Shad Stevens would lead flag to flag in the IMCA Southern SportMod main, but it wouldn t be an easy win. Stevens got out front going into turn 1, while Robert Williams and Brandon Stewart battled side by side for second. PJ Egbert got by Kenny Ware on lap 1 for fourth then got loose in turn in turn 3 backing up the field. Two-time defending IMCA Southern SportMod champ, Keith White got around Kevin Green and Ware to take fifth on lap 2.
White then tried a slide job on Egbert going into turn 1 that came up a little short with the two making contact and White falling to eighth. By lap 5 Stevens had built a big lead over Williams, Stewart, Egbert and K. Green. White then began moving back up, getting a good battle with Ware for sixth. Yellow waved on lap 8 when TJ Green got into Ware sending him around in turns 3-4. Under Yellow Stewart pulled off from the third spot..
On the restart, Egbert got past Williams for second as Stevens held the point. White then got by Williams for third and was back on Egbert s bumper. White again tried the slide job on Egbert, but backed off when contact was eminent. Williams slipped up on lap 11 with K. Green getting the fourth spot. In the final laps Egbert closed in on Stevens and twice got a run on him trying to dive low out of turn 4. Stevens held steady and was able fend off the challenges to take the checkers in the Anderson Auto Salvage, Cen-Tex Motorsports, All Sports Trophy, Vinyl & Graphics by White, Bobs Paint and Body, Smileys Chassis, powered by a motor built by his father. “It went pretty good, ” said Stevens. “We ve had DNF s all year long and we finally finished a race. We just happened to be in front. We ve done some work on the car trying to get it turn and work good. BJ Dulock at Cen-Tex Motorsports has given me a lot of help. ” “There s really only one game I ve got and that s just what I bring to the track”added Stevens about having to step up with drivers like PJ Egbert and Keith White in his class. “I don t have the pocketbook some of the guys have and just do the best I can. ”
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