Justin Williams earned $5,000 at Virginia Motor Speedway for his richest career victory.
What won the race: Taking the lead from Walker Arthur with an outside pass on lap 15, third-starting Justin Williams of Concord, Va., successfully defended his home track by leading the remaining 25 laps of Friday’s Fastrak World Challenge. Williams held off Tyler Bare of Rockbridge Baths, Va., while Arthur of Forest, Va., finished third. Williams earned a career-high $5,000 for the victory.
Quotable: “Getting this win is pretty awesome,” said Williams. “I have to thank Tyler Bare for running me clean right there at the end. He probably had the faster car. I was slowing him up there in (turns) three and four. Like I said, this is pretty awesome; it is the biggest money race I have ever won.”
Key notes: Williams is the 2017 Pro Late Model track champion at VMS. ... Arthur emerged from a side-by-side battle with David Smith to take command of the race on lap two. … Contact between Arthur and second-running Stephen Childress on lap 33 resulted in Childress spinning in turn one. … Bare slipped by Arthur for second following a late restart and made a run at the lead, coming up just short at the finish line. … The World Challenge is an invitation-only race open to any Fastrak member who has competed in a minimum of 10 Fastrak events during the 2017 season. … The race kicks off the tour’s championship weekend. Drivers will compete at VMS on Saturday for a $20,000-to-win purse in excess of $80,000. … It’s the third tour stop at VMS this season. Jonathan Davenport and Benji Hicks each picked up a Fastrak win there earlier this season. … Hicks of Mount Airy, N.C., leads the tour with four victories. … Drivers competing in the two weekend races who have utilized a TNT Chassis this season are eligible to win a new chassis from the Tennessee-based builder by entering a drawing. The drawing will be held at the series’ awards banquet in January.
On the move: Improving 11 spots, Ryan Montgomery started 18th and finished seventh and Kyle Lukon finished 11th after starting 22nd.
Winner's sponsors: Williams drives a Longhorn Chassis with sponsorship from Clary's Used Cars and Three Aces Speed Shop.
Points chase: Benji Hicks has 392 points to lead Jensen Ford (370), Cla Knight (369), Matthew Nance (366) and Ron Parker (349).
Car count: 37
Fast qualifier: Matthew Nance
Time: 18.132 seconds
Heat race winners: Walker Arthur, David Smith, Ron Parker, Justin Williams, , , ,
Consolation race winners: Jared Powell, Ryan Montgomery, ,
Next series race: September 16, Virginia Motor Speedway (Jamaica, VA) $20,000