The only thing hotter than the temperature Friday at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida was the performance of Jackson Boone.
With the sweltering heat prompting drivers to rehydrate during cautions, Boone stayed cool under pressure. The Tennessee driver led nearly every lap en route to the third Allen Turner Hyundai Pro Late Model 100 race of 2023 at Five Flags.
It was Boone’s first victory at Pensacola’s high banks since last September. He outlasted a 25-car field and more than a half a dozen cautions to get his fourth PLM victory overall this season.
“I was outta breath those last three laps,” Boone said. “Those were the longest laps of my life. Hats off to my team. I’m so proud.”
Boone started fourth, but it was clearly on a mission at the drop of the green flag. He found clean air on lap 3, passing Augie Grill coming out of turn 2, and withstood a multitude of restarts.
“I can’t tell you how awesome this feels,” Boone said. “It has been a labor of love for us this season. And, it’s been hard on us mentally more than physically. But my guys are resilient.”
Defending PLM track champion Dylan Fetcho took the lead from Boone following a restart at lap 65. However, Boone quickly fought back and reclaimed his advantage four laps later. Fetcho finished third while newcome Carson Brown finished runner-up.
“It seemed like there was not much saving going on the whole race,” Fetcho said. “We have definitely made improvements and made the car better because the car was really good. I wish we would’ve stayed green. We were better on the longer runs, and I think we could’ve got to (Boone).”
Zoom Equipment Pro Trucks
Grant Thompson has his rivals in the palm of his hand.
Whether he starts on the pole or near the tail end, he is once again dominating the Zoom Equipment Pro Trucks division at Five Flags Speedway.
Thompson scored his third victory of the season, assuming the lead on lap 3 and never breaking a sweat in the 20-lap feature.
“We had a good car tonight,” said Thompson, who was the Pro Trucks track champion at Five Flags in 2020. “We’re gonna try to finish off with another championship.”
Treyce Capers was second and Cody McCawley finished third.
“We’re getting closer and closer,” Capers said. “We fix one problem and another one comes up it seems like. We’ll keep working on it, keep massaging it. Grant’s tough to beat, though.”
Lloyd’s Glass Pure Stocks
Robert Barber didn’t let a strange sequence of events interrupt his streak Friday at Five Flags Speedway.
The Alabama driver tallied his fourth consecutive victory, his fifth win in the last six races, capturing the Lloyd’s Glass Pure Stocks 20-lap feature despite a mid-race pit stop to repair a flat tire.
“The right rear went flat, the car went sideways,” Barber explained in victory lane, “and I couldn’t keep it under me.”
It was a remarkable comeback in a race that saw a driver get black-flagged and a Five Flags rookie finish second. Thomas Norman was the recipient of the black flag when he suddenly opted for the outside lane on a restart with seven laps complete just moments after following the inside pack when drivers are required to choose.
Norman’s peculiar moves and two-time winner Mason Johnston’s struggles paved the way for Wayne Burkett and Connor Odom to lead several laps until Barber passed them both en route to the win.
Odom was making his first appearance at Pensacola’s high banks and left with a runner-up result. Burkett came home third.
“This was an absolute blast,” Odom said. “I’ve been on dirt my whole life. To do this on asphalt was absolutely awesome.”
Story & Bleich Crown Stocks
The largest field in the young history of the Story and Bleich Crown Stocks class at Five Flags Speedway yielded its most dramatic result Friday night. And eye-popping field of 25 cars battled in the beginner’s division, which is in its inaugural season at the famed half-mile asphalt oval.
Adam Salter captured his second 15-lap feature victory of the year when the dust settled much to the chagrin of Tyler Young, who was leading on the final lap. Salter, who battled with Young for most of the race, seized on his opportunity with the white flag waving and moved Young for the top spot as the two leaders came out of turn 4.
Young, who finished fifth, took exception and roughed Salter up in the post-race cool down, T-boning Salter on his way to Victory Lane.
“We had the fastest car,” said Salter, who scored his second win of the season. “I thought we were good. He just slammed over me. I used every square inch I could. I thought you were supposed to race for the win on the last lap. I guess if you can’t win, you tear everybody else up. We’ll be in Mobile (tonight) if he wants to do it again.”
Dave Nolen finished runner-up and Hunter Lambert rounded out the podium.
Lapped traffic played a massive part in the feature’s outcome. Salter took the lead from Young on lap 13 only to see Young fight back and reclaim the lead as the pair came out of turn on the white flag lap.
With a host of lapped cars between them and the checkered flag, Young and Salter raced down the back stretch until Salter saw his chance as the pair dove into turn 4.
“It was fun, but definitely a little difficult with all the lapped traffic,” Lambert said. “That’s what happens when all these cars show up.”
For more information on Five Flags Speedway, visit 5FlagsSpeedway.com.
Five Flags Speedway – Pensacola, FL
Race Results – August 25, 2023
Pro Late Models
1. 7B-Jackson Boone
2. 18B-Carson Brown
3. 89-Dylan Fetcho
4. 24-Brent Crews
5. 2-John Bolen
6. 33-Dustin Smith
7. 43-Augie Grill
8. 67-Colin Allman
9. 70-Gavin Graham
10. 91-Jim Wall
11. 12S-Bryson Shaffer
12. 71-Luke Yarbrough
13. 407-Jason Vail
14. 58-John Aramendia
15. 9AC-Anthony Cataldi
16. 77J-Jensen Jorgensen
17. 148-Kenneth Canales
18. 36-Keith Thorpe
19. 51-Corey Rowland
20. 18-Hunter Robbins
21. 4-Elliott Massey
22. 26-Dawson Sutton
23. 25B-Gavan Boschele
24. 12T-Christopher Tullis
25. 116-Zach Johnson
Pro Truck
1. 54-Grant Thompson
2. 01-Treyce Capers
3. 62-Cody McCawley
4. 33-Dustin Smith
5. 12-Brandon Burks
Pure Stock
1. 97-Robert Barber
2. 2-Connor Odom
3. 24-Wayne Burkett
4. 06-Mason Johnston
5. 343-Ben Cranford
6. 14B-Sean Barnes
7. 21N-Thomas Norman
Crown Stock
1. 3-Adam Salter
2. 9-Dave Nolen
3. 97-Hunter Lambert
4. 26-Blaise Boykin
5. 44-Tyler Young
6. 17-Ryan Bleich, Sr.
7. 10L-Daniel Lofton
8. 62T-Doug Thorpe, Jr.
9. 5G-River Garrett
10. 1776S-Brandin Sidner
11. X-Braeden Kitchen
12. 18-Justin Lorinczy
13. 19-Garrison Story
14. 17M-Ryan Maxwell
15. 55G-Payton Guy
16. 59-Nate Hardin
17. 850-Heath Hual
18. 69-Zachary Dickerson
19. 12-Dee Davis
20. 25A-Cameron Adams
21. 47-Blake Merideth
22. 15-Marcus Michles
23. 7-Jeremy Tassin
