COPPER HILL, VA :: We continue our look back at the best of 2014 with a look back at the best Limited Late Model races of the season. Photofinishes, three-wide racing action and rivalries all summed up the five best races of the season.
5. Motor Mile Thriller (May 31st)
Motor Mile Speedway saw its fair share of thrilling racing all season long in the Late Model Stock Car side, which often overshadowed the Limited Sportsman division, but on May 31st, it was the Limiteds that stole the show. Preston McGhee, Daryn Cockram, Bryan Reedy, Scott Lancaster. Karl Budzevski and Travis Hurt all dueled for the win, exchanging positions countless times through the race and sometimes racing three and four wide. Preston McGhee crossed the line first but the win went to Daryn Cockram after McGhee was disqualified for failing postrace technical inspection.
4. Barnes Wins a Thriller (November 15th)
The Southeast Limited Late Model Series (SELLM) Challenger race at Myrtle Beach Speedway was the most thrilling of the weekend’s races. Adam Resnick had a fast car but had to start at the rear of the field. He raced his way up to the front of the field and challenged Trent Barnes for the lead before a dispute over real estate the two sent Resnick around. Resnick then attempted to wreck Barnes under caution. Barnes went on to win the race while battles inside the top-five all went down to the wire.
3. Championship Showdown (August 30th)
It seemed like nobody wanted to win South Boston Speedway’s Limited Sportsman championship. Throughout the course of the final race of the season, Danny Willis, Jr., JD Eversole and Trey Crews, all championship contenders, were all involved in on-track incidents. Willis rebounded to finish third while Eversole finished fifth. The race win belonged to Joey Throckmorton who survived the carnage. The championship belonged to Willis on a double tiebreaker.
2. Bullring Battle (April 4th)
Wake County Speedway opened up the 2014 season in style with a capacity crowd and incredible racing action. The season opener featured a twinbill for the Late Models which featured a thrilling three-way battle, in both races, between Andrew Grady, Clay Jones and Bradley McCaskill. The three raced under a metaphorical blanket all night long, exchanging the lead and swapping the top positions between them. Grady went on to win both races.
1. Photofinish at Hickory
The Limited Late Model race at the Bobby Isaac Memorial featured a memorable photofinish between Dexter Canipe, Jr. and Travis Byrd. Kyle Mansch started the race on the pole and dominated until lap 38 when he went around with assistance from Byrd. That set up a battle between Byrd and Canipe. Byrd had the lead but was harassed by Canipe who got around him on the final restart of the race and edged Byrd to score the victory.
