Lowe’s Masterclass: A Blackjack Charge to Victory at Five Flags

Pensacola, FL — On a night where the track was dimly lit and the racing was mean, the Bootleg Racing League Late Model Series delivered a 100-lap thriller at Five Flags Speedway for Round 3 of Season 34. In a display of veteran patience and surgical precision, three-time defending champion James Lowe charged from the 21st starting position—the blackjack spot—to claim his second victory of the season, maintaining his undefeated record in the races he has entered this year.

The race began with Bobby Hayes on the pole, but the early story was the rapid shuffle at the front of the field. Marino Valente quickly punched out to the lead before being overtaken by veteran Mike Holloway, a driver with a storied history at this half-mile oval. The early stages were characterized by a frantic pace, but the 100-lap distance loomed large; with no tire changes allowed, drivers had to balance aggression with conservation. By lap 13, Todd Liston surged past Holloway, and he and Kurt Smith eventually broke away from the pack to build a 1.5-second gap while navigating dense lap traffic.

As the leaders encountered a smorgasbord of lap cars, Ed Foster began a relentless charge. Foster utilized the chaos to reel in the leaders, briefly taking the lead. However, the momentum shifted dramatically when Foster and Kurt Smith made contact while battling for the top spot. The incident sent Foster bouncing off the inside wall and out of contention, though Smith was remarkably able to hang onto his car and maintain his position at the front for a brief period.

While the leaders squabbled, James Lowe was putting on a full display of skill. Starting 21st, Lowe spent the first half of the race patiently following Chris Davis, using only partial throttle on the straightaways to save his equipment. His strategy paid off; as other drivers ran out of grip by the end of the long green-flag run, Lowe moved into the top five by lap 60 and eventually seized the lead with just 28 laps remaining.

The race’s long green-flag run ended abruptly in the closing stages. A massive pileup erupted in turn four, collecting multiple cars and nearly resulting in a car landing on its roof. Tre Blohm showcased his survival instincts, driving high against the wall to escape the wreckage. The chaos continued on subsequent restarts as Lowell Jewell was involved in an accordion effect incident that sent Chris Davis skidding on his roof. Later, early dominant force Todd Liston saw his night end after a tire failure led to a pit road visit.

The race concluded with a green-white-checker finish. James Lowe secured a perfect jump on the final restart, with teammate Chris Worrell slotting into second. Worrell, who had started the race at the back of the pack due to a penalty, was unable to mount a serious challenge in the final two corners. James Lowe took the checkered flag, followed by Worrell in second. Tre Blohm capped off a strategic night by nipping rookie points leader Louis Flowers at the line for third place, with Mike Holloway rounding out the top five.

With this victory, Lowe remains the man to beat in the championship hunt, though Louis Flowers and Chris Worrell continue to loom large. The series now looks ahead to the next round at Myrtle Beach.