Lance Gatlin picked up his first NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock victory of the season Saturday at Lonesome Pine Raceway.
Kres VanDyke set fast time in qualifying, but opted to make adjustments to his No. 15 prior to the race and start at the rear of the field. Lance Gatlin would inherit the pole starting position and elect the outside lane for the start.
Gatlin and Ryan Stiltner would lead the field to the green flag to start the 60-lap race. Contact between VanDyke and Jenna Wagner would send VanDyke into the outside wall and force the caution out on the opening lap.
With the field set for a complete restart, Stiltner would take the lead on the start. Gatlin would battle back on the inside to take over the lead on lap seven.
On lap nine, Stiltner would spin with a flat right-rear tire and the yellow flag would wave for the second time.
Stiltner’s spin would relegate him to the rear of the field with Phillip Harris taking over second place. Gatlin would again roar back to the lead on the restart. Only one lap was completed before Wagner’s car slid hard into the outside retaining wall, bringing the yellow flag out again.
Gatlin would regain the lead on the ensuing restart. With 26 laps in the books, the caution would fly again for a spin in the fourth turn.
On the restart, Gatlin would take the lead as Stiltner had made his way back to the second position. Stiltner would battle hard with Gatlin and take over the top spot on lap 29.
The race’s final caution would wave on lap 30 for a spin in turn one.
Back under green, Gatlin would battle Stiltner for the lead. Stiltner would complete the pass on Gatlin exiting turn two on lap 32.
Gatlin would make a final run at Stiltner and take over the lead on lap 46. Gatlin would pull away and capture the checkered flag for his first win of the season.
“We’ve been looking for a win and finally we found it,” said Gatlin. “This isn’t the way we want to get a win with the competition having trouble, but a win is a win.”
