Hot… Just a bit on the warm side… A lot on the warm side…
Track conditions… The race time temperature was definitely cooler without the sun blazing. Some cloud cover gave relief now and again but practices and qualifying at South Boston Speedway presented a different drive than under the lights for the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200.
Was it a factor for racing…? Maybe. Maybe not. We know that tires on tracks of changing temperatures perform differently. The grip and handling change. The acceleration and the braking change.
Kaden Honeycutt was shown leading practice. Kyle Dudley trimmed the clock in qualifying. Racing in this first race of the 2024 Virginia Late Model Triple Crown was shaping up for a show. Veterans, Series Champions, Rookies, Regulars… They were all there to run this one with a full crowd set practically all the way around for the Sentara Late Model feature.
(The “Virginia Triple Crown” is a combination of three late model races run at South Boston, Langley Speedway and Martinsville Speedway. The combined finishes of the TRHD 200 at SoBo, the “Hampton Heat” at Langley and the “ValleyStar Credit Union 300” at Martinsville set cash prizes and prestige for the late model competition.)
Dudley won the pole spot but could not hold the charge from behind the #4. A side by side start ran close as Honeycutt edged Dudley to the 2nd slot. The early laps kept Dudley in that spot even with hot challenges from some restarts. The race behind the front two was also running hot with Peyton Sellers, Carter Langley, Brenden Queen and Mike Looney chasing spots forward.
The half way stop for fuel and adjustments still had Honeycutt up front but Trevor Ward had worked past Dudley. The top 5 contained Dudley, Looney and Sellers. The restart pushed the field but the real challenge was pushing closer to the front.
Connor Hall had been making moves all night after starting 23rd. The 2023 National Champion (NAAPWS) passed by everyone but Ward kept him back. With 17 to go, Hall made it by and ran on to the checkers. Trevor Ward, Kaden Honeycutt, Peyton Sellers and Kade Brown rounded the top 5. Pole sitter Kyle Dudley was just off in 7th behind Carter Langley. Brenden Queen, Deac McCaskill and Blake Stallings filled the top 10.
The race card also showcased the Budweiser Limited Sportsman. Southside Disposal Pure Stock and Virginia State Police HEAT Hornets.
Nathan Crews started near the back in the Sportsman race but was up front by the 11th lap. He kept that lead for his third win in a row. Eric Winslow held the second slot. Zach Peregoy finished third as Drew Dawson and Jason Pittman filled out the top five.
The Pure Stock race notched another win for Johnny Layne. It’s his forth victory of the season at SoBo. B.J. Reaves drove through in the second slot with Zach in for third. Dillon Davis and Kendall Milam filled the top five.
Cameron Goble dominated from the pole in the Hornets, keeping the lead and taking his forth season win. The official results (My Race Pass) have Landon Milam and Jordaine Penick in at second and third. On race night, Steven Layne was actually in the second spot but was pushed to the back post race.
Photos from the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 / South Boston Speedway