SOUTH BOSTON, VA :: Before a packed house around the famed confines of South Boston Speedway, the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown in its seventh season of existence was hosted by none other than himself, Sprint Cup star Denny Hamlin along with the friends at the Denny Hamlin Foundation. For the first time in several years, the short track showdown returns to a short track at the battle ground 4/10th mile oval at South Boston Speedway. As a result, the move put the advantage back into the hands of Late Model drivers and possibly giving fits to the Sprint Cup drivers as well. But leave it up to the track officials to throw in a wrinkle for this year’s race as all race teams will be on a softer tire then normal for the race in the Hoosier F-40’s.
Practice was crucial for this event because of the new tires and teams had 3 hours of it to get it right. Many teams were seen back and forth to the haulers with shocks in their hands taking big swings in search of grip. At the conclusion of practice, Kyle Busch’s ride piloted by Erik Jones was fastest followed by Nick Smith, Peyton Sellers, Matt Bowling and Jeb Burton as the five best. The starting grid for the race was determined by group qualifying in packs of five, given five laps and taking the fastest lap from each driver. After completion, last year’s Martinsville ‘Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300’ standout Matt Waltz sported the fastest lap at 15.921 claiming the pole to start the afternoon heat races. Bowling, Sellers, Burton and Hamlin were fast rounding out the top five.
In heat race action, Matt Waltz won heat race one securing his spot on pole and having a good start to his afternoon. Other notables advancing forward in the grid were star Cup racer David Ragan and CE Falk. In heat race two, it was South Boston regular Matt Bowling winning the heat. Also moving up in the grid was Greg Edwards and Camping World Truck Series/Nationwide Series racer Timothy Peters. In the third and final heat race saw Kyle Busch taking care of business winning the heat. Making gains in that run also was Dustin Storm along with Nick Smith. After some business of setting and finalizing the field, 36 Late Models made up the 2014 Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown with Matt Waltz the man on pole.
The green flag waved around 8pm on the 7th Annual Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown. After one complete circuit, the races first caution came for the spinning ride of Stephen Berry setting up also our first restart. Back to green flag racing, Waltz and Bowling came out of turn two battling for the race lead but on back, a horrific 7 car pileup and drew the obvious yellow flag and eventual red flag for the field. Brian Pembelton, Brayton Haws, Austin Thaxton, Kelly Kingery, Thomas Scott, Dennis Holdren and Dustin Rumley all have minor to major damage. Back to racing once again on a lap 15 restart with a brief battle up front between Waltz and Bowling before Waltz secured the spot.
It wasn’t long before Matt Waltz started to build up a lead over Bowling, on back saw Peyton Sellers making moves of his own. But for Austin Thaxton, lap 24 saw him up in the wall bringing out the race’s third caution. Green once again on lap thirty three and quickly Waltz jumped out in front. Kyle Busch took advantage and passed Bowling in chase of the leader. With race battles all over the track, Matt Waltz was getting away and catching the tail end of the field. But the field would bunch back up once again as were back under yellow completing lap 68 as some of the better cars in Jeb Burton and Timothy Peters got together. Lap 76 restart and once again it was Waltz back out in front while Kyle Busch was just behind his rear bumper.
Though at this point in the race, everyone seemed content in their runs and just wanting to log some race laps. But the race was back under caution for the spinning car of Denny Hamlin just in front of the main grandstand while the scoreboard read 95 laps complete. With anticipation of the competition caution at lap 150, one more yellow flag would wave as Blake Stallings and Jeb Burton tangled together. After a brief green flag run to the competition caution, leader Matt Waltz was clearly in control. Kyle Busch had fallen off while Matt Bowling, Nick Smith, Peyton Sellers and Ryan Preece were the race’s five best. Teams under this caution were allowed to take on two new tires, five gallons of race fuel and normal adjustments.
On lap 152, the race is back to green with Matt Waltz on point. There was a lot of beating and banging going on and before you know it, Peyton Sellers spun bringing out yet another race caution. Green flag racing once again and Matt Waltz who has dominated the event secured the lead but this time, Bowling did a much better job getting back in line and staying with leader. Several laps would go by as Bowling started to chip away at Waltz’s lead and with just five laps remaining; we had a new race leader in Matt Bowling. Waltz would quickly get it line after surrendering the lead but could not regroup to charge back at Bowling. Crossing the stripe first to win the event was Matt Bowling, Matt Waltz, Nick Smith, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth rounded out the top five finishers.
Race Results:
1 #83 Matt Bowling
2 #0 Matt Waltz
3 #97 Nick Smith
4 #51 Kyle Busch
5 #20 Matt Kenseth
6 #6 Bobby McCarty
7 #2 Myatt Snider
8 #11 Denny Hamlin
9 #73 Bruce Anderson
10 #61 Ryan Preece
11 #03 Brenden Queen
12 #72 Bryan Eddy
13 #7 Dude Gibbs
14 #22 Ryan Stiltner
15 #88 Dustin Rumley
16 #25 Hermie Sadler
17 #3 Thomas Scott
18 #28 George Brunnhoelzl III
19 #27 Anderson Bowen
20 #77 David Ragan
21 #31 Kaz Grala
22 #34 Greg Edwards
23 #99 Peyton Sellers
24 #14 Blake Stallings
25 #4 Jeb Burton
26 #24 Stephen Berry
27 #17 Timothy Peters
28 #29 Curtis Markham
29 #16 Dustin Storm
30 #40 CE Falk
31 #13 Lin O’Neil
32 #12 Austin Thaxton
33 #10 Kelly Kingery
34 #15 Dennis Holdren
35 #00 Brian Pembelton
36 #41 Brayton Haws
