Predictions that the South Boston Speedway’s all-time record would fall into the hands of competitors in the Must See Racing Series’ 410 open-wing sprint cars came true Friday night on opening night of the Sentara Healthcare American Sprint Car Weekend as Charlie Schultz of Lorain, Ohio clocked a qualifying lap of 12.051 seconds and 119.492 miles per hour, breaking the old record by nearly 16 miles per hour.
Bobby Santos of Franklin, Massachusetts followed Schultz’ record race by winning the 30-lap race in the Must See Racing Series, taking a 4.651-second victory over Schultz in the series-opening race.
Santos inherited the lead on lap 14 when race leader Troy DeCaire was forced out with a mechanical problem after leading the first 13 laps.
A mid-race caution period set up a 15-lap dash to the finish. Santos took a big leap on the restart and pulled away from his opponents to take the win.
“We had a great car,” Santos remarked. “I just had clean air then. I just had a great car and clean air. It makes a huge difference in those cars.
Santos said South Boston Speedway “was awesome. The track was great. It was fun to run. It was great.”
Jacob Dolinar of Sylvania, Ohio finished third with Joe Liguori of Indianapolis, Indiana and Joshua Sexton of Elyria, Ohio rounding out the top five.
Limited sportsman
Kyle Barnes holds the hot hand in the Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division at South Boston Speedway.
The Draper resident picked up his second victory in three starts on Friday night, taking a 3.9-second victory over Chris Donnelly of Montross in the 65-lap race for the Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division.
There were three lead changes among three different drivers in the highly competitive race, with Barnes taking the lead from pole winner Chuck Lawson of Providence, North Carolina, on lap 33 and controlling the race without warning the rest of the way.
“I really didn’t know what I was going to get,” Barnes remarked. “I was going to be tickled with a top-five finish. I had a long range rocket.
Long Island’s Barnes, Lawson and Daniel Crews battled hard in the first half of the race before Barnes could pass Lawson for the lead. With others behind him fighting for position, Barnes gradually distanced himself from his challengers.
“It was really tough,” Barnes remarked of the early race battle. “All of these guys here are class acts. I feel comfortable and confident with these guys here that we can race like this. At the end of the day, we put on a big show for the fans.
Hurt’s Jason Myers finished third with Lawson taking fourth and newcomer Parker Brookfield rounding out the top five.
Pure stock
Long Island’s Nathan Crews proved Friday night that he hasn’t lost his touch.
Crews, who won the division title last season with 11 wins in 13 starts, made his first start of the season in the division on Friday night and picked up where he left off with a victory.
The defending division champion edged out Scott Phillips of Halifax by 1.885 seconds to claim victory in the 25-lap race without warning.
South Boston’s BJ Reaves, Halifax’s Bruce Mayo and Halifax’s Johnny Layne rounded out the top five.
Hornets
Nathalie’s Jared Dawson started on pole and led the entire distance in winning Friday night’s 20-lap Hornets Division race at South Boston Speedway.
Dawson, who had two wins and eight top-five finishes in 10 starts in the division last season, made his second start of the season in the division at Friday night’s event. He edged second Nathalie’s Dillon Davis by 1.732 seconds to take the win.
Jason DeCarlo of Chase City was third, Steven Layne of Nathalie was fourth and former division champion Kevin Currin of Chase City was fifth.
Dwarfs
Neal Allison won the USAC Eastern Midgets 30-lap race on Friday night, leading to a 6.289-second win over runner-up Brady Allum.
Allison took the lead from Allum on the second lap and was never seriously challenged.
Joe Liguori, Logan Sulley and Avery Stoehr round out the top five.
Chandler is the public relations manager for South Boston Speedway.
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