By Joe Chandler
Director, Public Relations
South Boston Speedway
SOUTH BOSTON, VA (April 24, 2024) – How well you rebound from adversity often determines the success of a racer’s season.
Jacob Borst has quickly rebounded from early-season adversity to climb to within six points of the lead in South Boston Speedway’s Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division heading into the double 75-lap races that will headline the Saturday night, May 4 God’s Pit Crew Race Night presented by Billy’s A/C Service event at South Boston Speedway.
A crash during practice in the season-opening event forced Borst to settle for a start-and-park opportunity in a Sellers Racing back-up car, leaving him with a 12th-place finish and an early deficit in the track championship points chase.
The Elon, North Carolina resident rebounded for a big night on April 13, finishing fourth in the first race and earning a win in the nightcap in the double 75-lap races. Last week Borst finished third in a 100-lap race, giving him three Top-5 finishes in a row.
“The first weekend was definitely a bummer,” Borst remarked, “but we came back and finished fourth and got the win (in the double-race event on April 13.)”
A valiant effort by Borst in last week’s 100-lap race allowed him to secure the third-place finish and keep his streak of Top-5 finishes alive.
“We had a really good car,” Borst noted. “I was catching (Kyle) Dudley and felt like I had a really good piece. I got together with (Mike) Looney on lap 2 or 3 and knocked the exhaust pipe inside the car. It got really hot, and I was breathing a lot of carbon monoxide. At that point it’s not about where you finish, it’s about hanging on. I’ve never had one that bad for that long. I don’t remember much of the last 20 laps.”
Historically, Borst has been among the top contenders and most consistent performers in South Boston Speedway’s Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division. Since the start of the 2021 season, he has five wins, four pole wins, 41 Top-5 five finishes, 49 Top-10 finishes and has led a total of 355 laps in 56 starts. He has never finished lower than third in the division point standings.
Borst’s current streak of three Top-5 finishes in a row including the win has him feeling good about where he and his team are at this point in the season.
“My confidence level is high,” Borst said. “I feel like we’re pretty good. We’ve had good cars here all season. The car is definitely capable of winning. If we keep bringing a good car like this, we’re going to be a threat to win each race and get a couple more wins. All of my guys put in a lot of hard work and give me a good piece every week. That’s all a driver can ask for.”
While Borst is in the thick of the chase for the division championship, the title chase is not something he puts a lot of emphasis on. His focus is on winning races.
“You just have to have the mindset to come out here and try to win every race,” Borst pointed out.
“If you get all tied up in the points deal it just gets you off of where you need to be. We’re just going to come out here and try to win as many races as we can and let the points play itself out.”
The next event at South Boston Speedway is the God’s Pit Crew Race Night presented by Billy’s A/C Service event on Saturday night, May 4, with racing starting at 7 p.m.
A total of six races are scheduled for the event with double 75-lap races for the Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division headlining the night’s action. Also slated that night are 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.
South Boston Speedway will host its annual First Responder Appreciation Night at the 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 2 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.