Late Model Stock Cars

TJ Barron finally finds victory lane at Carteret County

by
Andy Marquis
April 28, 2019

Carteret County Speedway

TJ Barron outlasted the competition in Saturday’s Clash at the Coast to score his first career victory at Bobby Watson’s Carteret County Speedway.

Barron made his move late in the race, passing Brandon Clements on lap 48 in the 60-lap race and driving away for his first Carteret County Speedway win. The victory was special for Barron. He was able to snap a winless drought that dated back to 2013 when he last won at Coastal Plains Raceway in Jacksonville. After the race, he was given the winner’s trophy by his youngest son, Colton.

“This is pretty special,” Barron said in victory lane. “We worked our butts off man. This place has eluded me for last year and the first part of this year. We had a good car. It’s been since 2013 since we last won. We finally won somewhere else besides Coastal Plains. That’s pretty special.”

Chris Burns dominated for much of the first part of the race, but Clements was able to get in position to make a run at the lead when electing to start on the outside after a lap 35 caution. On lap 37, Clements was able to make his way around Burns before eventually surrendering the lead to Barron. Clements settled for second.

“I don’t know why everybody’s scared to jump out there, you can make it happen,” Clements remarked. “We’re chipping away at it, little at a time. It’s getting better and better. I think we’ll come back out next time and we’ll have the heat for them.”

Eric Winslow finished third while Chris Burns and Rusty Daniels rounded out the top-five.

Jordan Lamothe led only one lap in the Legends feature, but it was the most important lap.

Lamothe inherited the lead on the last lap when race leaders Emily Day and Brian Sullivan wrecked on the backstretch. The incident between Day and Sullivan immediately brought out the caution flag, which ended the race, allowing Lamothe to score his first Carteret County Speedway victory.

“I don’t really know what happened back there,” Lamothe said. “I hope they’re both okay. Sometimes it doesn’t matter what lap you lead as long as you’re the first one who crosses the start-finish line. I just have to thank my mom, dad, fiancé, and everyone for all the support. I hope the fans had a good time.”

Spencer Saunders finished in second while Shane Irving, Zack Brown and Aaron Crumpler rounded out the top-five.