By Joe Chandler
Director, Public Relations
South Boston Speedway
SOUTH BOSTON, VA (April 20, 2024) – Kyle Dudley captured his first career South Boston Speedway victory Saturday afternoon, winning the 100-lap Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division race that highlighted the Viny’s Italian Restaurant & Italian Delight Family Restaurant Race Day event at South Boston Speedway.
Dudley sped across the finish line 1.268 seconds ahead of two-time NASCAR national champion Peyton Sellers of Danville, Virginia in the caution-free race and became the fourth different winner in as many races this season at South Boston Speedway.
“This is a dream come true,” the Roanoke, Virginia resident remarked. “We went to work on the car this week and changed everything on the car. You name it, we messed with it. We had raw speed in practice on Friday and again today. We felt good about it.”
That was obvious.
Dudley took the lead from pole winner Craig Moore of Rougemont, North Carolina on the first lap, lost it briefly to Moore, and regained the lead from Moore on the ninth lap. Once in front, Dudley was rarely challenged, and at the end, had led 93 laps of the 100-lap race.
“I had an awesome car,” Dudley pointed out. “I was able to keep people where I needed to in order to maintain the lead. I had more in the tank if I needed it. You don’t get to drive a racecar like that very often.”
Sellers took second place away from Jacob Borst of Elon, North Carolina in the second half of the race but was unable to mount a serious threat to Dudley.
“I could pace with him,” Sellers said, “but I couldn’t quite catch him. I was a little quicker most laps, but he got too far out front. By qualifying seventh we dug ourselves too big of a hole to get out of.”
Borst finished third with a valiant effort, hanging on despite carbon monoxide seeping into the cockpit of his car. Borst said contact while racing fourth-place finisher Mike Looney of Catawba, Virginia damaged the exhaust system on his car.
“I had a really good car today, and felt like I was catching Dudley,” Borst said. “I got together with Looney on lap two or three and knocked the exhaust pipe inside the car. It got really hot, and I was breathing a lot of carbon monoxide. I’ve never had one that bad for that long. I don’t remember much of the last 20 laps.”
Stacy Puryear of South Boston, Virginia, Blake Stallings of Danville, Virginia, Toby Layne of Farmville, Virginia, Raymond Pittman III of Amelia, Virginia, Jordan Pickrel and Moore rounded out the top 10 finishers.
Moore, who was strong in the early going, was sidelined after 21 laps with a broken sway bar on his car.
Eric Winslow Sweeps Double 30-Lap Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division Races
Eric Winslow of Pelham, North Carolina enjoyed a big afternoon Saturday, sweeping the double 30-lap Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division races at South Boston Speedway.
“It’s exciting,” Winslow said of pulling off the sweep. “It was a great day for us. I love taking trophies home.”
Winslow edged pole winner and defending division champion Jason Myers of Hurt, Virginia by 1.036-seconds in a seven-lap dash to the finish that followed the race’s lone caution period in winning the opening 30-lap race.
Justin Dawson of Nathalie, Virginia finished third in the opening race with his brother, Drew Dawson, taking fourth place and Cory Dunn of Salem, Virginia rounded out the top five finishers.
In the nightcap, Winslow pulled away from his challengers in a nine-lap sprint to the finish that followed the last of the race’s two caution periods and edged Drew Dawson of Nathalie, Virginia by 1.134 seconds.
Zach Peregoy of Clarksville, Virginia finished third in the nightcap, with Dunn and Myers rounding out the top five finishers.
Winslow led 29 laps of the first 30-lap race and, despite starting eighth, led 22 laps of the second 30-lap race.
Johnny Layne Wins Southside Disposal Pure Stock Division Race
Johnny Layne of Halifax, Virginia scored a flag-to-flag win in Saturday afternoon’s 25-lap Southside Disposal Pure Stock Division race. The win was the second victory for Layne in as many races this season.
Layne sped across the finish line just under a half-a-second ahead of B.J. Reaves of South Boston, Virginia in taking the victory.
Zach Reaves of Danville, Virginia, Bruce Mayo of Halifax, Virginia and Kenny Mills rounbded out the top five finishers.
20-Lap VSP HEAT Hornets Division Race Results Are Unofficial
Cameron Goble of Ringgold, Virginia crossed the finish line first in Saturday afternoon’s 20-lap race for the Virginia State Police HEAT Hornets Division race. However the results of the race have been held as unofficial.
Jason DeCarlo of Chase City, Virginia, Steven Layne of Halifax, Virginia, Jordaine Penick of Meherrin, Virginia and Landon Milam of Keeling, Virginia unofficially rounded out the top five finishers.
Johnny Johnson, Wayne Lawson Take Wins In The 25-Lap East Coast Flathead Fords Racing Association Race
Johnny Johnson of Tobaccoville, North Carolina won the Modified Division and Wayne Lawson of Willis, Virginia took top honors in the Sportsman Division in the 25-lap race for the regional touring East Coast Flathead Fords Racing Association that was part of Saturday afternoon’s Viny’s Italian Restaurant & Italian Delight Family Restaurant Race Day event.
Johnson was the overall race winner and Lawson finished third overall. Mike Houghtaling of Floyd, Virginia finished second overall driving a Modified.
Next Race At South Boston Speedway
NASCAR racing will return to South Boston Speedway on Saturday night, May 4, with the God’s Pit Crew Race Night presented by Billy’s A/C Service event. The first race will start at 7 p.m.
The six-race card will be highlighted by double 75-lap races for the Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division. A 50-lap race for the Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division, double 15-lap races for the Southside Disposal Pure Stock Division and a 20-lap race for the Virginia State Police HEAT Hornets Division will round out the night’s racing action.
First Responder Appreciation Night is being held as part of the May 4 event. All first responders will be admitted free with a valid department ID/badge or a department roster signed by the chief with accompanying government-issued ID. In addition, there will be a parade lap of fire trucks, emergency vehicles and police cars from various agencies in the area during pre-race ceremonies.
The Saturday, May 4 God’s Pit Crew Race Night presented by Billy’s A/C Service event schedule has registration and pit gates opening at 1 p.m. Practice will run from 3:25 p.m. to 5:05 p.m. Frontstretch spectator gates will open at 3:30 p.m. Qualifying is set for 6 p.m., pre-race ceremonies are scheduled for 6:45 p.m. and the first race of the night will start at 7 p.m.
Advance tickets for the God’s Pit Crew Race Night presented by Billy’s A/C Service event are priced at $12 each. Advance tickets may be purchased online on South Boston Speedway’s website, www.southbostonspeedway.com or by calling the speedway office at 434-572-4947 or toll free at 1-877-440-1540 during regular business hours.
Tickets at the gate on race day will be $15 each. Seniors ages 65 and older, military, healthcare workers, and students (with ID) can purchase tickets for $12 each at the gate on race day.