Lee Pulliam captured the first of two dual 75-lap races in the LMSC division with NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national points leader Matt Bowling coming in third after leading 38 of 75 laps.

Matt Bowling clinched the 2016 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Championship after Ty Majeski finished seventh in his first race at Elko Speedway in Minnesota.

By way of the invert, Ryan Repko, Mark Wertz, Sellers, Danny Willis Jr and C.E. Falk were the top five starters. Wertz led the first lap until Ryan Repko blew his engine, causing a complete restart of the second twin 75-lap race.

Peyton Sellers swiftly took the lead from Wertz on lap three. Matt Bowling, already clinched the national title, went up in smoke on lap 13 causing the second red flag of the evening.

Lee Pulliam, as he did in the first 75-lap race came through the field while Thaxton and Willis battled for second, allowing Peyton Sellers to pull away a third of the way through the race. Pulliam and Thaxton, while battling for second, reeled Sellers in while Sellers was caught in traffic during the middle of the race.

Thaxton caught Sellers with less than ten laps remaining but Jason Pittman spun in turn two to bring out the caution with 66 laps completed. Pulliam would restart on the inside of row two.

On the restart, Pulliam got Sellers loose, causing Sellers to go into the turn one wall. After this contact, Sellers proceeded to get into the right window of Pulliam’s car and have words with him, disconnecting the wires from Pulliam’s ignition box.

After the race, Pulliam commented on what he believes happened.

“I guess he didn’t have a spotter or something, I don’t know,” Pulliam said.  “He came down like we weren’t there and he ended up wrecking and then I had the choice of either running him over or stopping and he ripped the wiring harness out.”

Thaxton, the lone survivor of the three contenders, went on to take the victory in the season finale after a wild last ten laps.