JAMAICA, Va. – Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. On Saturday night, Justin Williams was both.
With three laps to go in the Victory Lap Pro Late Model feature, race leader Ray Love Jr. succumbed to mechanical issues, handing a fast-closing Williams the lead and the win.
“We were closing on the top side with the laps winding down, it was going to be close, but I believe Ray (Love) would have been able to hold me off for the win,” said Williams.
Love and Corey Almond led the field to green, with Love grabbing the lead on the opening lap. Behind him, the race for second was three-wide with Almond, Williams, and Austin Hubbard.
On lap 4, Williams got past Almond for second, with Love already checked out on the field. Love worked traffic to perfection, keeping the Williams at a distance.
Behind him, the race for fourth was hot and heavy between Hubbard and Trevor Collins.
By lap 25, Williams had jumped to the cushion and looked to be gaining on Love with five laps to go, but on lap 27, a puff of smoke came from under the hood of Love’s No. 08, handing the lead and win to Williams.Â
Tim Shelton won the Truckin Thunder Sportsman feature, Chris Arnold was victorious in the Budweiser Modified event, and Brian Maxey held off the field for the victory in the Collision One Limited Stock Car feature.
The Finish:Â
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 2W-Justin Williams[4]; 2. 7A-Corey Almond[2]; 3. 72-Trevor Collins[7]; 4. 38B-Austin Hubbard[3]; 5. 96-Matthew Hildebrand[15]; 6. 37-Bud Stinson[14]; 7. 38-Nicolas Love[5]; 8. 10-Matt Ashworth[20]; 9. 28-Tyler Detter[10]; 10. 51-Jerry Barker[16]; 11. 08-Ray Love Jr[1]; 12. 20-Samuel Bryant[12]; 13. 14C-Chuck Bowie[9]; 14. 09-Brad Rigdon[18]; 15. 8-Jeremy Pilkerton[6]; 16. 29H-Billy Hubbard[8]; 17. 23-Travis Justice[13]; 18. 0-Chase Burrow[17]; 19. 1-Ashley Kern[19]; 20. 71-Davis Lipscombe[11]