Employing tire strategy to perfection, Brandon Overton rallied from a mid-race pit stop to capture Sunday’s 30th Annual Blue-Gray 100 at Cherokee Speedway. (Blake Harris photo)
Overton earned $10,000 for his latest triumph in the Wells Motorsports No. 76 Crossfit Overton/ Allstar Concrete/ Longhorn Chassis by Wells/ Clements Racing Engine-powered Super Late Model.
Overton kicked off the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series doubleheader Saturday at Lancaster (S.C.) Speedway. Following the third fastest lap overall in time trials, Overton secured his spot into the main event with a second-place finish in his heat race behind Brett Hamm.
With $10,000 on the line in the Palmetto State 50, Brandon ran into mechanical issues near the midway point that sent him pitside. Marching from the tail of the field, Overton salvaged a fourth-place finish in the 50-lap affair. Trailing Zack Mitchell, Brett Hamm, and Ross Bailes across the finish line with Ben Watkins coming in fifth.On Sunday afternoon, Brandon followed the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series to Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, S.C. for the 30th annual Blue-Gray 100 – co-sanctioned with the Drydene Xtreme DIRTcar Series. Drawing 28 cars, Overton came in tenth fastest overall in time trials before placing second in his heat behind Ross Bailes.
With a handful of competitors suffering flat tires in the early going of the 100-lap feature, Brandon made the decision to visit the infield hot pit on a lap-60 caution to swap out his right rear tire.
Joining the field from the tail, Overton quickly worked his way back to the front, taking second from Benji Hicks on lap 85 and closing the distance on race-leader Chris Madden.
When Madden went down with a flat right-rear tire on lap 92, Brandon took command of the top spot and led the remaining eight circuits to secure his second career Blue-Gray 100 victory and 26th win of his season. Finishing ahead of Benji Hicks, Kyle Strickler, Tyler Carpenter, and Brett Hamm, Overton pocketed $10,000.
To learn more about these events, please visit www.CarolinaClash.com and www.XtremeDIRTcar.com.