Submitted by Kelley Carlton
Dublin, Georgia – The ULTIMATE Super Late Model Series made its first ever visit to the New 441 Speedway located just outside of Dublin, Georgia on Saturday night for event #10 in the 2012 schedule. ULTIMATE Series point leader Casey Roberts of Toccoa, Georgia shattered the existing track record in qualifying and then proceeded to decimate the talent-laden field in a flag to flag victory at the 3/8ths mile facility. The dominating win was Roberts' first of 2012 and his second career victory with the second-year series. “It’s pretty cool to win our first ever coming here. It’s a real nice facility and it’s fairly close to my car owner Mr. Cushman’s business down here and we have a lot of people here so it’s good to win for my car owner. I really like the racetrack and I look forward to coming back down here sometime. It’s been a tough year so far and hopefully this will get the ball rolling for us on this new Capital Race Car. Hope we can pick up some more victories.” Roberts said in ULTIMATE Victory Lane.
Roberts’ lap of 13.620 seconds obliterated the former track record of 14.240 seconds. Rural Retreat, Virginia’s Daniel Baggerly, Ivedent Lloyd of Ocala, Florida and Swainsboro, Georgia racer Chesley Dixon followed Roberts in VP Race Fuels Race for the Pole Qualifying. The top four were locked-in to the feature with all other drivers going to the FK Rod Ends B-Main. Jordy Nipper of Gray, Georgia outlasted Johnson’s Corner, Georgia’s Phil Pittman in the 10-lap FK Rod Ends B-Main to secure the 5th starting spot for the feature.
At the drop of the green flag Roberts launched his #101 Capital Race Cars machine into the lead with Baggerly and Dixon trailing close behind. Just 3 laps into the feature Roberts had opened up a 6-car length advantage over the drivers battling for second. The only yellow flag of the evening appeared when Ivedent Lloyd's #21 suddenly slammed into the turn 4 wall when his throttle hung wide open on lap 4. Lloyd’s machine went nearly head-on into the wall and flipped over onto its roof. The Ocala, Florida driver was able to walk away not seriously injured but his racecar was destroyed.
Once the green flag reappeared Roberts reassumed command. However Roberts found himself facing a new foe as Chesley Dixon moved past Baggerly for 2nd. Roberts was able to turn back those early challenges from Dixon and then proceeded to drive away. Roberts lapped all but 4 cars by the time the checkered flag flew at 10:38 PM. “This win just means so much to me and my race team. We have just struggled since the beginning of the year trying to get our cars better and get going. Its been a long uphill climb but we are getting there. I need to thank Jimmy, Anne and Edward Cushman and all the guys that stick by us and get this car ready to race. I can’t thank the good Lord enough for putting me with such good people.” Roberts added.
Roberts Capital Race Car is powered by a Randy Clary Race Engine and is sponsored by Cushman Paint and Body, Starrette Trucking, M&S Concrete, Simpson, Schaeffer Oil, GW Performance and VP Race Fuels. The next event for the ULTIMATE Super Late Model Series is a $4000 to win June 30th date at the 311 Speedway in Pine Hall, North Carolina.
Official Finish
1 - 101 Casey Roberts - Toccoa, GA
2 - 3 Chesley Dixon - Swainsboro, GA
3 - 1N Jordy Nipper - Gray, GA
4 - 3 Phil Pittman - Johnson Corner, GA
5 - 76 Brandon Overton - Evans, GA
6 - 98 Casey Barrow - Savannah, GA
7 - T31 Shane Tankersley - Blue Ridge, GA
8 - 27 Keith Edge - Eastman, GA
9 - 16 Daniel Baggerly - Rural Retreat, VA
10 - 40 Ron Thomas - Claxton, GA
11 - 27 Eric Baggett - Dublin, GA
12 - 18m Jeff Smith - Dallas, NC
13 - 21 Ivedent Lloyd - Ocala, FL
14 - 121 Benji Cole - Cannon, GA
