Schoen Holds Off Lowe in Southern National Thriller, Scores First Win of the Season

Lucama, NC — Adam Schoen delivered the performance of his season Saturday night, fending off a furious late-race charge from points leader and defending champion James Lowe to win Round 7 of the Bootleg Racing League’s Late Model Invitational Series. The 100-lap showdown at Southern National Motorsports Park produced one of the most dramatic finishes of Season 32, capped by a tense Green-White-Checker sprint that tested every ounce of Schoen’s defensive instincts.

The night began with big implications for the championship picture. Lowe entered the event with a strong points lead after winning the first four races and never finishing outside the top three all season. Chris Davis, sitting second in the standings, was forced to start 17th after missing the previous round, putting him on the back foot immediately. Meanwhile, Rubin Altice, fresh off a victory at Lanier, had climbed to third in points and looked poised to continue his momentum.

A baker’s dozen inversion from last week’s results placed former police chief Steve Hilbert on the pole with Schoen to his outside, while Lowe—despite posting the fastest practice lap—had to roll off from 10th. The shuffled field set the stage for an unpredictable opening stint. On Lap 1, Schoen slipped to third as Todd Liston surged forward, first snatching Schoen’s spot and then diving under Hilbert to take the early lead.

Liston controlled the early race, but trouble found him midway through the event. Running strong at the front, he plowed through a cloud of smoke caused by contact between Mark Hertzog and Ryan Senneker, collecting right-side damage that derailed his night. His wounded #87 quickly faded, allowing Schoen to pounce and take over the lead with authority. From that point forward, Schoen commanded the field, pacing the final 53 laps.

While Schoen controlled the clean air, Lowe was busy clawing through the pack behind him. He found himself repeatedly battling Rubin Altice and Kurt Smith, who both fought hard to keep their preferred low line. Passing proved difficult all night; drivers had to force opponents up the banking if they wanted any hope of getting by. Lowe made steady forward progress but even he wasn’t immune to mistakes, misjudging a gap at one point in what commentators labeled a rare error for the normally ice-cold #99.

The final laps devolved into chaos when Darryl Wineinger, enjoying a career-best run in fourth place, spun after contact with rookie Kyle Feimster, triggering the lone mandatory Green-White-Checker attempt. The restart set up a dramatic showdown—Schoen on the point, Lowe tucked tightly into second, both drivers hungry for the win.

When the green dropped, Lowe dove low looking for the opening, but Schoen slammed the door shut with precision, hugging the inside line with laser focus. He gave Lowe no daylight whatsoever, running what broadcasters called a “bikini-wax smooth” defensive line that prevented any opportunity for the champion to slip underneath. The two made slight contact as they wrestled through the final corner, but Schoen held strong and crossed the finish line first, sealing his breakthrough victory. Lowe settled for second, though he padded his championship lead in the process.

Behind them, the late-race chaos benefitted “Double Deuce” Bruce Pearson. Pearson avoided multiple spinning cars and opportunistically vaulted himself into third place, calling the finish a mix of luck and timing after nearly having to park the car to avoid the mess ahead. The Hilbert brothers—Tom in fourth and Steve in fifth—closed out one of their best combined outings in the season. Chris Davis recovered to finish 10th, a respectable salvage given his deep starting spot.

After the race, Schoen described the pressure-packed final moments with a laugh: “I think I had one eye straight and one eye in my rearview mirror. I just went low to cut him off. I had to do everything I could to keep him behind me—he’s fast.” Lowe echoed the sentiment, complimenting Schoen’s execution: “He had an awfully nice guy behind him. I gained points, so that’s always good. We’ll move on.”

The series now shifts to South Boston Speedway for Round 8, where the inversion will place John Wilson, the “Canadian Goose,” on the pole. With just a handful of races remaining and tension rising in the playoff chase, the stage is set for another dramatic chapter in Season 32 of the BRL Late Model Invitational Series.