SOUTH BOSTON, Va. — The battle for the South Boston Speedway Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division championship can’t get any closer than it is.
Seven-time South Boston Speedway champion Peyton Sellers and Trevor Ward, who is seeking his first championship, are tied in the standings with one points race remaining.
The 100-lap Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division race headlines Saturday night’s four-race card.
“It’s winner take all now,” remarked Sellers who is seeking a record-breaking eighth career South Boston Speedway championship. “Trevor has had some bad luck throughout the season, and I’ve had a few bad races, and here we are. The fans will get a good show.”
Ward entered the twin-race event on August 23 trailing Sellers by seven points. A win and a second-place finish by Ward coupled with finishes of fourth and fifth by Sellers created a tie for the track championship.
“It was unexpected,” Ward said of the tie for the track championship. “I knew being seven points down going into the event we were just trying to chip away at it (Sellers’ point lead). It (the championship) will come down to that last checkered flag. It all comes down to who finishes in front of who. We’ll walk out of here with our head up either way.”
Sellers has a second-place finish, third-place finish, fourth-place finish and a fifth-place finish in his last four starts.
For the season, the two-time NASCAR national champion has six wins, five pole awards and 13 top-five finishes in 17 starts.
Ward appears to have a slight edge in momentum with two wins, a second-place finish and a 10th-place finish in his last four starts. For the season, Ward has six wins, 14 top-five finishes and 15 top-10 finishes in his 17 starts.
As far as pressure goes, Sellers sees it being similar to the August 23 event.
“It’s not any more pressure than it was last week,” he pointed out. “We’re going to sleep the same next Saturday night regardless. The championship wasn’t won or lost on the last night.”
Ward said he isn’t feeling pressured heading into Saturday night’s 100-lap race.
“I’m going to race to win, and whatever happens happens,” he pointed out. “I’m happy just to be a part of it and knowing we have this prestigious of a battle going.
“I came into this season just wanting a South Boston Speedway win,” Ward added.
“I’m grateful having six wins. I hope we can check off another one championship night.”
There is one other driver in the championship points chase – Landon Pembelton. Pembelton trails Sellers and Ward by eight points entering Saturday night’s event.
There are multiple scenarios in which Pembelton could win the championship, but they are more complex than the scenario facing Sellers and Ward.
Among the three drivers, Pembelton has the best results in looking at each driver’s last three starts. The Amelia, Virginia resident has a second-place finish, a third-place finish and a win in his last three starts.
While Pembelton has a shot at the championship in the season’s final points race he, too, says he is not feeling any pressure.
“It is going to be a lot of fun,” Pembelton said of Saturday’s race. “The pressure really isn’t on me, it’s on those two guys. If we can keep bringing fast cars to the racetrack and qualify well, we’ll get a good finish.”
