Logan Roberson carries the checkered flag at Natural Bridge.
What won the race: Using an inside move exiting turn four to overtake race-long pacesetter Will Roland on lap 36, pole-starting Logan Roberson of Waynesboro, Va., led the final 25 circuits to win Saturday's $10,000 Pro Late Model Paramount at Natural Bridge Speedway. Roberson earned his fourth 604 Crate Late Model victory of the season — worth a total of $28,000 — at the track, including the American All-Star Series season sweep.
Quotable: “I tell ya, there’s a lot of them that I’ve earned over the years, but that one there was earned,” Roberson said. “(Roland) gave me the quarter panel out of the rubber, I took it like a man, but I gave ‘er back to him and got back around him; it’s just hard rubber racing. I had to give an elbow to (Hedgecock) and (Roland), but $10,000, I’m pretty happy.”
Key notes: The second-starting Roland, of Jasper, Ga., led the first 35 laps before settling for the runner-up spot, 0.312 of a second back. ... Cory Hedgecock held off 10th-starting Russell Erwin in the closing laps to finish third. ... Joey Leavell ran as high as fourth and completed the top-five finishers. ... After entering with a 10-point deficit, third-starting Jesse Lowe faded to finish eighth and secured the 2023 series title; Josh Dietz spun from 11th on the final lap and was credited with 14th; Lowe edged Dietz by two points for the championship. ... Pierce McCarter improved four positions and finished 10th. ... Greg Roberson, father of the race winner, started 19th and finished 15th. ... Three cautions slowed the 60-lap feature, the first on lap 21 when Matt Hildebrand slowed; A.J. Hicks slowed from 20th on lap 28 and Baillie Lowe slowed from 22nd on lap 44. The main event lasted 25 minutes, with eight drivers completing the distance.
On the move: Tyler Bare of Rockbridge Baths, Va., started 16th and finished ninth.
Winner's sponsors: Roberson’s CVR Race Cars entry carries sponsorship from Gunter’s Honey, Franklin Enterprises, Clary’s Used Cars, RBS Auto Sales, Blue Ridge Treescape Service, King’s Sanitary Service, Riggs Drilling Solutions, Dynamic Drivelines, Wynbridge Inc., Sweet Manufacturing, NAPA Auto Parts, VP Race Fuels, Pro Fabrication and All About Wraps.
Points chase: Final: 1. Jesse Lowe (2,052); 2. Josh Dietz (2,050); 3. Zach Sise (1,833); 4. Sylvan Schuette (1,528); 5. Baillie Lowe (1,483).
Current weather: Clear, 43°F
Car count: 51
Fast qualifier: Logan Roberson
Time: 16.713 seconds
Polesitter: Logan Roberson
Dash winner: Logan Roberson
Heat race winners: Joe Martin, Benji Hicks, Justin Williams, Russell Erwin, , , ,
Consolation race winners: Greg Roberson, Heath Alvey, ,
Provisional starters: Sylvan Schuette, Baillie Lowe, Logan Walls, Matt Hildebrand, Kendal Tucker,