8 The North Carolina Mason May/June 2013 Ragan wins Talladega! PAID NON-PROFIT ORG. AUTO U.S. POSTAGE In this issue of The NC Mason OXFORD, NC 27565 PERMIT NO. 56 TALLADEGA, AL — Williams 176 (Huntersville) member David Ragan gave Front Row Motorsports its first NASCAR victory here May 5 when David Gilliland [38] pushed teammate Ragan [34] to the checker in a dramatic last-lap surge to cap off a wild and rain-interrupted race. Gilliland finished second for the best — and most dramatic — finish in team history in placing the team one-two in the Aaron's 499. The ending came in a green-white-checkered finish, in which Ragan and Gilliland restarted in 10th and 11th respectively. In two laps, the pair freight-trained through the traffic in their Roush Yates-powered Ford Fusions to emerge at the front of the pack — seemingly out of nowhere and to the surprise and delight of the rain-soaked crowd. The win is the second Sprint Cup victory for Ragan, and the runner-up finish ties Gilliland's best career result. Ragan's first win was in the 2011 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway "This is a true David vs. Goliath moment here," Ragan said. "This is special to get Front Row Motorsports their first win. It feels like I've never been in Victory Lane before, I'm so excited. We're a small team. We build our own chassis, our own bodies, and it's such a special moment for our team and all of our partners. This is big." For team owner Bob Jenkins, whose passion for racing led him to purchase a small NASCAR team in 2004, the Victory Lane champagne was long, and patiently, awaited. "I've got guys at the shop that have the heart to win races," Jenkins said. "We just haven't always had the resources. So the challenge for me is, as we build cars, to make them better every week and to put ourselves in a position to win a race and that's really what happened [at Talladega]." The one-two finish almost didn't get the chance to happen. The 500-mile race was red-flagged at Lap 126 because of rain, and many thought the race would be declared over. Ragan sat in 18th, Gilliland in 24th when racing was halted, and the drivers thought their workday was done. But, NASCAR saw clearing skies and the chance to finish the race under green. After a three-hour and 36-minute red-flag period, the track was dry and NASCAR called for drivers to return to their cars. The race saw one more lengthy delay after a multi-car accident on Lap 184, which led to the green-white-checkered finish. As dusk fell over the track and a light rain began falling once again, the field went green for two more laps of hard racing. "My crew chief, Frank Kerr, said, 'You've got to have the restart of your life,' and we had a good one," remarked Gilliland. "It's a huge day obviously for any team to get first and second, but for Front Row Motorsports and our little team, and what we do it with, we're really proud of that." — DavidRagan.com Excelsior Secretary Randy McNealey holds the stone Excelsior inherits Masonic artifact CHARLOTTE — From 1914 until 1982 when it burned a second time, the Charlotte Masonic Temple stood on the corner of Tryon and Second streets, one of Charlotte's busiest intersections. It was demolished by the city in 1987, with only its massive columns saved. They were moved to Rock Hill, South Carolina. At least one souvenir stone from the building was saved, and it was in the Charlotte Museum of History. The Museum recently closed. They contacted Excelsior 261 to see whether the lodge would offer the stone a home. Lodge members Randy Nealey and Lee Abernathy talked with the museum and brought the remnant of a former Charlotte glory back to their lodge. It will be placed on display there. — Randy Nealey NORTH CAROLINA The Mason page 1 NC Mason delivers Moore fun page 6 State leaders honored at GL reception John Moore, Farmville 517 member, shouts out to his friends as he spins the hits of the '50s and '60s on the "Sock Hop." Ric Carter photo CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED On the cover The Grand Lodge of North Carolina, AF&AM 600 College Street Oxford, North Carolina 27565 NC Mason takes Talladega The North Carolina Mason page 8 Moore brings the sock hop to life NC Mason Ragan wins Talladega MAY/JUN 2013

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