IRVINGTON, Ala. — J.J. Dutton captured the Mississippi / Alabama Sprint Series event Saturday night at Mobile International Speedway.
Dutton fought an oil leak and a late race assault from Francis Crowder to pick up his first victory of the season.
Dutton had earlier set quick time in qualifying (16.171) around the half-mile, high banked oval in southern Alabama. Dutton would draw an inversion number of six for the feature lineup putting him on the outside of row number three.
The Lutz, Florida resident wasted little time when the green flag waved. He quickly moved through the field and had taken the lead by lap eight with the aid of a couple early cautions including one for early race leader Brandon Blended whose car stalled in turn four. Dutton would take the checked flag 1.123 seconds over second place finisher Francis Crowder.
“I got to the front fairly quickly” Dutton explained. “I picked up an oil leak in qualifying, and it was a pretty good one. The breather was acting up. I was just babying it once I got the lead because I was afraid it was gonna blow oil out again.
“I could hear Francis Crowder back there. He got under me. When he did that, I held it to the wood. I was only three-quarters on the throttle at that point. Coming out of two I had a bad exit. I got up on the flat part, and he got up under me. At that point I just kept it to the floor the last three laps.
“It feels great to be back in victory lane. It’s been a long time. Hopefully we’ll get back here many more times in the next few years.”
