LAKE VIEW, S.C. – Shaun Harrell scored his long awaited first win of the season by taking the late model checkered flag Saturday night at Lake View Motor Speedway.
Harrell blistered the track in qualifying with a lap at 16.821 seconds over the 16-car field to start on the pole over Willie Milliken and Christian Thomas. After a couple of aborted starts, one which eliminated last week’s FUEL winner Dean Bowen and points leader Dustin Perritt, Harrell got the advantage over Milliken at the drop of the green flag. The hardest crash of the night occurred on lap two when Matt Pridgen spun across the track on the frontstretch and collected Zachary Cox.
Back under way, Harrell continued to lead, but Thomas was able to slip by and take second from Milliken. Thomas would not have enough for Harrell though, who becomes the sixth different Late Model winner in seven races this season. Rounding out the top five were Thomas, Milliken, Johnny Pridgen and Jeffery Johnson.
Headlining along with the Late Models were the Super Streets, racing for $1100, double-points, and a $500 bounty on the undefeated Ron Pope. After a wild race, it was a familiar story as Pope took his fifth win of the season extending the bounty on him into the month of September.
Veterans David Royal and Benji Thompson were battling for second late in the race, but would both spin in turn one on a restart. Then, with three laps to go, the two would again make contact, sending both cars over the turn three embankment. At the finish, Pope once again took the checkered flag over Johnny Moore, with his best finish in a long time, Scott Patterson, Michael Freeman, and Steve Reaves.
Dustin Parker continued his family’s winning ways at Lake View taking his first career 602 Modified win. Parkers’ dad, Chris, uncles Danny and Dewayne, and cousins Daniel and Eric Bentley have all been winners in the past at Lake View. Parker got the advantage at the start over polesitter, Case Daniels and was never challenged. Greg Cain spun from a top five run early on and Bentley would spin from third with five laps to go. Following Parker at the finish were Daniels, ninth-place starter AJ Belanger, Brian Strickland, and Cain.
Michael Butler wrestled the lead away from Tom Lovett late in the race and would go on to take his second straight Crate Racin’ USA Street Stock win of the year. Lovett made an attempt to retake the lead but spun in turn one and would be finished for the night. The biggest incident of the night was on lap two when sixth place runner Daniel Johnson spun in turn three and collected Chandler Fowler, Mike Manes, and Donald Williams. Following Butler at the finish were Ron Pope, Brandon Carter, Josh Herring, and Jeffrey Batten.
Derek Kemper rebounded from a mechanical issue on lap one, restarted last in the 22-car field, and charged through the field to claim his second SCDRA Sport Compact win of the year. Rounding out the top five were Julio Cifuentes Jr., Shannon Weaver, Kyle Jenks, and Jerry Johnson Jr.
The Bell & Bell Vintage Cars made their return to Lake View with Joey Babson taking the Pro-Modified win, Bladen Core was the Sportsman winner, Pete Corey claimed the Senior win, and Sherman Garris took the 6-Cylinder win.