On a windy, chilly day at South Boston Speedway, NWAAS Late Model racing was on the schedule for twin 75 lap events. Going into the afternoons races was the charge of points leader Matt Bowling who stands poised to defend his 2015 track championship. Austin Thaxton, who is the divisions recent race winner also looked up to the challenge coming in as arguably the hottest racer behind the wheel.

But to the surprise of many was the fact that National Champion Lee Pulliam after three events has been denied Victory Lane at South Boston Speedway. Twice being involved in wrecks racing for the win and one feature falling one spot short. No doubt that Pulliam was eyeing victory coming into the days events. Other notables in a star studded field so far was the return of Late Model King, Philip Morris who like Pulliam has had a rough start to the year. Factor in a Peyton Sellers and the likes of Bobby McCarty, no doubt a championship feel was in the air on this windy day at South Boston Speedway.

The day began with Euro style qualifying and turning in the fastest lap out of twenty eight hot rods was Lee Pulliam with a fast lap set at 15.691 sec or 91.772 mph taking the pole. Starting to his left in row one was Phillip Morris who was off the pole speed by almost a full tenth. Bowling, McCarty, Thaxton and Sellers made up rows two and three on the grid. Big story line going into the race was the new two tire rule implemented by South Boston Speedway officials. The idea here was to offset the costs for teams to purchase four tires and to promote a competitive field for all.

The results are to be determined in the coming weeks but green flag racing was over the speedway and from the outside, Phillip Morris would lead lap one. Wasn’t very long in the twenty eight car field before the leaders would catch the tail end of the field when Pulliam made a move and took over the lead. But then the first caution flag waved on lap nineteen as Nathan Crews went around.

Back to green flag racing and this time Bobby McCarty will take the lead from Pulliam. On back in the field the racing was just as good as Mark Wertz, Brenden Queen and Danny Willis Jr battled for position trying to decide the six spot on the grid. Meanwhile, it was all McCarty at the halfway when the second caution waved for Eric Winslow’s spin over in turn four. Soon after, lap forty eight restart ensued and Bobby McCarty quickly secured the point getting a better jump then everyone else on the grid. That lead didn’t last long as Austin Thaxton made quick work of McCarty leading his first laps of the day.

But just as Thaxton thought he would cruise to his second win on the season, the caution flag once again as Dennis Holdren and Terry Carroll have heavy damage on the front stretch. Back to green and back to the races final caution as Jason Pittman is spun. Lap seventy three restart, green flag waves as Thaxton and now Pulliam battle for the win. Thaxton secures the point but the battle for second ensues as Bobby McCarty and Lee Pulliam go into turn one when suddenly Pulliam goes around. back up front, Austin Thaxton goes on to win with McCarty second, Sellers finished third, Wertz fourth and Willis Jr making up the races five best, Pulliam would finish thirteenth.

In the afternoon feature, the front of the field was decided by a seven car invert and because Thaxton has now won consecutive races, new rule in the Late Model division that the winner will start mid pack. Brenden Queen would be the man on the pole and would show the twenty four car field to the green. Danny Willis Jr, Justin Carroll, Mark Wertz and Bobby McCarty were left to settle spots two through five on the grid. Queen enjoyed leading laps around the 4/10s mile oval when Danny Willis Jr caught the leader and made the pass on lap eleven. Soon after the pass, Willis Jr’s lead grew rapidly as Queen, J Carroll and Wertz battled nose to tail for position.

Lap twenty eight goes on the board and over the track was the races first caution as Maddy Mulligan comes to a halt in turn two. Back to green flag racing now and Willis Jr continues his march for a race win but were once again back under caution on lap thirty seven as Eric Winslow goes around. Before long, were back to racing and this time Phillip Morris makes it known he wants to win. Lap thirty nine and Morris secures the point. Willis Jr would have to give way to oncoming Matt Bowling for second who at this point was looking rather sporty as well.

Morris would lead several laps before Bowling was finally able to reach his bumper when on lap sixty four. Morris had little choice and gave Bowling the room to make the pass for the race lead. Meanwhile, Pulliam shows some muscle working around Willis Jr for third. Thaxton soon after cleared and took over fourth and having a great run of his own, Landon Huffman cracked the top five getting by Willis Jr also.

Back up front, Bowling was the man on a mission who would go on win his third race of the year at South Boston Speedway. Phillip Morris, Lee Pulliam, Austin Thaxton and Landon Huffman were the race five best finishers.

Race One:
1 #12 Austin Thaxton
2 #6 Bobby McCarty
3 #26 Peyton Sellers
4 #55 Mark Wertz
5 #23 Danny Willis Jr
6 #91 Justin Carroll
7 #03 Brenden Queen
8 #83 Matt Bowling
9 #75 Landon Huffman
10 #8 Thomas Scott
11 #01 Philip Morris
12 #9 Alex Brock
13 #5 Lee Pulliam
14 #50 Ray Pittman III
15 #0 Justin Snow
16 #57 Kelley Kingery
17 #22 Eric Winslow
18 #3 Nathan Crews
19 #2 Dennis Holdren
20 #2B Brandon Pierce
21 #90 Terry Carroll
22 #29 Stuart Crews
23 #51 Jason Pittman
24 #64 Charles Barnes
25 #19 Cameron Bowen
26 #38 Mark Keesee Jr
27 #28 Jason Barnes
28 #10 Maddy Ryan Mulligan

Race Two:
1 #83 Matt Bowling
2 #01 Philip Morris
3 #5 Lee Pulliam
4 #12 Austin Thaxton
5 #75 Landon Huffman
6 #23 Danny Willis Jr
7 #91 Justin Carroll
8 #55 Mark Wertz
9 #26 Peyton Sellers
10 #9 Alex Brock
11 #6 Bobby McCarty
12 #03 Brenden Queen
13 #57 Kelley Kingery
14 #38 Mark Keesee Jr
15 #50 Raymond Pittman III
16 #29 Stuart Crews
17 #3 Nathan Crews
18 #64 Charles Barnes
19 #10 Maddy Ryan Mulligan
20 #22 Eric Winslow
21 #8 Thomas Scott
22 #0 Justin Snow
23 #28 Jason Barnes
24 #19 Cameron Bowen