Brandon Overton
After getting only one of its schedule events on its 2020 calendar in prior to the shutdown brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series took to the Lancaster(SC) Speedway on Friday night in front of an empty grandstand to restart its season. In the end it was Brandon Overton who scored the win to claim the $5,000 first prize.
Contributions from DirtonDirt.com viewers ultimately raised the winner’s share of the purse to more than $6,300.
The top-10 from time-trials would be locked into the feature starting lineup.
Ross Bailes led the way in qualifying with a time of 18.323 around the half-mile clay oval which beat out Brandon Overton, Brett Hamm, Logan Roberson, Jonathan Davenport, Derek Ramey, Zack Mitchell, Jeff Smith, Pearson Lee Williams and Johnny Pursley.
Chris Madden won the first B-main of the night ahead of Tyler Erb and Benji Hicks while Willie Milliken bested Kyle Hardy and Michael Brown.
At the first attempt to start the 40-lap feature there were several cars who received damage from contact that occurred at numerous spots through the field. The second attempt to start the main event proved detrimental for Roberson and Milliken as both were damaged in an incident.
When the feature finally got underway, Bailes and Overton raced in side-by-side formation for two circuits before Overton emerged from that battle with the top spot ahead of Bailes, Davenport and Ramey. A caution flag waved on lap 3 for the slowing cars of Tyler Erb and Anthony Sanders.
On the ensuing restart it was Overton who would drive away from the pack as Bailes and Davenport trailed almost a straightaway behind. But a caution on lap 7 for the stalled car of Hardy brought out another yellow flag and erased Overton’s advantage.
Madden worked his way into the top-5 on lap 10 and continued to march forward when he grabbed fourth on a lap 14 restart. Pearson Lee Williams took fifth away from Jeff Smith on that same restart.
Overton again drew away from the pack just prior to halfway while Bailes, Davenport and Madden engaged in a tight fight for positions 2-4. Bailes and Davenport would eventually break free from Madden and began to close the distance between themselves and the race leading car of Overton with ten laps remaining.
A caution for the smoking car of Dennis Franklin on lap 31 regrouped the field and provided the pursuers with another shot at keeping pace with Overton. But ultimately, it was Overton who would complete his night of domination to claim the win.
Feature Finish: 1. Brandon Overton, 2. Ross Bailes, 3. Jonathan Davenport, 4. Michael Brown, 5. Jeff Smith, 6. Tyler Erb, 7. Tyler Millwood, 8. David Yandle, 9. Chris Madden, 10. Pearson Lee Williams, 11. Dennis Franklin, 12. Johnny Pursley, 13. Ethan Wilson, 14. Benji Hicks, 15. Willie Milliken, 16. Jeremy Conaway, 17. Adam Yarbrough, 18. Zack Mitchell, 19. Cla Knight, 20. Allen Weisser, 21. Derek Ramey, 22. Kyle Hardy, 23. Brett Hamm, 24. Anthony Sanders, 25. Logan Roberson
