WOODSTOCK, Ga. — Michael Page defended his home turf for the second time in the last three years as he won the Lucas Oil Dixie Shootout on Saturday night at the Dixie Speedway.
With the victory in one of the Southeast’s most prestigious dirt late model events, Page became the 19th different winner this season on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series tour.
Page, driving the only Stinger race car in the field, took the lead at the start of the 50-lap race and lead every lap in the caution-free event.
Jimmy Owens, who started from the pole alongside Page, finished in second followed by seventh-place starter Brandon Overton. Chris Madden and point leader Jonathan Davenport rounded out the top five.
Page took the lead from Owens coming off turn two on the first lap and never relinquished the top spot. Owens tried to stay with Page in heavy traffic, but the 36-year-old had little, to no problems in traffic as he scored the popular win at one of his home tracks.
In Lucas Oil Victory Lane, a multitude of well-wishers joined Page just as they did two years ago after winning his first Dixie Shootout. He was emotional as he talked to the huge crowd of spectators on hand to witness the home state driver’s win.
“I knew I had to get Jimmy there at the start. I hadn’t been up top all night, but I just went for it,” Page said. “The car was good from the start. This Stinger Race Car from Chase King and his dad was perfect all night long. Last week we couldn’t even line-up, but this is racing and you have to keep your head up and keep on getting with it.”
Owens, who won the Dixie Shootout in 2012, ran second the entire distance and was able to hold off Overton at the end.
“Congrats to Page and all of those guys on the win, they are really tough here. We had a good car and won the first heat,” Owens said. “It was a drag-race to turn one in the feature. I beat him (Page) into turn one, but he got the lead on the high side and he did what he needed to do. I am looking forward to finishing the year off with a bang. Thanks to Leon Ramirez and all of my crew. We’ll head to Rome tomorrow night and try to get a win.”
The finish:
Michael Page, Jimmy Owens, Brandon Overton, Chris Madden, Jonathan Davenport, Dale McDowell, Devin Moran, Don O’Neal, Mike Marlar, Tim McCreadie, Donald McIntosh, Josh Richards, Shanon Buckingham, Cory Hedgecock, Billy Moyer Jr., Hudson O’Neal, Tyler Erb, Stormy Scott, Earl Pearson Jr., Kyle Bronson, David Payne, Austin Horton, Will Roland, Vic Hill.