Worrell Wins Under Contention at South Boston: Last-Lap Contact Denies Schoen Victory

South Boston, VA — The seventh round of the Bootleg Racing League Late Model Series at the historic South Boston Speedway was defined by a controversial overtime finish that shook up the podium. The event was framed by the absence of defending champion James Lowe, who was serving a suspension for poor sportsmanship last weekend at Stafford. This left the door open for points leader Chris Worrell to maintain his grip on the competition on the tight, high-falloff short track.

The race featured a 20-car field with the starting grid determined by a top-13 invert, placing Lowell Jewell on the pole alongside Todd Liston. As the green flag dropped, Liston immediately utilized the high line to seize the lead from Jewell. Early contenders included Mike Holloway, Jeffery Hardin, and Adam Schoen, the latter of whom quickly began muscling his way toward the front using a strong outside lane.

The race was governed by strict short-track rules meaning no tire changes or fast repairs were permitted, forcing drivers to manage their equipment over the long run. Liston and Holloway engaged in a fierce battle for the lead, at one point crossing the start-finish line in a dead heat. As the race progressed, Chris Davis surged forward 11 spots after starting near the back of the field, while Schoen became a dominant force by the midpoint, challenging Liston for the lead in a multi-lap, door-to-door battle.

The later stages were defined by a series of incidents that thinned the field. A major caution was triggered when Holloway hit the wall, causing a chain reaction that swept up Bobby Hayes, Allen Wannamaker, and Ed Foster. Foster suffered through a difficult night, enduring heavy body damage after being involved in multiple skirmishes. Following a restart, another multi-car wreck occurred when Liston and Kenny Allen made contact, sending several cars spinning and allowing Davis to weave through the carnage into a podium position.

The race reached a fever pitch during a Green-White-Checkered finish. Adam Schoen appeared to have the race won, leading the field into the final corners on the last lap. However, contact occurred between Schoen and Chris Worrell, sending Schoen spinning out of the lead while Worrell maintained control to take the checkered flag.

The final finishing order saw Chris Worrell secure the victory, followed by Lowell Jewell in second and Todd Liston in third. Joe Segalla and John Wilson rounded out the top five. In post-race interviews, the atmosphere was tense. Worrell defended his move, claiming Schoen attempted a block and that he had used his brakes to try and avoid the collision. Jewell expressed surprise at his runner-up finish after sustaining head-on damage in an earlier wreck, while Liston remained satisfied with his podium strategy. The series now enters the Memorial Day break before returning at Lanier International Speedway.