Goodwin recovers from accident to cash in at Southern

 Sean Goodwin almost make a $1,000 mistake Saturday night at Southern Raceway, but by the time the 25 lap Street Stock feature was over Goodwin had money in the bank.

Goodwin, who started the feature from the third spot, was involved in a lap three accident with front runners Stuart Wilson, David Windham, J.C. Wilson, and Kevin Mitchell.

When the dust cleared all of the drivers went to the back of the 15 car field while Bo Slay, who avoided the melee ahead of him, restarted the feature as the leader.

By lap 12 Goodwin had not only moved his way through the field as the cautions continued to slow his momentum, but he managed to pass Slay for the lead he would never relinquish.

Goodwin would not be stopped as he saw his huge advantage disappear thanks to five different cautions as the last one flew on lap 23.

Nothing was going to stop Goodwin while many of the early challengers fell prey to issues during the race.

After Goodwin crossed the finish line, Kevin Mitchell finished second followed by Bo Bailey, Frank Wilson, and Jim Jarvis.

Carl Dodson tried hard to get his second win of the season in the pure stock division, but he could not hold off the car of Josh Benton.

Dodson and Benton battled back and forth throughout the 20 lap feature with Dodson taking the caution on lap 19 of the 20 lap feature when Jesse James spun in turns one and two.

Unfortunately for Dodson, Benton was right behind him followed by Bubba Fletcher, Mike Emmons, and Justin Adams.

At the restart the field took the green and white flag knowing the next time by they would see the checkered flag.

Dodson’s car slipped up the track in one and two opening the door for Benton as both drivers battled for the win.

Benton took the checkered flag ahead of Dodson thanks to a strong run off of turn four while Bubba Fletcher and Mike Emmons came across the line for third and fourth virtually locked together followed by Justin Adams in fifth.

Before the top six cars could compete in a six-pack shootout track officials had to separate the cars of Emmons and Fletcher after they came to a stop in turn one.

Benton was looking to add to his payday as he drew the pole for the six pack shootout, but it appeared he used up his car in the feature.

When the six laps were complete Emmons took the checkered flag followed by Fletcher, James, Dodson, Adams, and Benton.

In the vintage series it was the Chris Bayhi show Saturday night as he led all 20 laps and crossed the finish line almost a half a lap ahead of his nearest competitor

The race ended up for second, third and fourth.

At the finish it was Blake Martin for second followed by John Cody, Aleck Alford and Brandon Kilpatrick to round out the top five.

In the open wheel modified division Tyler Allen completed the sweep and in the process stopped Ryan Fowler from starting a second winning streak.

Allen won the feature and his heat race ahead of Fowler by comfortable margins.

Rounding out the top five were Eli Williams, Sean Hickerson, and Dale Peaden.

Racing will return to Southern Raceway on May 21 when the “South’s Finest Dirt Track” honors the military on Military Appreciation Night.

On this night all active and retired military personnel will be admitted free with a valid military i.d.

Also besides racing in the regular classes, the Southern Outlaw Sprints will be joining the action as they will be turning lap of 13 to 14 seconds in their winged machines on the three-eighths mile dirt oval.

Heat Races

Street Stock Heat 1 – 1. Stuart Wilson, 2. Bo Slay, 3. J.C. Wilson, 4. Matthew Holcomb, and 5. Justin Abel.

Street Stock Heat 2 – 1. David Windham, 2. Bo Bailey, 3. Kevin Mitchell, and 4. Jim Jarvis.​

Street Stock Heat 3 – 1. Sean Goodwin, 2. William Arnett, 3. Tim Wetzel, 4. Frank Wilson, and 5. Alan Flanagan.

Pure Stock Heat 1 – 1. Carl Dodson, 2. Christopher Brown, 3. Jessica Donaldson, 4. Jason Dollar, and 5. Keith Sellers.

Pure Stock Heat 2 – 1. Josh Benton, 2. Jesse James, 3. Mike Emmons, 4. Justin Adams, and 5. Jake Moore.

Pure Stock Heat 3 – 1. Bubba Fletcher, 2. Christopher Gibson, and 3. Keith Bonga.

Vintage Heat 1 – 1. Chris Bayhi, 2. John Cody, 3. Blake Martin, and 4. Danny Donaldson.

Vintage Heat 2 – 1. Brandon Kilpatrick, 2. Andrew Locklear, and 3. Aleck Alford.

Open Wheel Modified – 1. Tyler Allen, 2. Ryan Fowler, 3. Eli Williams, 4. Sean Hickerson, and 5. Dale Peaden.