SWAINSBORO, Ga. - Casey Roberts led flag-to-flag for the $5,300 payday at Swainsboro Raceway in Swainsboro, Ga., as he scored his ninth career Southern Nationals Series victory Friday night.
The Toccoa, Ga. driver drove to the victory in a race that finished shortly before 3:00 am after a heavy late afternoon rain shower just before hot laps put the entire show nearly three hours behind.
Fast qualifier and new track record holder Donald McIntosh of Dawsonville, Ga. and Roberts brought the field to green shortly after 2 am, with Roberts taking the early lead.
By lap 18, Roberts had already worked his way into lapped traffic and was passing the slower cars of Ashton Winger and Brandon Carpenter.
Roberts crossed the line for the win nearly a full second ahead of runner-up Dennis Franklin, Ross Bailes, who passed McIntosh for the third spot on the final lap and Ivedent Lloyd in the fifth.
Four cautions slowed the event. The first yellow flag would wave on lap-one as Mark Whitener went over the embankment in turn one. The second came out on the restart as three cars piled up in turn four including Steven Roberts, Mack McCarter and Stacy Boles. The next caution flew on lap 11 when Ashton Winger spun in turn two. The final yellow of the race came on lap 21 as Vic Hill and Brandon Carpenter got hooked together in turn two.
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Southern Nationals Series
Swainsboro Raceway – Swainsboro, GA
Race Results – July 24, 2015
1. Casey Roberts-Toccoa, GA
2. Dennis Franklin-Gaffney, SC
3. Ross Bailes-Clover, SC
4. Donald McIntosh-Dawsonville, GA
5. Ivedent Lloyd Jr.-Ocala, FL
6. Craig Vosbergen-Perth, Western Australia
7. Billy Ogle Jr.-Knoxville, TN
8. Kenny Collins-Colbert, GA
9. Brent Dixon-Elberton, GA
10. Austin Smith-Cedartown, GA
11. Kelly Guy-Thomson, GA
12. Scott Shirey-Gaston, SC
13. Johnny Pursley-Clover, SC
14. Mark Dotson-Cameron, MO
15. Mark Whitener-Middleburg, FL
16. Vic Hill-Mosheim, TN
17. Brandon Carpenter-Grovetown, GA
18. Casey Barrow-Savannah, GA
19. Steven Roberts-Jesup, GA
20. Ashton Winger-Senoia, GA
21. Stacy Boles-Clinton, TN
22. Mack McCarter-Gatlinburg, TN
Time of Race: 46 minutes, 49 seconds
Margin of Victory: 07.315 seconds
Yellow Flags: Four (laps 1, 1RS, 11, 21)
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: Roberts (1-53)
Entries: 29
