Casey Roderick added another piece of hardware to his already crowded trophy case Friday night at 5 Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida.
Driving for Georgia Racing Hall of Fame inductee Ronnie Sanders, the Lawrenceville, Georgia driver recorded his fourth victory in three months with the Pro Late Model win at the paved half mile.
“That was unbelievable,” said Roderick, who led all but 13 laps Friday night. “By far, that’s the best car I’ve had here in the Pro division here in Pensacola. We struggled with our Pro car last year to keep the car going on the long runs. Since the start of year, it’s been unreal. I’m just glad I get to drive this No. 18.”
Roderick’s biggest sweat of the night came just past the halfway point of the 100 lapper. He had led every lap until Texan driver Chris Davidson chased down Roderick on lap 58 and successfully made the pass.
Roderick tried to pass him back immediately, but to no avail. Davidson quickly built a sizeable lead.
“He was better at that time,” admitted Roderick. “That’s why races are the way they are. You’ve gotta play it out and not panic.”
After being out in clean air for a baker’s dozen laps, Davidson stumbled upon a nest of lapped cars. That created an opportunity for Roderick.
The No. 18 quickly made up ground on the No. 14 and Roderick surprised Davidson with how effortlessly and rapidly he closed the gap between the two leaders.
With 29 laps remaining, Davidson and Roderick were now battling side-by-side. But not for long, as Roderick smoothly slid by Davidson on the inside to reclaim a lead he never relinquished again. In fact, Roderick built his biggest lead of the night in the final 25 laps.
“We worked real hard,” Davidson said. “We thought we had him, and it turns out we didn’t.”
Ryan Paul, Justin South and Wayne Niedecken Jr. rounded out the top-five.
The much-anticipated rematch of Roderick and Jeff Choquette never materialized, as the Jett Concrete No. 9 had tire issues. The pair waged a summer-long battle in 2016 with Choquette getting the better of Roderick to the tune of five straight wins.
After Roderick caught Davidson napping, the only suspense left came with 10 left when lapped traffic once again became an issue.
A handful of cars nearly wrecked directly in front of Roderick going into turn 3. Instead, the 24-year-old calmly wove his way through the nest of stragglers and returned to clean air.
“It worked out in our favor,” Roderick said.
Pro Trucks
Colt James sounded dumbfounded and confused.
For 22 of the 30-lap Beef “O” Brady’s Pro Trucks feature, James had little to contend with Steve Stagner, following the pink-and-black No. 38 like he was Stagner’s shadow.
So when the feature’s lone caution flew with eight laps to go, James and the rest of 18-car field knew they had to seize their opportunity.
Stagner dominated the entire feature, but the late caution cost him the win. Two laps after the restart, James took the lead from Stagner coming out of turn 2.
“I don’t know how we won,” said James, who won the opening Pro Trucks feature last month. “We definitely did not have the winning truck tonight. On that restart, we were just like a bulldog and someone was waving a steak in front of my face.”
Jason Welch and Andrew Johnson rounded out the top three.
Sportsmen
With just a six-car field, it was hard to imagine a climatic finish.
But that’s just what Mark Barnhill and Brannon Fowler fans in The Dock on Pensacola Beach Sportsmen 25-lap feature.
Barnhill led wire-to-wire to score his first win of the season at Pensacola. Fowler finished second with Steve Buttrick in third.
“I knew Brannon was coming,” said Barnhill, who finished second at the March 5 season opener. “I saw him coming with about five or six laps to go.
“I thought I was in trouble. At the start, it was a cake. But at the end, it really was a workout.”
Barnhill took the lead on the opening lap, zooming past Jim Pokrant in turn 2. He built a nearly two-second lead as Fowler and Buttrick fought over second place for a number of laps.
After finally clearing Buttrick on lap 10, Fowler set his eyes on Barnhill. By Lap 16, Barnhill had a mirror-full of Fowler.
The two made contact several times, but the race remained clean as Fowler saw no reason to force the issue.
“It was a great run,” said Fowler. “Congratulations to Mark. They’re competitive and always run strong.
“I certainly felt like we had the best car, but I wasn’t gonna (wreck) him to get a win. I’m very happy with the results of the car so far this season.”
Pure Stocks
The finish made up for the start.
The Lloyd’s Glass Pure Stocks 20-lap feature had a tough time finding its tempo, as the caution flag flew four separate times in the opening eight laps. Six total yellows plagued the race’s rhythm.
When the white flag waved, though, that’s when things got interesting. Johnathan Day and Robert Loper traded paint around the famed half-mile asphalt oval on the final lap until Loper went for a spin in turn 3.
Day checked up and maneuvered around Loper to score his second victory in as many starts this season.
“I’m just disappointed,” a frustrated Day said. “I don’t like things to end this way. Two weeks in a row put on good show.
“It is what it is. I’ve got a torn-up racecar and I’m sure (Loper) does too.”
The action didn’t stop once Day hoisted the checkered flag, though. Loper took exception with Day’s aggressive racing and him before Day reached victory lane.
Loper sprinted toward Day and a mass of bodies went tumbling to the ground before local deputies separated the two camps.
In full disclosure, Day was just getting payback on Loper, who spun Day on the second lap of the night. Day came to the pits after the incident, removed the hood off his gray No. 11 and patiently made his way back toward the front.
Robert Balkum finished second, while Tommie Blocker came home third.
“We just didn’t have the fastest car,” Balkum summed up his night succinctly.
