It felt like two entirely different races rolled into one 100-lap feature Friday at Five Flags Speedway.
The Allen Turner Hyundai Pro Late Models were shot out of a cannon early, as the green flag dropped on the series’ third of four 100-lappers in 2024. The 24-car field saw the lead exchange hands five times in the first 16 laps. The chaotic pace changed over the course of the final 84 laps once Carson Brown’s youthful, but more than capable hands took the point.
The 16-year-old from North Carolina put an Anthony Campi Late Model back in Victory Lane at Five Flags and got his first career win at Pensacola’s high banks.
“It feels great,” a jubilant Brown said. “Me and Anthony have been working hard on this car. We were sick of second place finishes. We were just going for it.
“Anthony coaches me a lot and helps me a lot. It’s cool to conquer this place. It’s really tough.”
Fifteen-year-old George Phillips and Zach Dixon finished second and third, respectively.
Brown will go into the Sept. 28 regular season finale with a 14-point lead against Seth Christensen, who showed resiliency on a tough night.
Christensen came into Friday as the car to beat after winning the first two PLM 100 features this season. His ninth-place finish was yeoman’s work after struggling in qualifying and getting caught up in several cautions in the first half of the race.
Phillips, down from Charlotte, started sixth and earned a runner-up result after passing Jim Wall on Lap 61 at the start-finish line.
“I can’t wait to come back here,” Phillips said. “This was an amazing night for us. I love this sport and racing hard with everybody.”
