GAFFNEY, S.C. – Brandon Overton collected his second victory in as many days on Saturday, earning a $10,000 payday thanks to a last-lap pass at Cherokee Speedway during the Palmetto Invitational.
It appeared as if the unsanctioned race belonged to Casey Roberts, who had taken the lead from Anthony Sanders on the second lap of the 60-lap feature and dominated the race until the final lap.
However, on the final lap Overton saw an opportunity when Roberts entered turn one a bit higher than he had been throughout the previous 59 circuits.
Overton pounced on the opportunity, sticking his David Wells-owned No. 78 into the opening alongside Roberts. The two ran side-by-side and made contact, but Overton emerged with the race lead down the backstretch.
Roberts tried to return the favor as the pair entered turn three by diving low into the corner, but instead of getting alongside Overton he hit the inside berm and spun. That gave Overton the victory, his second in as many days after a $5,000 triumph Friday at Lancaster (S.C.) Motor Speedway.
Chris Madden ended up second after Roberts’ last-lap misfortune. Kyle Strickler was third, followed by Derrick Ramey and Zack Mitchell.
Heats for the event were won by Overton, Austin Kirkpatrick, Zack Mitchell and Anthony Sanders.
The finish:
Brandon Overton, Chris Madden, Kyle Strickler, Derrick Ramey, Zack Mitchell, Jonathan Davenport, Ross Bailes, Tyler Erb, Logan Roberson, Allen Weisser, Michael Brown, Pearson Lee Williams, Casey Roberts, Anthony Sanders, Cla Knight, Darrell Lanigan, Kyle Hardy, Ethan Wilson, Corey Gordon, Christian Thomas, Tim Vance, John Henderson, Austin Kirkpatrick, Dalton Polston, Jeff Smith, Jason Miller.