SOUTH BOSTON, VA :: Every once in a while, Late Model racing gets a feel good story worth talking about. Sometimes in the midst of crashing, torn up race cars, scandal and drivers winning every week, we all forget about the hard work that goes unrecognized and how the smaller, underfunded race teams find success. Though usually the limits of their success fall short of winning, if you just keep believing and continue to work hard, you never know, everything just comes together and there you are in Victory Lane. Ask South Boston Speedway regular Bruce Anderson who can now tell you all about it as he and his team of college students (Patrick Henry Community College) for a crew found Victory Lane at South Boston Speedway.

The day began with the qualifying of thirteen Late Models and posting the fast lap was Matt Bowling at 15.820 sec or just over 91.1 mph. The effort easily decided the pole over Phillip Morris who was just a bit short of a tenth from Bowling’s speed. On back, fast laps of Bruce Anderson, Austin Thaxton and Josh Oakley made up the grids five best. Other notables were the division series points leader Peyton Sellers who would roll off sixth and Bobby McCarty who admits he’s been off lately starts ninth. Green flag racing ensued as Matt Bowling lead a field of seventeen Late Models to the green just one shy of a full field. Just a few circuits around the 4/10s mile oval and quickly a sizable lead had the race leader Matt Bowling.

On back, Anderson was one spot better over Morris who was being harassed by Thaxton. Sellers rounded the early five best but as the jockeying for position was going on, the leader was getting away.  But then a few laps later Anderson was noticeably collapsing Bowling’s lead at quite a clip until lap 21 of the event when from the high groove on the track, the race had a new leader. Halfway now in the race and Anderson continued his assault out in front. At this point, Sellers had worked his way to second and was in need of a caution as Anderson sported a huge lead. Josh Oakley began to make his charge breaking into the top five, going by Morris and even mounting an effort to get by Bowling for third. Then the race’s first and only caution period came on lap 67 of the race.

Though Sellers got the break he needed with the caution, Anderson choose the outside line for the restart as Sellers occupied the inside. Green flag waved as Anderson drove the first corner as hard as it would go, Sellers battled hard but eventually Anderson would prevail to lead the ensuing lap. Settling into second was Sellers who quickly had to turn his focus on Morris for the position while Bowling and Johnson sealed off the four and five spots on the grid. Meanwhile, at the front, Anderson was creating his lead and securing his march to the checkers.  Unchallenged and uncontested on the last lap, Bruce Anderson would go on to win the hundred lap feature beating some of the best Late Model drivers in the business. Sellers, Bowling, Morris and Johnson were the races top five.

Series points leader Peyton Sellers has easily established himself and is poised for yet another track championship. Matt Bowling, who admitted before the race knew he wasn’t where he needed to be, still finished third. Phillip Morris, who had his moments of brilliance but knows he too is off a bit in race trim, finished fourth and a solid run from Eddie Johnson in fifth made for a good night of racing. But what made the night special was a small time race team, with a small time budget and the help of some community college students prove that with hard work and attention to detail, your time will come. For Bruce Anderson and his race team, their time has come. Race action for the Late Model division will take a few weeks off and return August 2nd for twin 75’s.

Video Interviews

Race Results

1. #73 Bruce Anderson
2. #99 Peyton Sellers
3. #83 Matt Bowling
4. #3 Phillip Morris
5. #57 Eddie Johnson
6. #6 Bobby McCarty
7. #02 Austin Thaxton
8. #00 Brian Pembelton
9. #77 Blake Stallings
10. #01 GR Waldrop
11. #74 Ronald Hill
12. #19 Greg Davis
13. #14 Dusty Ellington
14. #8 Josh Oakley
15. #2 Stacy Puryear
16. #78 Bob Davis
17. #88 Danny Willis