SOPHIA, NC :: Tommy Lemons, Jr. and Ryan Wilson each shared time in Victory Lane at Caraway Speedway on Friday night after two wild Late Model features that hosted contenders as the NASCAR Whelen All American Series (NWAAS) National Championship race winds down.

Any time NWAAS National Championship points leader Lee Pulliam doesn’t visit victory lane is a rare occasion, but that’s exactly the occasion that occurred on Friday.  Pulliam would be locked out of victory lane despite contending for the win in both races.

Tommy Lemons, Jr., who entered the race sixth in the national standings, dominated most of the first race, but would have to surrender the lead during a late race caution when track officials said Pulliam was leading when the caution came out.  Lemons restarted the race on the outside and managed to mount a charge and beat Pulliam for the win.

“Our car was really good all night,” Lemons stated.  “We started on the pole and I knew we could win this race.  We led wire-to-wire basically, though the track claims we were beat at the line coming to that green-white-checkered with two to go.  I didn’t see it that way but we were still able to come away with the win.  We got up on that outside line and I knew we would be able to pull it off.  It wasn’t easy though.  There were 20 other really good drivers we had to beat.  I’m just proud of my guys and glad I could bring home a trophy tonight.”

The second race featured a wild finish between Robert Tyler, Lee Pulliam and Ryan Wilson.  Tyler, who had lead every lap when the field got the white flag, was racing side-by-side with Pulliam.  A late race caution allowed Ryan Wilson to mount a charge and challenge for the win. Entering turn one on the final lap, Wilson drove to the inside line when he saw a lane open up.  The end result was Tyler getting moved up the track, Pulliam spinning in front of Tyler and Wilson picking up his second win of the season.

“We had that green-white-checkered and I took the inside of the cone,” Wilson said.  “We ran side-by-side and then the two cars in front of me slipped up and made a hole for me so I went there.  I was fine settling for third but on the last lap, when a hole opens up, I can’t just back off.  I would’ve been wrecked from behind if I hadn’t gone but I’m going to go for the win. Everyone wants to complain but that’s short track racing.  I wouldn’t intentionally wreck anyone.  The same thing’s happened to me three times this season.  I doubt anybody in short track racing has ever run their entire career without getting in to someone.”

While the race winner considered it a racing deal, Tyler saw things a little differently.  The veteran driver took to Facebook to express his frustration with the way Wilson raced him.

“I hope the SOB chokes on that $1200,” Tyler posted on Facebook.  “He won’t run over me again to win a race! Sorry Lee Pulliam, that race to the checkers would have been awesome!”

Tyler wasn’t done with just that.  He later remarked, “He said he had three  cars… I suggest he brings the one he likes the least to the next race and I won’t touch him like he said he didn’t touch me.”

Tyler then posted a video from inside his car of the final lap, saying, “A no talent doing what he has to do to win the race.”

Wilson extended his points lead in the Caraway Speedway track championship standings over Dan Moore.  Moore, who has four wins on the season at Caraway, finished third and second in the races respectively.

The next Late Model Stock Car race at Caraway Speedway will be on Sunday, September 8th when the division races alongside the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour.

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(Video credit: Tommy Raino via YouTube)