WHEATLAND, Mo. — Dayton Pursley overcame nerves and pressure from a pair of challengers to earn his first late model victory on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Speedway.
The 23-year-old from Hermitage held off Kaeden Cornell and JC Morton to prevail in the Hermitage Lumber Late Models for a $1,000 pay day in Round 2 of the Pitts Hmes and Realty Challenge Cup.
Pursley, who’s driven Modifieds and B Mods at Lucas Oil Speedway during his young career, and also dabbled in sprint cars, was ecstatic in victory lane. He grew up coming to the track watching his dad, Jason Pursley, race Modifieds.
“First of all I have to say thank you God for even letting me be here and do this,” Pursley said. “But it does feel good. I’d like to say happy birthday to my mom and happy Father’s Day to my dad and all the other fathers.
“I don’t even know what to say. I was so nervous. I had to go (to the bathroom) before (the race) and I didn’t even go. I was too nervous. I want to thank my wife for being here. I don’t know, just everybody who helps me.”
Pursley started on the pole and opened a half-second lead over Cornell by lap 10. The second half of the race saw Cornell move to the high groove in turns three and four and the low side in one and two in an effort to chase down the leader. Meanwhile, Morton advanced into third with those three well ahead of the field.
As Cornell and Morton battled it out over the final laps, Pursley was able to take it to the checkers for a .457-second win over Cornell. Morton wound up third with Tucker Cox fourth and Cole Henson fifth.
A total of 117 cars checked into the pits and other feature winners included Wyatt Gaggero (Arctic Food Equipment USRA Modifieds), Jon Sheets (Clear Creek Golf Cars USRA B-Mods), Mason Beck (O’Reilly USRA Stock Cars) and Blaine Ewing (Hickamo Super Stocks).
