Austin Thaxton found himself in the right place at the right time and came away with his first win of the season in Saturday night’s Aqua Pros 100 NASCAR Whelen All American Series Late Model Stock Car race at South Boston Speedway.
In earning his first victory of the season at the .4-mile oval, Thaxton became the fourth different driver to visit Victory Lane at South Boston Speedway this season. The win equaled the one win Thaxton earned last season at America’s Hometown Track.
The Clarksville, Virginia resident pulled away from Thomas Scott on the final restart with eight laps to go and was never seriously challenged in the closing laps.
“Yesterday we really struggled getting the car to handle the way I wanted,” Thaxton said. “We fought to free all day and qualified terrible. Changed a ton after that got in the race and the same thing to free.
“Well, I knew there were going to be some wrecks and luckily we missed them all and were in the right place and right time.
“When it came to the last restart (Scott) gave me the out side and I knew at that point it was my race to lose.”
Scott finished second, .668-second behind Thaxton, with Danny Willis Jr., defending track champion Peyton Sellers and Raymond Pittman rounding out the top-five finishers.
The lead proved not to be the best place to be for much of the race. Track and NASCAR National Point Leader Philip Morris and Sellers tangled on lap 40 while battling for the lead. Morris spun again on lap 62 while battling Mike Jones of South Boston, Virginia for the top spot.
Jones, who was returning to action with a new car after having had his car destroyed in a violent crash and subsequent fire in a June 16 race at South Boston Speedway, led on four different occasions. His bid for his first Late Model Stock Car Division win ended in a crash with Jason Barnes as they were battling for the lead with 13 laps to go.
Scott inherited the lead, only to lose it to Thaxton on the final restart.
“My guys worked hard to get me to that point yesterday and I did my part to show them how much I appreciate all the help,” Thaxton said.
The race was a highly competitive one with seven lead changes among five different drivers.
- Austin Thaxton
- Thomas Scott
- Danny Willis Jr.
- Peyton Sellers
- Raymond Pittman
- Eric Winslow
- Quincy Adkins
- Cameron Bowen
- Mark Keesee Jr.
- Chuck Barnes
- Mike Jones
- Jason Barnes
- Philip Morris
- Nathan Crews
- Bruce Mayo
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