MILTON — Southern Raceway closed out the 2020 Memorial Day weekend with plenty of fireworks as the racing weekend ended in the Pure Stock division.
Sunday night saw a two-car battle between Josh Howell and Saturday night’s winner, Lane Heaton.
When the white flag flew, Howell and Heaton were side by side at the flag stand heading to turn one for the final time.
As the drivers headed into one, Howell went up the track, opening the bottom groove for Heaton. There could have been some contact, but coming off turn two, Heaton had the advantage and was looking to complete a weekend sweep.
He then drove into turn three as Howell made a hard dive into turn three. Both cars made contact as Heaton spun out and Howell drove to the bottom and claimed the checkered flag.
Track officials black flagged Howell for spinning out Heaton.
Bailey Ellison was declared the winner, followed by Tanner Lane, Heaton, Sydney Brown, and John Victor.
Heaton won Saturday night followed by Ellison, Dillon Ussery, Kevin Bell, and Howell,
In the 602 Sportsman Late Model division, Mike Lane was in the safest place during the feature — out front — as eight cautions slowed the event.
Lane dominated while Dale Lucas, Kevin Mitchell and JC Wilson kept swapping positions second through fourth. When the dust settled in, Mitchell was in second followed by Wilson, Lucas and Dewayne Morris.
The Vintage division on Sunday proved you do not have to lead the first lap, but you must be out front on the last lap.
Kraig Crossley started sixth in the feature, while JD Fuqua was enjoying a commanding lead.
Fuqua looked like he was going to go wire to wire for the win. Crossley, who had worked his way up to second, pounced on the opening Fuqua gave him and won the race to the white flag.
Fuqua gave a gallant effort but could not regain the top spot and ended finishing second, followed by Caden White, Chris Brown, and Aleck Alford.
On Saturday, Larry Faulk dominated for the win followed by Brown, White, Gueston Rogers, and Alford.
Tally Warrick needed a moment in the Crate Racing USA Street Stock division on Sunday to take the lead, but no one could catch the Jay driver once he got to the point on lap eight.
Warrick pulled away from Saturday’s winner Brian Hansford, who finished second followed by Dylan Hamilton, Tommy Lowery and Garrett McDonald.
Saturday night saw Hamilton, Lowery, Michael Porter and Jason McDaniel rounding out the top five.
Crestview’s Steven Hill was the dominating four-cylinder driver in the Stinger division on Memorial Day weekend. Hill swept the weekend, with the top five on Sunday consisting of Timothy Witherington, Charles Simmons, Brandin Sidner, and Eddie Queysen.
Saturday was a little different. Brandin Sidner was leading the way until the ninth lap, when his car drastically slowed coming off turn two. Sidner fell to the back of the field and started to recover by working his way back to the front until he was black flagged on lap 11 for rough driving.
Rounding out the top five behind Hill were Witherington, Eddie, Brett Pack, and Tony Southard.
In the Slingshot division on Sunday it looked like Abbey Cauley’s winning ways came to an end as Austin Morris took the checkered flag with Cauley finishing second.
Unfortunately, Morris’ car did not pass the technical shed and was disqualified, giving Cauley the weekend sweep of the class.
Rounding out the top five on Sunday were Talon Carter, Dakota Fox, Kyndal Kimmons, and Jasper Zeigafuse. Saturday saw Cauley win, followed by Morris, Carter, Kimmons, and Zeigafuse.
In Sunday’s Open Wheel Modified feature, Pace’s Ryan Fowler distanced himself from the field late in the race after facing a challenge from Chase Holland, who finished second.
Rounding out the field were Joey Moxley, third, and Ryan Worsham in fourth.
This weekend Southern Raceway will race host another Friday and Saturday double header with the Ladies League Pure Stock division and UMCA Modifieds on Friday. Saturday will feature a lot of exciting racing action, as well as a demolition derby to close out the night.
To stay up to date on all the news and action at Southern Raceway check out their Facebook page @southernraceway.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosas Press Gazette: Memorial Day weekend has fireworks at Southern