To more or less quote a beer ad… “I don’t always go to South Boston – But when I do it’s a great time”.
SoBo always presents a good show. Loyal fans and racers chasing the checkers always mix well and these folks do strive to keep those fans coming in. For this evening it was a season crowning of track champions that brought them in for front stretch seating or their favorite spot around the perimeter. There was also a sense of “anything can happen” to roll a fan favorite off the running or place a trophy in their hands. That is racing the real South Boston way.
Yes, there was some bent steel and shattered egos. The yellow flag did fly a few times but close racing and pushing for position to win or gain that championship will cause a spin or two… Or a hood to fly off…
Focusing first with the main event, which actually ran last before a nightcap of fireworks, the track championship and a season win were on the table. As it happened, it was indeed split among two drivers. The race win went to 2023 track champion, Carter Langley. Mike Looney gave them all a run for a bit but the stop break at lap 100 set an even re-start and Langley pulled away with Looney in the mirrors.
The pole winner, Blake Stallings, was caught in an early mash up which also collected Kyle Dudley, Stacy Puryear and a visting Jeb Burton. These 4 drivers were unable to catch the leading 3 of Langley, Looney and Peyton Sellers, although a chasing bid for Burton did put him across in the 4th spot. Jacob Borst crossed in the top 5.
Peyton Sellers crossed the line in 3rd and was enough to claim the 2024 track championship for the Sentara Health Late Models division at South Boston. Sellers is a repeat champion with 2024 being his 7th. He last won the track title in 2021 and now ties David Blankenship who took his 7th back in 1998.
The Budweiser Limited Sportsman saw a repeat of the crown from 2023. Jason Myers needed the win to take the title as he was trailing Eric Winslow by just 1 point coming into the weekend. Nathan Crews also had a shot but an early crash settled his chances.
Myers won the pole and raced up front green to checkers with Winslow crossing just over a second behind. The win gave Myers the championship by 1 point over Winslow. Karl Budzevski came over in third with two brothers, Justin and Drew Dawson, filling the top five at the line.
Racing was hot with the Virginia State Police HEAT Hornets and this one showed that consistency pays off. Sixteen-year-old Jordaine Penick may not have won the checkers but she won the title. Her 5th place at the line was enough to carry the season. Her title marked the 2nd female to win a division championship. Terri Marks won the Grand Stock title in 2004 and was at the track to greet Penick.
Jason DeCarlo won the the race as his 2nd victory in a row at SoBo. Cameron Goble came over in the 2nd spot. Cameron Moss, Dustin Davis and Penick filled the top five. Davis, also of note, had won the pole to start.
There were two Southside Disposal Pure Stock races. One to start the evening and another before the main late model show. It was a bit of a gift but a win is a win. Defending division champ Johnny Layne had the season on a string with 5 wins, the most laps and the most poles. A favorite in all aspects, Layne took a family “time out” for the finale leaving nothing but good words for whoever took over the lead.
Left: Scott Phillips (Race 1 winner) with Halifax County Farm Bureau’s Holly Covington
Right: B.J. Reaves (Race 2 winner) celebrating the win and division championship
A 2nd place and a win in the two evening events gave that lead to South Boston local driver B.J. Reaves. Scott Phillips won the first race with B.J. just behind. Zach Reaves, Kendall Milam and Bruce Mayo sealed the top five in the first of the two races. The latter was taken by B.J., with Dillon Davis in at 2nd. Scott Phillips came across in 3rd with Milam and Colby Pool in the top 5.
More details for the evening are online with South Boston Speedeway.
The CARS Tour is coming up and it looks like the SMART Modifieds are coming in October.
Photos are compiled with personalities from the evening and mixed with contributions from DOS Images. Halifax County Farm Bureau Championship Night at South Boston Speedway (August 31, 2024)
