Tyler Carpenter gets rolling before his $5,000 Atomic victory.
What won the race: Polesitter Tyler Carpenter of Parkersburg, W.Va., overtook fellow front-row starter Jeremy Berwanger just past halfway and held off a late charge from R.J. Conley to win the Buckeye Late Model Dirt Week finale at Atomic Speedway. Carpenter earned $5,000 in winning the 40-lapper by a scant .269 of a second over Conley.
Quotable: "I don't even know what to say. Maybe I need to start breakin' my arm more often when I come here," said Carpenter, who competed for the second straight race after fracturing his elbow while competing in a modified at Muskingum County Speedway on July 21. "I've been here several times. This is just one of those places I struggle at. We threw a few things at (the car). I tell you, the Kryptonite Race Car was on point, let alone winning it with one arm. I'll tell ya. I wanted this thing so bad I could taste it."
Key notes: Jeremy Berwanger led the first 22 laps. ... Steven Francis finished seventh in a No. N6 car driven the previous week by Australian driver Ryan Fenech. ... Nineteen of the 24 starters finished the race, with 15 still on the lead lap. ... Carpenter claimed the title for the miniseries. ... The race wrapped up an abbreviated Buckeye Late Model Speedweeks after three cancellations and three rainouts condensed the tour. The series was originally scheduled to include eight events before races at Hilltop Speedway (July 20), Midway Speedway (July 23) and Brushcreek Speedway (July 28) were cancelled. … The July 22 race at NAPA Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, Ohio, was rained out, as was Thursday’s race at Moler Raceway Park in Williamsburg, Ohio, and Friday’s event at Skyline in Stewart, Ohio. … Jared Miley of South Park, Pa., topped Corey Conley to win the miniseries opener at Muskingum County Speedway on July 21.
On the move: Delmas Conley of Wheelersburg, Ohio, rallied from 11th to finish fifth.
Winner's sponsors: Carpenter’s Kryptonite Race Car is sponsored by Mike’s Tree Service, Octane Race Products, JRi Shocks and Hoosier by Frye.
Points chase: The finale was a double-points race. With his win, combined with a third-place finish in the series opener, Tyler Carpenter is the 2017 tour champion.
Car count: 33
Fast qualifier: Jeff Babcock
Time: 13.800 seconds
Heat race winners: Tyler Carpenter, Steve Francis, Jeremy Berwanger, Colten Burdette, , , ,
Consolation race winners: Chris Shannon, , ,