COCHRAN, Ga. – Cruz Skinner drove the Skinner’s Body Shop Capital to a clean sweep in the 50-lap finale of the Salute To America Nationals for the Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series at Cochran Motor Speedway.
The 17-year-old driver won the Boyd Bilt Fabrication Fast Time Award and then held off all challengers to lead all 50 laps.
The challenges for the lead came early and often, but Skinner did have a good lead at times. Lapped traffic and a multi-groove racing surface gave several drivers an opportunity to wheel and deal. Paint was swapped, sheet metal traded, and tempers flared.
“These Durrence Layne Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series races are so competitive, they’re hard to win, never uneventful, and tonight was no exception,” Skinner said. “To be successful in this series, you have to be good in qualifying, and you especially have to be good in lapped traffic. When I got in heavy lapped traffic, it kind of scared me because I knew several cars were all around me trying to get the lead.”
Throughout the race, the top five behind the leader was like a revolving door with several drivers making an appearance. When it was all said and done, Joseph Brown finished second after starting 12th.
Pearson Lee Williams hung out in the top five all night, and finished third in the Dublin Tire Special. He was followed by Corey Dunn and Mason Minga.
The finish:
Cruz Skinner, Joseph Brown, Pearson Lee Williams, Corey Dunn, Marcus Minga, Tyler Wood, Ches Chester, Jake Knowles, Tyler Sanders, Travis Pennington, Jimmy Elliott, Oakley Johns, Dylan Knowles, T.J. Brittain, Jake Rainey, Parker Martin, Jordy Nipper, Blake Smith, Joe Baker, Wil Herrington, Donald Johns, Mark Whitener, Jimmy Thomas, Ben Faircloth.