MILTON — Saturday was a record-breaking night at Southern Raceway in more ways than one.
Over 100 cars attended a night of racing action, which also featured the Southern Outlaw Sprints.
Scottie McDonald started with a fast lap of 15.145 seconds, but by the end of the night, the record belonged to Shane Morgan at 14.289 seconds. Morgan led the Southern Outlaw Sprints feature, wire to wire, for the win. Early in the contest, Kyle Amerson challenged Morgan and then he had to hold off a methanol monster driven by Scottie McDonald.
While Morgan won the feature, Michael Miller won his third Sprint Car title and his first under the ASCA banner.
The Sprint Cars did not provide the only excitement; the Pure Stocks showed why they have one of the biggest followings at Southern Raceway.
An incident between Bubba Fletcher and Dalton Morrison on lap 19 set up a one-lap dash for the checkered flag. As the cars headed into turn one, points leader Jessica Donaldson and Jerry Lewis made contact, causing both cars to spin. Tally Warrick outran all the cars back to the checkered flag while Jake Moore, Kurt Horne, Tommy Lowery and Fletcher rounded out the top five.
Despite the last lap accident, Donaldson still holds a 44-point lead over Carl Dodson with two weeks of racing action remaining in the season.
In the Vintage Class 21, enough drivers turned out to make it one of the biggest car counts this season.
Chris Bayhi dominated the 20 laps for the win. The only time Bayhi faced a challenge was during the five restarts, with the last one following an accident on lap eight involving Stuart Wilson, Bill Blum and Aleck Alford.
Trailing as the checkered flag flew were Kenneth Tarter in second, followed by Jerry Bohlman, Blake Martin and Caden White.
During post-race inspection, Bohlman was disqualified as the rest of the finishing order moved up one spot and Billy Roberson moved into the top five.
In the Open Wheel Modified category, Mike Lane started on the outside pole and quickly made short work of pole sitter Joe Phillips.
Lane and Phillips stayed one-two in the running order while all of the action was happening behind them.
The caution flag flew on eight occasions.
When the dust settled, Lucas Morris finished third, followed by Osman Jones and Nathan Ingersoll.
There were plenty of fireworks in the NeSmith Street Stock feature as well, despite just three cautions.
Leader Aaron Huffstutler, who spun on lap two, brought out the first one.
Branden Harris took over the lead and appeared ready to walk away until his car faded and Brandon Kilpatrick took the lead for good on lap nine.
Kilpatrick had his hands full as he held off challenges from Bo Bailey and last week’s winner J.C. Wilson.
When the checkered flag dropped, it was Wilson finishing second followed by Justin Able, Bailey and Harris.
The night concluded with an action-packed demolition derby.
Taking the big prize as the last car running was Dwight Busby, who knocked out the No. 47 machine of Matt Barnett, who finished second followed by Gary Goodwin.
The Southern Vintage Racing Association and NeSmith Panhandle Challenge Series Late Models will hold their championships Oct. 8 at Southern Raceway. Season championships for all classes are Oct. 15.
The Southern 100 returns Oct. 27-29. Racing action will include a $10,000 prize for the NeSmith Late Model 100 lap feature; there will be racing in eight classes. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and racing action is set for 7:30 p.m.
See www.southernraceway.com for more information.
UPCOMING EVENTS
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Southern Raceway hosts record night