GAFFNEY, S.C. – Daulton Wilson held off a fast closing Brandon Overton to win the super late model portion of the Prelude to the Finals on Tuesday night at South Carolina’s Cherokee Speedway.
Wilson, who set a track record in qualifying, spent the early portion of the race trailing Ross Bailes and Overton. However, with 16 laps left the drive shaft broke in Bailes car and flew out the rear of his machine. The caution flag waved as Bailes car slowed to a stop, at which point it was discovered that the spoiler on Overton’s car had been knocked off by debris from Bailes’ car.
Overton’s crew removed what was left of the spoiler and he stayed on track in the lead, but Wilson quickly rocketed around the top of Overton during the restart to snatch the lead away.
Wilson held the lead until the caution flag waved one final time with six laps left, allowing Overton to close the gap. When racing resumed Overton hounded Wilson as he searched all over the race track for a way around the race leader.Â
With two laps left Overton used a run on the top coming out of turn two to pull even with Wilson before almost clearing him going into turn three. Wilson held firm to the bottom and was able to drive back around Overton through turns three and four as they raced toward the white flag.
Overton stayed right with Wilson through turns one and two and attempted to dive to Wilson’s inside as they roared down the backstretch into turn three, but Wilson slammed the door and drove to the $7,500 victory.
“I don’t even know how he held on to that thing,” Wilson said of Overton in victory lane. “I knew someone was back there but…man, this is awesome.”
Bryson Harper finished third, followed by Dennis Franklin and Adam Yarbrough.Â
The race was broadcast by SPEED SPORT TV affiliate Pit Row TV.
The finish:
Daulton Wilson, Brandon Overton, Bryson Harper, Dennis Franklin, Adam Yarbrough, Dan Stone, Johnny Pursley, Brent Larson, Pancho Lawler, Josh Richeson, Anthony Sanders, Ross Bailes, Timmy Rominger.