The 2015 race season at South Boston Speedway began and highlighted the day with twin 100 lap events in the NWAAS Late Model race division.
Before a stellar crowd that filled the stands and around all four corners of the track, the much anticipated season was underway. But before nineteen Late Models took to the track, South Boston Speedway and General Manager Cathy Rice took a moment to recognize one of their very own in Late Model standout Lee Pulliam. Pulliam was honored for his career accomplishments and work involving others outside of the track. High above the grand stands, Lee Pulliam will join other South Boston greats with a dedicated section of seating for fans to take their place. Needless to say that Pulliam was overtaken by the honor and became emotional noting that this moment ranks as one of his greatest achievements.
European style qualifying took place as traditional qualifying was knocked out from the recent rains the day before. Track crews aggressively worked on the issue but officials choose euro style to try and get the racing back as close to schedule as possible. Once qualifying concluded, emerging out of Peyton Sellers hot rod was the familiar face of Phillip Morris who was filling in for Sellers as he was racing at Fontana in the Xfinity Series. Morris who is no stranger to a Sellers prepared Late Model turned in a hot lap at 15.495 sec or 92.933 mph which landed him on the pole with Lee Pulliam just twenty six thousandths slower sharing the front row. On back, Blake Stallings, Eddie Johnson and Brenden Queen made up the five best in qualifying.
Green flag waved and Morris showed the nineteen car field down into turn one before securing the lead. It wasn’t long before Morris had built an early six car length advantage as Pulliam gave chase but all that went away as Raymond Pittman’s spin brought out the races first caution. Back to the green and Morris once again set sail with Pulliam in tow but this time it was Timothy Peters making some moves early running down Pulliam for second. Also making moves was longtime Langley Speedway standout Mark Wertz breaking into the top five. Halfway point in the feature and by this time Morris has built up a sizeable lead and putting lapped cars away in the wake. As single file racing dominated the event, Peters was finally making ground on Pulliam for position. Then our second and final caution waved as Austin Thaxton goes around in a bloom of smoke setting up what might be the fields last shot at Phillip Morris.
Lap eighty one restart and the green drops again with Morris on point. The battle for the lead is brief as Pulliam has his hands full of Peters who gets by Pulliam for the spot. The racing allows Morris to get back in his rhythm and sets off looking for the checkered flag. Just as Pulliam regroups in third, here comes Wertz wanting the spot and taking the spot as well. Nick Smith would also want in on the passing of Pulliam who after it was all said and done found himself in fifth in the grid. Realizing the significance of the lead, Timothy Peters held off from making a charge at Morris who proved to be to dominate in this feature. It was Phillip Morris who crossed the stripe first on lap one hundred giving him and Sellers Racing the rightful trip into Victory Lane. Peters, Wertz, Smith and Pulliam rounded out the top five.
News quickly broke out that a ten car invert was to take place for the second race feature forcing Morris to start tenth and giving a young Juan Garcia the pole. Sharing that front row with Garcia was Quinn Houff along with Bobby McCarty and Eddie Johnson in row two. With the faster cars having much work and ground to make up, the race began and so did the door to door action. Garcia and Houff battled with Garcia getting the advantage and securing the lead but not before the race experienced its first caution. Ronald Hill and Raymond Pittman had damaged cars with Hill taking the worst as both drivers would not continue on. Back to the green and once again were back under caution, missing from the field were Timothy Peters and Phillip Morris. Both reportedly involved leaving Peters admitting fault and Morris out of the race. Peters would have to start now at the tail end of the field.
Lap eleven restart and Garcia showed the way but not before a slip into turn one allows Bobby McCarty to make his move and gain the lead. But as things start to sort out, the race’s third caution came courtesy of a spinning Bryan Reedy who was able to continue and motor on. Back to racing now and McCarty had the point, Eddie Johnson and Matt Bowling began their march to the front showing decent speed compared to the leader. On back, Peters is noted picking off spots one by one but at this point, no threat of any kind to the leaders. After several laps go by and at the halfway point in the race, McCarty continues to lead but is not really making distance from second place Quinn Houff. But surprisingly here comes Timothy Peters who was showing the four spot at the halfway and looking for more.
Latter stages in the race now and Houff is running down the leader McCarty but most notably its Peters with the fastest car running down Houff for second. Making quick work of Houff, Peters would set his sights on the leader which gave the leader the chance to get away but lap traffic came into play allowing Peters to close the gap. Using a lapped car as a pick, Timothy Peters muscled his way to the point and never looked back to capture the win. Matt Bowling finished second, Bobby McCarty third, from Bogata, Columbia Juan Garcia was fourth and Nick Smith completed the races five best.
Late Model race action picks back up again on April 4th at South Boston Speedway for twin 75’s.
