LUCAMA, NC – Rusty Daniels dominated Saturday’s KONI Charger doubleheader in the Springtime Showdown at Southern National Motorsports Park.
Daniels qualified on the pole and led every single lap of the first 30 lap race, surviving multiple restarts after a spree of incidents. The second race followed the same script for Daniels, starting on the pole and leading every lap of what ended up being a more procedural race.
The victory comes after back-to-back setbacks for Daniels’ team.
“I made a mistake a month ago and changed valve covers,” Daniels said. “I took the stock type covers off and put a taller set on to give me a little more room and, instead, I pushed the rear seal out. The following race, we knocked the clutch out of it here and put it back in, sat on pole, didn’t run enough laps on our tires and had to start at the rear. Tonight, we got a chance, sat on the pole, and led every lap on the first one. Got lucky and drew the first starting pole tonight and led every lap of the next race.”
Tyler Chapman finished in the runner-up position in the first race while Justin Mitchell was third. The second race saw Mitchell in second over Chapman in third.
Much like in Chargers, Levi Canup swept the Legends doubleheader after qualifying on the pole.
“I drew a one car invert so I’m feeling really lucky,” Canup said after the first race. “I can’t thank Dillon Spain enough. Such great cars he provides.”
Aaron Crumper finished second in the first race while Landon Barefoot was third. Michael Bivens was the runner-up finisher in the second race with Barefoot once again finishing third.
The Springtime Showdown also saw the debut of the Vintage Racing League (VRL) Vintage Lites Legends series, with Jason Austin holding off Tony Arnold to score the win in a photofinish.
“I wasn’t looking back at all,” Austin said in victory lane. “I was digging. And then, we had the lapped car, I went to his outside and I saw his nose peeking underneath me and I said ‘wait a minute.’ But we were able to make it to the line before him to get the win.”
2001 track champion and veteran racer Billy Ray Lucas won in the Southern National Vintage Series – his first overall win of the year.
“It’s been an emotional week,” Lucas said. “I’ve been hurt. I fell off the truck last week and they had to carry me off in the ambulance. It is what it is. I wish there were more cars here but a win’s a win and I’m here and that’s all that matters.”
Andrew Watson scored the win in the Any Car feature race over Mike Sliger and James Barbour.
Southern National’s spring season resumes on Saturday, May 2 with the Capital City Dumpsters 130 presented by Airbag Specialist, featuring Chargers, Legends, Any Cars, Southern National Vintage Series, and the Stock Car Classics Exhibition Series.
While racing is not on the schedule for April 25-26, Southern National will be hosting the Mud Girl Run for the second straight season. The Mud Girl Run race challenges strength and agility, while also providing a fun and muddy experience. Among the obstacles are a cargo pyramid, mud mountain, slides, Everest obstacles, ding dongs, and much more. In all, there are over 17 obstacles and four categories. The event promotes high energy, empowerment, unity and lifetime memories.
For more information about upcoming races and events at Southern National Motorsports Park, visit the track’s official website at snmpark.com.
Unofficial Results
KONI Charger – Twin 1 (30 Laps): 1. 16-Rusty Daniels[1]; 2. 51C-Tyler Chapman[3]; 3. 10M-Justin Mitchell[7]; 4. 61-Michael O’Brien[11]; 5. J12-Wesley Johnson[6]; 6. 3-Landon Burbage[4]; 7. 21-Gerald Benton[14]; 8. 71Y-Aiden McConnaughey[12]; 9. 14-Davis Renfrow[2]; 10. 41-Austin Ferrell[18]; 11. 51B-Scotty Benford[15]; 12. 07-Ronald Renfrow Jr[10]; 13. 5-Haley Williamson[5]; 14. 98-JD Eversole[16]; 15. (DNF) 84-Delaney Gray[9]; 16. (DNF) 06-Camryn Rice[17]; 17. (DNF) 71W-Gator Williams[8]; 18. (DNF) 10-Landon Strickland[13]
KONI Charger – Twin 2 (30 Laps): 1. 16-Rusty Daniels[5]; 2. 10M-Justin Mitchell[10]; 3. 51C-Tyler Chapman[4]; 4. 71Y-Aiden McConnaughey[9]; 5. J12-Wesley Johnson[18]; 6. 3-Landon Burbage[3]; 7. 21-Gerald Benton[2]; 8. 84-Delaney Gray[8]; 9. 14-Davis Renfrow[12]; 10. 51B-Scotty Benford[1]; 11. 5-Haley Williamson[17]; 12. (DNF) 41-Austin Ferrell[7]; 13. (DNF) 61-Michael O’Brien[11]; 14. (DNS) 07-Ronald Renfrow Jr; 15. (DNS) 98-JD Eversole; 16. (DNS) 06-Camryn Rice; 17. (DNS) 71W-Gator Williams; 18. (DNS) 10-Landon Strickland
Any Car (15 Laps): 1. 08-Andrew Watson[6]; 2. 45-Mike Sliger[4]; 3. 75-James Barbour[1]; 4. 91-Timothy Medeiros[2]; 5. 99-Gabe Purcella[3]; 6. 07-Jonathan Thompson[5]
Southern National Vintage (30 Laps): 1. 0-Billy Ray Lucas[2]; 2. 11M-Jimmy Hurley[1]; 3. 61-Joe Seeger[3]
Legends – Twin #1 (20 Laps): 1. 7-Levi Canup[1]; 2. 00-Aaron Crumpler[2]; 3. 006-Landon Barefoot[5]; 4. 32-Brady Price[7]; 5. 97-Michael Bivens[3]; 6. 28-Oliver Missner[10]; 7. 18VL-Tony Arnold[6]; 8. 15-Alison Johnson[4]; 9. 46-Paxton Smith[8]; 10. 6-Kallie Stewart[11]; 11. 19-Jacob Gustin[9]
Legends – Twin #2 (20 Laps): 1. 7-Levi Canup[3]; 2. 97-Michael Bivens[2]; 3. 006-Landon Barefoot[1]; 4. 32-Brady Price[8]; 5. 28-Oliver Missner[7]; 6. 00-Aaron Crumpler[4]; 7. 18VL-Tony Arnold[11]; 8. 15-Alison Johnson[6]; 9. 46-Paxton Smith[9]; 10. 6-Kallie Stewart[10]; 11. (DNS) 19-Jacob Gustin
Vintage Lites Feature Race (20 Laps): 1. 4TVL-Jason Austin[2]; 2. 18VL-Tony Arnold[1]; 3. 3VL-Shane Irving[6]; 4. 97VL-Ryland Mason[7]; 5. 52VL-Daniel Dean[3]; 6. 2VL-Greg Farley[4]; 7. (DNF) 54VL-Tom Hutson[5]
