Nick Smith continued his Dominion Raceway dominance by collecting his twelfth race win in the 2016 race season. The win also collects a few more of those valuable series points as we head to the final two weekends of the race season at Dominion Raceway. But for Nick Smith and company, they know the series points battle is far from over as clinging tight to his heels is Doug Barnes Jr. Going into the evenings racing, Smith had a comfortable lead of thirteen points over Barnes with one point for each position in play. Meaning for both teams, there are no more mulligans, do overs, or the will let you slide deals so to speak. Its game on in the Late Model series at Dominion Raceway and its all about winning just as it should be.

Race action began with the afternoon time trials where eighteen cars took time for the evenings 150 race feature. Taking the pole for the event was NWAAS National Division One points leader Matt Bowling who just the week before hit on a set up that landed him in Victory Lane with an ever so important race win in his chase for a National title. Bowling’s pole time was 15.375 sec or 93.659 mph and better then Nick Smith’s fast lap just seventy thousandths of the second quicker. But as one would expect, fitting both drivers chasing championships sharing the front row. Travis Miller, Macy Causey and JJ Pack were the grids three four and five spot starters with solid efforts from Cameron Burke (8th) and Grayson Cullather (9th) in his first time out in competition at Dominion Raceway.

The green flag waved to start the one hundred and fifty lap event as twenty, full field cars roared into turn one. Emerging as the early race leader was Nick Smith who was able to do away with pole sitter Macy Causey by virtue of a four car invert. Causey would then regroup and tuck in behind the leader for second as did Miller in third with Bowling in the four spot. Several laps in this green flag run, Smith would continue to show the way but not about to let the leader get away was fifteen year old Macy Causey who was in the ride of her life. Causey learned that she could get to the bumper of the leader and that no doubt at this point in the race that she had a really good piece.

The leaders soon began encountering slower race traffic around lap twenty five of the event and by this time, Smith was showing a five car race lead. Then suddenly Bowling starts going the other way and slipping back in the field. On to pit road was Matt Bowling with what was later determined as a right front cut tire ended his chances at a race win. Soon after, our first caution fell on lap forty four as Robert Bruce was pointed the wrong way. Back under green, it was Smith still on point and this time it was Travis Miller wanting a bit of the race leader but before his charge could be made, the race reached the halfway point and a 10 minute intermission for fuel and minor adjustments would be allowed.

After the break, Smith, Miller, Causey and the Barnes brothers were the races top five when the green flag waved once again over Dominion Raceway. Smith quickly beat Miller going into turn one and likewise did Macy Causey who regained the second position on the grid. Soon after, Smith started to mount up his race lead looking to pull away from the field. But as the race drew near the century mark, Causey began her march and closed the gap on the leader at this point in the race. But then caution was on the track bringing things to a halt on the speedway. After quick cleanup along with a lap one seventeen restart, Smith once again prevails as the race leader. But then a huge crash on the backstretch and the caution is once again on the track.

Robert Bruce, David Polenz, all with race ended damage that would end they’re night at Dominion Speedway. After a lengthy clean up, the race would restart on lap one twenty five making it a shootout for the one who wants it the most. Green flag waves and perfecting the restart, Nick Smith lead the field out of turn two as the race leader. On back, Miller, Doug Barnes and Causey battled for the second through fourth spots but meanwhile, Smith was getting away. Several laps gone by now and little anyone at this point could do as Smith proved once again he wanted the win and had the piece to do it. Lap one fifty goes on the board and crossing the stripe first was Nick Smith in another wire to wire run for the race win, his twelfth of the year.

Travis Miller finished an impressive second followed by Doug Barnes Jr in third. Fifteen year old female racer Macy Causey was brilliant in her fourth place finish and to round out the five best, Trent Barnes in another top five finish at Dominion Raceway. Late Model race action at Dominion Raceway continues September 17th as a 100 lap event is on the card.

Race Results:
1 #12 Nick Smith
2 #98 Travis Miller
3 #88 Doug Barnes, Jr.
4 #33 Macy Causey
5 #1 Trent Barnes
6 #82 Mike Ganoe
7 #61 JJ Pack
8 #57 Eddie Johnson
9 #99 Vincent Campbell
10 #22 Grayson Cullather
11 #36 Owen Smith
12 #29 Robert Bruce
13 #33p David Polenz
14 #64 Bill Leutz
15 #82B Cameron Burke
16 #07 Richard Storm
17 #83 Matt Bowling
18 #13 Cliff Daniels
19 #17s Patrick Szabo
20 #77 Logan Jones