Sellers, Ward split opening day Twin Late Model 50s at SoBo

Defending South Boston Speedway champion Peyton Sellers started on the front row and led every lap ahead of a field of 19 drivers in Saturday afternoon’s opening Late Model Stock Twin 50.

The win was Sellers’ 59^th career win at the .4-mile oval in pursuit of a record setting eighth championship

“Qualifying today showed how really competitive the cars are here,” Sellers said. “I was very tickled to be able to get out front and lead early and build a little bit of a cushion towards the end. The race going green helped us a little bit because my car was really free.”

Trevor Ward started 17^th in the 18-car field in the second 50-lap race and rallied to earn the win and score his first career NASCAR Late Model Stock Car Division win at South Boston Speedway.

“This means a lot,” Ward said. “My dad won here and he’s a big Late Model racer. To be able to start matching places he’s won at is incredible for me. I’m super, super stoked for it.”

The top nine drivers were inverted for the start of the second race but Ward ended up starting 17^th. He quickly worked his way through the field and was challenging McCarty for the lead when contact ensued resulting in damage to McCarty’s car.

Ward assumed the lead for the restart on lap 36 and drove to a 1.335-second win over Landon Pembelton. Craig Moore, Looney, and last year’s South Boston Speedway runner-up Blake Stallings completed the top five finishers.

Sellers was involved in one of four incidents, one that McCarty took responsibility for, that resulted in caution periods but still managed to drive to an 11^th-place finish.

Sellers drifted up and McCarty couldn’t lay off him in time.

There were two lead changes among three drivers with Ward leading the final 15 laps. McCarty led 28 laps and Stallings, who started on the pole, led seven laps.

Twin 50 No. 1

1. Peyton Sellers
2. Mike Looney
3. Trevor Ward
4. Bobby McCarty
5. Landon Pembelton
6. Craig Moore
7. Mark Wertz
8. Blake Stallings
9. Toby Layne
10. Dustin Storm
11. Jason Myers
12. Eddie Slagle
13. Jeff Sparks
14. Jessica Cann
15. Kyle Dudley
16. Mark Keesee Jr
17. Jacob Borst

Twin 50 No. 2

1. Trevor Ward
2. Landon Pembelton
3. Craig Moore
4. Mike Looney
5. Blake Stallings
6. Mark Wertz
7. Toby Layne
8. Mark Keesee
9. Jessica Cann
10. Jeff Sparks
11. Peyton Sellers
12. Bobby McCarty
13. Dustin Storm
14. Carter Langley
15. Jacob Borst
16. Jason Myers
17. Kyle Dudley
18. Eddie Slagle