Lowe Charges Late to Win Chaotic Lanier Night

Braselton, GA — The Bootleg Racing League SteelCraft Structures Super Late Model Series delivered another bruising chapter of Season 26 at Lanier National Speedway, where Round 5 unfolded as a 100-lap survival test marked by early-race carnage and a decisive late charge from points leader James Lowe. Despite spinning early and restarting at the rear, Lowe methodically worked his way back through the field to score his fourth win in the opening five races.

Kyle Feimster led the field to green from the pole on his birthday, hoping to spark a turnaround in his season. Instead, cold tires and Lanier’s tight racing surface triggered immediate chaos. The opening half of the race was interrupted by eight cautions, many within the first 50 laps, as drivers struggled to find grip and rhythm.

The first yellow flew almost immediately when Tom Hilbert and Jeff Sharp spun in unison, an incident that significantly impacted the momentum of Tre Blohm. Fresh off his Myrtle Beach victory, Blohm sustained heavy front-end damage and was forced into recovery mode for the remainder of the night. Shortly after the restart, championship leader Lowe looped his car in a solo spin, dropping him to the tail of the field but mercifully avoiding race-ending damage.

As the race staggered forward, Feimster initially held the lead but eventually became entangled in traffic. Contact with Chris Worrell brought out the sixth caution of the night and reshuffled the running order, allowing Kurt Smith to inherit the top spot. By the halfway point, the race finally settled into a sustained green-flag run, and Todd Liston surged to the front after overtaking Smith.

Liston’s stint at the point was brief. Worrell asserted himself as a contender, taking control and attempting to manage the pace while keeping Lowe trapped behind him. Lowe, however, was rapidly closing the gap, having carved his way through the field with superior long-run speed. Worrell attempted to “back up” the field to neutralize Lowe’s momentum, but the strategy only delayed the inevitable.

With ten laps remaining, Lowe made the race-winning move in a place few dare attempt at Lanier. Carrying momentum through the outside lane, Lowe powered around Worrell on the high side to seize the lead. Lowe later credited the pass to better tire management, allowing him to rotate the car more freely and take advantage of grip where others had none.

Once clear, Lowe pulled away to secure the victory, extending his championship advantage and reaffirming his dominance in the series. Worrell held on for a hard-fought second-place finish, while Ed Foster delivered one of the drives of the night, charging from the back of the grid to complete the podium in third.

Tensions flared after the checkered flag, particularly between Worrell and Feimster. Worrell voiced frustration over multiple instances of contact throughout the race, calling Feimster’s driving “nerve-wracking” during post-race discussions. Lowe, meanwhile, kept his focus on the bigger picture, dedicating the win to his daughter and celebrating another statement performance in a season quickly becoming his own.