9/18/2019
“Big Sexy” Brandon Overton Claims Big Payday at FASTRAK World Championship; Nick Hoffman Scores Dirt Cup Challenge Victory
JAMAICA, VA - More than 100 drivers showed up at Virginia Motor Speedway to compete for the richest prize in Dirt Pro Late Model racing, the 2019 FASTRAK World Championship presented by James River Equipment. At night’s end, Brandon Overton returned to victory lane at the Jamaica, Virginia half-mile, claiming the $50,000 prize.
Overton, a winner earlier this year at Virginia in the ULTIMATE Super Late Model Series USA 100, arrived in a one-off appearance driving Grant Pearl’s Pro Late Model. Overton showed dominant pace all weekend, finishing first and second in a pair of heat races to earn a front-row feature starting spot. Overton quickly took the lead from pole-sitter Logan Roberson, holding off Ross Bailes throughout the night to pick up one of the biggest wins of his career.
While “Big Sexy” has won a $50,000 race before, he was ecstatic to be able to do so in a Pro Late Model race, returning to his roots in a monumental event for the FASTRAK Racing Series. “I’ve won $50,000 before at the Hillbilly, but this is awesome for Stan and everybody at FASTRAK and everybody at Virginia Motor Speedway,” said Overton in victory lane. “To put $50,000 up for a Crate race, everybody thinks it’s easy to come out here and jump these guys, but it ain’t. I’m just one of the ones fortunate enough to have people support me to go Super racing. This is where I came from, so if Stan’s going to put this race on, I’m going to support it.”
Overton held off Bailes on several restarts throughout the 75-lap feature and tipped his cap to the fellow Super Late Model standout for a clean, hard-fought race. “I appreciate him racing me clean on those restarts,” said Overton. “Hats off to them guys. This is awesome. I’m starting to like Virginia Motor Speedway, that’s for sure.”
Bailes finished second in the event, content with his car and impressed with Overton’s performance. “I’d like to be holding that check,” said Bailes. “Second is not a bad payout. We had a pretty good car; I think we were as good as [Overton]. I tried to get him on the restarts. Once he had me cleared, I was kind of trying to save my tires, but he had a lot more left than I did so maybe I was going too hard.”
Trent Ivey rounded out the podium, finishing third after starting ninth and battling traffic throughout the race. “A couple of driver errors early put me behind the eight-ball, I really had to battle for my position,” explained Ivey. “That cost me at the end. I had to use my tires up. I felt I was about as good as them, but third place, I can’t complain.”
Justin Williams finished fourth, while 2018 FASTRAK World Champion Logan Roberson rounded out the top five. In the $6000 to win Dirt Cup Challenge UMP Modified 40 lap feature, Nick Hoffman took the lead on lap 22 from Christian Thomas as the two exited turn 4. Once out front Hoffman was able to pull away to capture the win and possibly clinch the UMP Modified National Championship in the process.
“Christian is one of my customers, and he ran a really good race out there. Once David (Stremme) got in front of me I knew I kinda chose the wrong line on there on that restart after the first time, but I just let them guys go. I knew it was going to be little abrasive on tires and I just watched them guys hustle their stuff way too hard at the beginning there and I just kinda cruised you know. Man the second half of the race I kinda had to go, man I could go anywhere. This thing (car) would go anywhere,” commented Hoffman in WhosYourDriver.org victory lane.
Chris Arnold and Christian Thomas led the field to green with Thomas taking the lead with Nick Hoffman in tow. On lap 4 Arnold slowed as the field headed into turn one with David Stremme just narrowly missing Arnold as he limped his car to the infield. The races first caution would come out on lap 6 for a stopped car in turn 4. On the restart Stremme dove under Hoffman in turn 1, taking over second. Thomas paced the field as they raced two and three wide behind him.
On lap 19 Hoffman would finally find his way around Stremme for second. Hoffman then set out to reel in Thomas. On lap 20 Hoffman began looking for a way around Thomas. That chance came on lap 22 as Hoffman drove under Thomas in turn 4 to take the lead at the line. Once Hoffman cleared Thomas for the lead, he began to stretch out his advantage over the field. A couple of cautions gave Stremme a chance to get by Hoffman on the restart, but Hoffman was up for the challenge. Hoffman would go on to take the $6000 Dirt cup Challenge win and potentially the UMP Modified National Championship in the process.
“We may be really close to it (UMP Modified National Point Championship), we’ve got three more weeks, and one of my customers is in second, and he is running a max point show tonight in Missouri. It’s going to come down to him or me,“ commented Hoffman when asked about clinching the national championship. David Stremme, Taylor Cook, Christian Thomas, and Daniel Parker rounded out the top five.
The 2019 Dirt Series Championship weekly racing season at Virginia Motor Speedway has concluded. The next event will be the 16th annual Run-A-Muck Mud Bog and Mud Sling over at The Pit at Virginia Motor Speedway on Saturday October 5th. Eleven divisions will compete at the state-of-art mud bog facility. Steve Sims in Stone Chrusher will be on hand for a bone-crushing monster truck freestyle show. For more information visit www.thepitatvms.com.
Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway is a ½ mile dirt oval track located on U.S. Route 17, eight miles north of Saluda, VA and 25 miles south of Tappahannock, VA in Jamaica, VA. The speedway is just a short drive from Richmond, Fredericksburg, Southern Maryland and the Hampton Roads area.
Race fans can go to www.vamotorspeedway.com to view the complete schedule Virginia Motor Speedway’s 2019 season, find detailed event information, get the latest news, and get complete ticket and camping information. Also, fans can get social with Virginia Motor Speedway by following @vamotorspeedway on Twitter, clicking "Like" at www.facebook.com/VaMotorSpeedway and on www.youtube.com/VaMotorSpeedway.
Article Credit: Dave Seay