SOUTH BOSTON, VA :: In the night’s first 75-lap Late Model Stock Car Division race, Bowling started from the pole and led the entire way, but not without a battle with Josh Oakley of Rougemont, North Carolina after a caution that came out 14 laps from the finish due to a crash.
Oakley was beside Bowling on the front row for the double-file restart and made a bid for the win, only to have Bowling gain an edge over the final few laps and seal the win. Bowling’s margin of victory was .331-second.
Kaz Grala of Westborough, Mass. finished third, with Sellers and Tyler Ankrum of Colton, Cal. rounding out the top five finishers.
Bowling started sixth in the nightcap after a drawing for an inverted start, and took the lead from Grala on lap 53 after a restart that followed the race’s second caution on lap 52. Oakley, who had led 21 laps at that point, brought out the caution when his car pounded the first turn wall after cutting a tire.
Grala inherited the lead after Oakley’s mishap, but held it for only a lap before Bowling got under him to take the lead for good on lap 53. Once in front, Bowling quickly pulled away and drove to a 1.692-second win over Sellers.
Grala finished third with Austin Thaxton of South Boston, Virginia and Ronald Hill of Rougemont, North Carolina rounding out the top five finishers.
