PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — Davey Hamilton Jr. captured Saturday night’s 40-lap BG Products Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series victory at 417 Southern Speedway.
Polesitter Steven Hollinger led the opening 22 circuits and it appeared he could be a contender for his first series win after building a sizeable lead. At one point he had nearly half lap lead on the field. A lap-22 caution changed the complexion of the race.
The double-file restart would see Davey Hamilton Jr. line up beside race leader Hollinger. When the green flag waved, Hamilton momentary took the lead going exiting turn two, but Hollinger would not go away quietly. Hollinger would hold the lead as the duo crossed the stripe to complete lap 23.
Hamilton would take the lead for good one lap later and build a sizeable lead the rest of the way to win in dominating fashion.
Hamilton’s margin of victory over Hollinger was 7.013 seconds.
Following second place Hollinger were Daniel Miller, Colton Bettis and fifth-place finisher Bruce Brantley.
With Hamilton’s win, his current series streak now stands at four-in-a-row.
It was announced on Thursday that current 417 Speedway leaseholder Joe Gentry’s lease will not be renewed at the conclusion of the season. The new leaseholder has plans to turn the facility into an entertainment venue and the speedway will soon be demolished.
The final sprint cat race in the storied history of the track will take place when the BG Products Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series returns Dec. 3 for its season finale.