Brandon Overton’s storybook season continued Friday when he scored his fifth World of Outlaws Late Model Series, and 21st overall, victory of the season. (Blake Harris photo)
Overton drove the Wells Motorsports No. 76 Crossfit Overton/ Allstar Concrete/ Longhorn Chassis by Wells/ Clements Racing Engine-powered Super Late Model to a $10,000 triumph at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C.
“We’ve done so good this year,” said Overton. “At the end of the day, I’m just grateful to keep getting opportunities to drive top-notch race cars for good people. I’m having fun and it’s all coming together.”
A field of 39 World of Outlaws Late Model Series entries converged at Cherokee Speedway Friday night. Overton topped the speed charts in time trials before picking up a 10-lap heat race victory. He later received the third-starting position for the A-Main via the redraw.
Overton rode in third behind Ross Bailes and Brandon Sheppard for the first half of the 50-lapper. He slipped to fourth when Chris Madden drove by him on lap 23. Rallying back around Madden one circuit later, then disposing of Bailes on lap 25, Overton begun to track down Sheppard for the top spot.
Cutting Sheppard’s more than two-second lead down to nothing, Overton blasted past Sheppard amid lapped-traffic on lap 34 to take the top spot. Brandon led the remaining distance to secure his second straight Mike Duvall Memorial victory over Sheppard, Madden, Kyle Strickler, and Bailes.
“That’s the bad thing about leading. You’re just kind of a sitting duck,” Overton said of his race-winning pass of Sheppard. “I just told myself I just needed to keep him him in sight and take care of my tires as much as I could. When Madden passed me I kind of panicked and knew I had to get back around him.”
The following night at 411 Motor Speedway (Seymour, Tenn.), Brandon followed up the fourth fastest time in his qualifying group with the fourth and final transfer spot in his heat race. Starting the $10,000-to-win A-Main in 15th, Overton gained six spots in the 50-lap affair to register a ninth-place outing.
To learn more about these events, please visit www.WoOLMS.com.
