SENOIA, Ga. (June 5) — It didn’t take long for Wil Herrington of Hawkinsville, Ga., to establish himself as the odds-on favorite to claim a $2,500 prize in the 40-lap Newsome Raceway Parts Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series event Saturday night at Senoia Raceway.
He served notice in time trials with a lap clocked at 14.566 seconds to top a 24-car field of entries, and served another reminder on the opening circuit as the field fired away on the drop of the initial green flag at the 3/8-mile oval. Herrington drove away from an early high-side threat posed by fellow front-row starter Jimmy Thomas, and stretched a comfortable lead over the field during subsequent green-flag periods.
He traveled to the checkered flag ahead of Jimmy Thomas, Bubba Pollard, current series points leader Jason Welshan and Colby Darda.
“I knew right away he [Herrington] was really good when he pulled me off the corner on the first lap,” Thomas said. “He’s really stout, and they’ve got their act together. We made a lot of changes to our car here trying to make it better, and I think we’re headed in the right direction. I feel like we’ve got a car to win these races, but he’s pretty tough to beat right now. We just gotta keep working on our stuff, and keep diggin.”
Herrington opened solid leads through the entire distance, leading often by as much as a full straightaway. Three restarts were required for spins and accidents—including one multi-car wreck in turn three that sent Wayne Harbin flipping—but nobody got close to the eventual winner once the green flag reappeared. Harbin wasn’t injured in his violent rollover crash.
“The car was really, really, good,” Herrington said. “I mean really good. It was one of those nights where everything comes together, but I was actually nervous because the groove can move around at this track, and I was worried about getting in a lane I didn’t wanna be using. This place is tricky. When we approached lapped traffic in some situations, I had no choice but to try the outside and go for it, but our whole package with our Crate Late Model car is good right now. We’ve got it figured out, and that gives you confidence.”
Afternoon rain deluged the facility, and a track that is normally slick and racy took a swing towards tackiness, but even those changing and evolving track conditions didn’t knock Herrington’s team off their intended path.
“We’ve had some good runs and always had good speed here, and we won a race here three or four years ago,” Herrington said. “I love this place, and we’re pretty good buddies with Bubba Pollard, and their whole family that’s now runnin’ this place are really great people. It’s a difficult racetrack to figure out where you want to be, because it’ll change so many times during a race. You can be in the wrong place at the wrong time really quick, and that worried me tonight. I feel like we have a good race car, but this sport can knock you down quick.”
Herrington was able to keep his car mostly well ahead of the pack, leaving behind a duel between Thomas and current series points leader Jason Welshan that developed over the race’s earlier stages. Bubba Pollard eased into the fray later in the race, dropping Welshan a spot and engaging Thomas in a side-by-side duel for the runnerup position over the waning circuits.
Herrington, who admitted he didn’t want to see the final caution on the 29th circuit because his car was running so well, maintained a solid advantage for most of the night and finished 4.464 seconds ahead of his closest challenger.
“It was one of those nights where the car feels so good you wanna go green the whole way, but I especially didn’t wanna see the last caution,” Herrington said. “We only had 11 laps to go, and from watching my guys on the signals, I was thinking we had a big enough lead to ride it out. I had found a good rhythm in my driving, and everything was working perfect.”
Due to weather delays and curfew restrictions, no heat races or B-mains were held to set the field, which was determined solely by time trials.
Herrington completed the distance in a Rocket XR1 that carried sponsorship from Harvey Trucking, 5M Construction, New Point Lighting & Design, Y Delta Inc., Last Air & Electrical, Amana, Mosley Ranch Timber, Montgomery Logging, Cuttin’ Up Salon, VP Racing Lubricants and Boswell Oil.
Coming Events
The traveling circuit’s next event will be the inaugural Tomahawk Tussle slated June 10-12 at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C., which will pay $10,000 to the winner and is also included as part of the E-Z-GO $100,000+ Challenge that carries a separate points fund from the regular touring series.
Looking ahead to the Fourth of July weekend, the touring series will present the four-race Salute to America Nationals with events scheduled July 1 at Clarksville (Tenn.) Speedway, July 2 at Moulton Speedway in Danville, Ala., July 3 at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala., and July 4 at Cochran (Ga.) Motor Speedway.
About Crate Racin’ USA
The economical Chevrolet Performance 602 and 604 Circle Track Engine is utilized by competitors in the various divisions presented by Crate Racin’ USA. It’s in stock and available for free, next-day delivery from Newsome Raceway Parts in Hartsville, S.C.
Each engine is built and sealed at the factory to prevent any expensive modifications. To place an order, call 1-877-497-3624.
For more information and rules, visit the organization’s website at www.crateracinusa.com, or follow our extensive social media programs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Newsome Raceway Parts, a division of Raceway Chevrolet in Hartsville, S.C., is the title sponsor of Crate Racin’ USA. E-Z-GO Golf Carts is the title sponsor of the newly-established E-Z-GO $100,000+ Challenge.
Chevrolet Performance is an official sponsor of the organization, along with Advanced Laser & Machine, Cruise with the Champions, Hoosier Racing Tire, KRC Power Steering, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, My Race Pass, VP Racing Fuels and Lubricants and Willy’s Carburetors.
Official chassis sponsors include Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis and CVR Race Cars.
Senoia finish: 1. Wil Herrington, 2. Jimmy Thomas, 3. Bubba Pollard, 4. Jason Welshan, 5. Colby Darda, 6. Jake Knowles, 7. Cruz Skinner, 8. Dustin Elliott, 9. Marty Lunsford, 10. Mike Combs, 11. Colton Leyendecker, 12. Cody Haskins, 13. Tanner Collins, 14. James Gilmore, 15. Tina Johnson, 16. Troy Dixon, 17. Austin Horton, 18. Jody Knowles, 19. Ty Ellis, 20. Jake Traylor, 21. Matthew Wyatt, 22. Randall Powell, 23. Wayne Harbin, 24. Brian Womack.
Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series (current points): 1. Jason Welshan, 450; 2. Jake Knowles, 402; 3. Tanner Collins, 398; 4. Jimmy Thomas, 394; 5. Mike Combs, 334; 6. Troy Dixon, 300; 7. T.J. Brittain, 288; 8. (tie) Jake Rainey and Colton Leyendecker, 270; 10. Austin Horton, 256.
Total entries: 24
Boyd-Bilt Fabrication Fast Qualifier: Wil Herrington, 14.566 seconds
Lap leaders: Wil Herrington, 1-40.
Cautions: 3
Margin of victory: 4.464 seconds