COCHRAN, Ga. (July 4) — Pearson Lee Williams has a lengthy family pedigree when it comes to racing in his home region, and the Dublin, Ga., driver pleased a partisan crowd with his second-career victory on the Newsome Raceway Parts-sponsored Crate Racin’ USA Dirt Late Model Series circuit in a 50-lap event that concluded a scheduled four-race holiday trek across the region for the Eastaboga, Ala-based touring circuit.
Williams staged an exuberant display in victory lane, whipping around the checkered flag from the top of his car while waving, gesturing and screaming excitedly toward a crowd that seemed to enjoy the results of his flag-to-flag performance. The race paid $2,500 to the winner, and served as the finale to the Salute to America Nationals.
Williams joined Christian Hanger and Jimmy Thomas on the list of drivers to score victories during the weekend that was scheduled to take competitors to four different tracks. Three of the races were completed, while the weekend opener slated July 1 at Clarksville (Tenn.) Speedway was rained out. Hanger claimed his win July 2 at Moulton Speedway in Danville, Ala., and Thomas scored his victory July 3 at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala.
Family Ties
The Williams name carries much racing weight in the region. Pearson’s grandfather John Lee Williams raced for many years in the area, and is credited with being the driver who won the very first event in the history of the current track in Dublin, Ga., which is now known as Patriot’s Park Raceway.
He was successful for a long time in a familiar No 1, and was followed into the sport by his son Frank Williams, who drove No. 21 and is Pearson Lee’s father. Combine the numbers used by the two drivers, and that’s where Pearson Lee Williams came up with his own No. 121. Roots can run deep at times in the motorsports world.
“I’ve been at the local racetracks around here probably since I was an infant,” Williams said. “Been around the sport my whole life, and to win one here is a really big deal for our team. That’s why I was so excited in the winner’s circle. It’s always special to win races with this group, but especially here at one of our home tracks. This is our own family-owned car, but Ricky, Robin and Morgan Wynn of Wynn Motorsports are a big part of what we accomplish as a team, and when we’re not racing this Crate Late Model car, I’m usually driving their Super Late Model at various events.”
Heading to Victory
Williams started from the pole position in a 17-car field, while outside front-row starter Logan Palmer logged the quickest lap during the Boyd-Bilt Fabrication qualifying session, turning the 3/8-mile oval in 15.500 seconds. Williams got the jump on his fellow competitor to lead the opening circuits en route to victory lane over seventh-place starter Jordy Nipper, while Garrett Smith took third over 12th-place starter Jake Knowles and Corey Dunn. Palmer slipped to a sixth-place showing.
“It’s only my second win with the Crate Racin’ USA organization, and the last one also happened here in Feb., 2016, when NeSmith Chevrolet was the series sponsor,” Williams said. “Both of ‘em have been here, and that means a lot to me. Our car felt really good in the middle groove during the early stages, so that’s where I tried to run. I knew tire management is usually a really big key here, so I ran higher and tried to get the right-rear tire to fire for us. When it did and the track started to take a little rubber on the bottom, I moved down there to protect our lead. You have to be careful, though. Racing in that rubber you can really butcher a tire, so you have to go easy and find a balance that allows you to save your tires but still maintain the advantage.”
Nipper steadily moved from the outside of the third row to second, and sat poised and waiting for the leader to make a mistake. None came, and the Gray, Ga., driver settled for a runnerup finish.
“I could float the car around the top a little bit in turns one and two and halfway maintain what we needed, but I knew my best chance to pass him would probably have to come in lapped traffic,” Nipper said. “I figured it’d be tough to pass in that rubber, and especially when you’re having to rely on it. That’s what I was having to do in three and four, rather than floating the car out there like I could in turns one and two.”
A Successful Car Keeps Rolling
Williams completed the event in a Rocket XR1 that carried sponsorship from Keyton Logging, Wynn Land Development, Base Fuels, GSP Performance, Terminal Maintenance and Construction, Williams Body Shop, Simpson Race Products, Modern Images, Heartland EMS, Penske Shocks and Willy’s Carburetors.
The car was acquired after Williams’ previous deal with Joey Coulter’s Rum Runner Racing team reached a stopping point, and Williams made a decision to return to his own team. An admitted long-time admirer of Rocket Chassis co-owner Mark Richards, Williams ended up in one of the chassis builder’s cars with a little assistance from his friend and fellow racer Chris Madden.
“We had moved back home to do our own deal again, and Chris [Madden] knew Richards pretty well, and was able to arrange for me to acquire a car from them,” Williams said. “It’s a been a really awesome car for us. This is the sixth race on it, and we’ve actually won three of ‘em. We hot-lapped second quick tonight, but the car didn’t feel all that great in qualifying. Then we had another hot-lap session in the middle of the program, and we went wrong on making adjustments. So we came back into the pits to get ready for the feature, and kinda went out on a limb with more changes, and those changes absolutely lit this car on fire. Lap one of the feature…that was my test session.”
Hitting the handling requirements on the head, Williams’ team was never seriousy challenged during the event, although Nipper’s presence kept him honest.
“Everything gelled for us the way we’d hoped,” Williams said. “We had no issues, and I guess some nights just go that way.. Once we made those changes after qualifying, everything worked in our favor.”
Next Event
The touring series will take a three-weekend break after a busy Fourth of July period, and its next event will be July 30-31 at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Summertown, Tenn., where the annual King of the Hill event will pay $10,000 to the winner.
The event will be the ninth of the season for the series, and will also be part of the E-Z-GO $100,000+ Challenge, which is a series of 10 events each paying at least $10,000 to the winner. A separate points fund from the regular touring series is kept, and the championship will award $5,000 to the overall titlist.
Mark Whitener is the current leader in the E-Z-GO points standings with a slim 12-point edge [278-266] over Jason Welshan in the chase for the championship, while Cody Overton [226], Jake Knowles [212] fill out the top four. Pearson Lee Williams and Trynt Lloyd are tied for fifth place with 206 points each.
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.
Cochran/Salute to America finish: 1. Pearson Lee Williams, 2. Jordy Nipper, 3. Garrett Smith, 4. Jake Knowles, 5. Corey Dunn, 6. Logan Palmer, 7. Mike Combs, 8. Jason Welshan, 9. Jimmy Thomas, 10. Lucas Ruark, 11. Tanner Collins, 12. Tim Clark, 13. Troy Dixon, 14. Jimmy Elliott, 15. Chris McKeehan, 16. Ty Ellis, 17. Tom Egner.
Current points standings: 1. Jason Welshan, 678 points; 2. Jimmy Thomas, 664; 3. Jake Knowles, 662; 4. Tanner Collins, 648; 5. Mike Combs, 560; 6. Troy Dixon, 508; 7. Colton Leyendecker, 450; 8. T.J. Brittain, 384; 9. Jake Rainey, 270; 10. Austin Horton and Christian Hanger, 256. 12. Wil Herrington, 230; 13. Heath Carr, 224; 14. Jimmy Elliott, 220; 15. Ty Ellis, 204; 16. Jake Traylor, 194; 17. Mark Whitener, 190; 18. Sterling Freeman, 178; 19. Cody Martin and Brian Womack, 174.
Total entries: 17
Boyd-Bilt Fabrication Fast Qualifier: Palmer, 15.500 seconds
Lap leaders: Pearson Lee Williams 1-50.
Cautions: 4
Margin of victory: 0.960 seconds