Kirkpatrick gets first Southern All Star win at Talladega

EASTABOGA, Ala. - Austin Kirkpatrick beat a large field of dirt Super Late Models to score his first Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series victory in the series season finale at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala. Saturday night.

Kirkpatrick, of Ocala, Fla., started the night off right as he qualified on the pole in qualifying, with William Thomas sitting on the outside pole. In the 40-lap feature, Kirkpatrick moved into the lead at the drop of the green flag off turn two ahead of Thomas, Riley Hickman and Randy Weaver.

Kirkpatrick was in control from the start, as he built a huge lead early. As the race passed the halfway mark, Thomas caught Kirkpatrick, and worked to find a way around him. Meanwhile, behind the leaders, Weaver worked his way around Hickman to take third.

The first caution came out on lap 28 when Dillon Tidmore slowed in turns three and four. This allowed Kirkpatrick to cool his tires down for the final run.

On the restart, Weaver made a strong move to the outside of Thomas to take over the second spot while Jason Hiett moved into the fourth spot ahead of Hickman. Another caution would come out on lap 38 when Bo Shirley spun.

Kirkpatrick roared back to the lead on the restart and controlled the race the rest of the way to score the victory. Weaver finished in second, with Thomas in third and Hiett in fourth.

Riley Hickman, the 2015 Southern All Star Series champion, finished in fifth.

Jake Knowles, Michael Page, T.J. Reaid, Dylan Ames and Cody King rounded out the top ten.

The 2016 season opener for the Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series will be on February 26-27 at the Cochran Motor Speedway in Cochran, GA.

For more information, visit SASDirt.com.

Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series
Talladega Short Track – Eastaboga, AL
Race Results – Oct. 24, 2015

1. Austin Kirkpatrick
2. Randy Weaver
3. William Thomas
4. Jason Hiett
5. Riley Hickman
6. Jake Knowles
7. Michael Page
8. T.J. Reaid
9. Dylan Ames
10. Cody King
11. Ryan Gifford
12. Brad Berry
13. Todd Morrow
14. Kyle Beard
15. Brandon Kinzer
16. Bo Shirley
17. Dillon Tidmore
18. Mark Bangs
19. Tim Roszell
20. Ronnie Johnson
21. Oliver Gentry
22. Terry Smith
23. Brad Skinner
24. Tim Busha

Austin Kirkpatrick scored his first career Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series victory in the series season finale Saturday night at Talladega Short Track.

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