Ross Bailes took the lead on a lap 34 restart
The Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series ventured to the Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC on Sunday afternoon to open their 2017 season with the $10,000-to-win March Madness feature event. When all was said and done, it was home state driver Ross Bailes who rolled into victory lane to collect the winner’s trophy and the big check after scoring his first career Southern All Stars triumph.
Mike Marlar began the day by setting fast time in Group A qualifying when he turned a lap of 15.570 seconds around the 4/10 mile clay oval. He was followed in that group by Chris Madden, Chris Ferguson, Darrell Lanigan and Don O’Neal.
Johnny Pursley led the way in Group B qualifying as he toured the track in 16.008 seconds. Following Pursley in that group was Bailes, Justin Williams, Jonathan Davenport and Zack Mitchell.
Marlar earned the pole for the feature by scoring the victory in heat one over Jason Welshan, O’Neal and Ferguson. O’Neal’s run was remarkable in that he had tangled with another car on the second lap and had to restart from the rear of the pack as a result of that incident.
Brandon Overton secured the outside front row starting spot when took the win in the second heat over Lanigan, Madden and Clint Smith.
Justin Williams won the third preliminary ahead of Pursley, Dennis Franklin and Brett Dixon while Bailes won the final heat over Davenport, Michael Brown and Doug Sanders.
Casey Roberts and T.J. Reaid won the two B-main races used to set the remainder of the starting lineup for the main event.
At the start of the 60-lap feature it was Marlar who bolted from the pole position to assume the early lead of the race with Williams, Overton, Bailes and Lanigan trailing close behind. Overton wasted no time in making a move toward the front as on lap 2 the winner of the previous night’s Ultimate Super Late Model Series event at the North Georgia Speedway roared past Williams to grab the runner-up position.
A lap 8 caution flag slowed the pace of the race and allowed those trailing the top-2 runners to close the gap that had been opened during the early laps. On the ensuing restart, Bailes made a move on Williams to wrest the third spot in the running order away while Marlar and Overton again tried to distance themselves from their pursuers.
The second of what would eventually be six yellow flags was displayed to the field on lap 10. Once again, a competitor took advantage of the restart to gain a position as Madden got the jump on O’Neal to move into seventh. But just three laps later, O’Neal would retake the spot.
During the green flag segment that lasted from lap 10 to lap 22, Marlar and Overton were joined in their attempt at a breakaway as Bailes kept the lead duo in his sights. The top-3 were particularly tight as they worked their way around slower traffic.
Tristan Sealy went for a wild ride on the front stretch on lap 25 to bring out another caution. It was on that restart when the race’s key moment played out. Bailes got the jump on Overton and beat him into the first turn to move into second. He then used the momentum built up by his No. 79 machine to swing inside of Marlar down the back straightaway and sweep into the lead by the time the cars reached the third turn.
From that point, Bailes was able to build a cushion over those closest to him as Marlar and Overton battled for second.
A lap 34 restart provided Overton with the break he needed as he moved his No. 116 around the No. 157 of Marlar to grab second. He then began to employ a slightly higher line through turns one and two as he closed the distance between himself and Bailes.
On lap 52, Overton was finally able to get by Bailes to take the lead. However, a caution for the slowing car of Ferguson negated the move as the field was reset to the last officially scored lap.
After the final restart, Bailes slipped away from the pack and eventually crossed under the checkered flag ahead of the field.
Feature Finish: 1. Ross Bailes, 2. Mike Marlar, 3. Jonathan Davenport, 4. Brandon Overton, 5. Chris Madden, 6. Don O’Neal, 7. Justin Williams, 8. Darrell Lanigan, 9. Casey Roberts, 10. Dennis Franklin, 11. TJ Reaid, 12. Zack Mitchell, 13. Jason Welshan, 14. Mitchell Brown, 15. Bo Shirley, 16. Clint Smith, 17. Austin Horton, 18. Brett Dixon, 19. Chris Ferguson, 20. Johnny Pursley, 21. Tommy Taylor, 22. Tristan Sealy, 23. Doug Sanders, 24. Brad Skinner
