James Lowe Capitalizes Late to Win Chaotic Five Flags Showdown

Pensacola, FL — The Bootleg Racing League Bushtalk Radio Super Late Model Series made its annual visit to the historic Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, for Round 3 of Season 28. Home of the prestigious Snowball Derby, the demanding half-mile oval once again delivered a race that tested drivers’ patience, throttle control, and ability to survive. What began as a highly anticipated 100-lap feature quickly turned into a race of survival, with a string of cautions and heavy attrition eliminating many of the championship contenders long before the checkered flag.

Michael Goodman led the field to the green flag from the pole position alongside Todd Liston. Meanwhile, championship leader Chris Worrell rolled off 11th after the top 13 finishers from the previous round were inverted for the starting lineup.

The opening laps were clean, but the calm lasted only briefly. Mike Corriveau spun the No. 97 to bring out the evening’s first caution, foreshadowing the turbulent race that was about to unfold.

The complexion of the event changed dramatically on the second restart. Entering Turn 1, the field stacked up in a classic accordion effect, leaving several drivers with nowhere to go. Joseph Snyder made contact with the rear of Chris Worrell’s machine, collecting both Worrell and Charles Roth in a multi-car incident. The damage to the points leader proved too severe, forcing Worrell to retire from the race and opening the championship battle considerably.

As the race continued, yellow flags became the dominant theme. By Lap 17, the field had already slowed for its third caution of the evening. Brennan Myers, who was forced to start at the rear after receiving an end-of-line penalty before the green flag, quietly avoided the incidents and steadily worked his way into the top six simply by keeping his car clean.

The largest accident of the race erupted around Lap 34. While battling for position, Chris Davis and Ruben Altice locked bumpers, sending Davis hard into the outside wall. The incident quickly expanded into a multi-car pileup that also collected Michael Goodman and Luke Logan Allen, both of whom received meatball flags requiring repairs before they could continue.

By the halfway point, the race had become one of the most chaotic events in recent BRL memory. Only eight cars remained on the lead lap as the field was whittled down by repeated incidents in what many described as an unusually attrition-filled night.

With the cautions finally subsiding, the closing stages evolved into a strategic duel between Todd Liston and multi-time champion James Lowe.

Liston had controlled much of the race from the front, carefully protecting the preferred inside groove while managing tire temperatures during the extended green-flag run. Lowe remained content to shadow the leader, conserving his equipment while waiting for an opportunity to present itself.

Behind the lead pair, Ruben Altice and Brennan Myers engaged in an entertaining battle for the final podium position. Altice eventually secured third after Myers clipped the inside apron, but both drivers remained within striking distance should the leaders encounter trouble.

That opportunity came with just six laps remaining.

As Liston’s rear tires overheated, his Super Late Model drifted slightly up the racetrack exiting the corner. Lowe immediately capitalized, diving to the inside and completing the decisive pass for the lead. Once out front, Lowe quickly established a comfortable margin and drove away to earn another victory in the Bushtalk Radio Super Late Model Series.

Following the race, Lowe credited his victory to patience, explaining that while repeated cautions prevented significant tire wear, managing tire temperatures during the final green-flag run proved critical to making the winning pass.

Liston, meanwhile, revealed an emotional personal story after climbing from his car. He shared that he had raced while mourning the loss of his dog earlier that day, admitting the difficult circumstances may have influenced how aggressively he pushed during the closing laps.

Altice rounded out the podium after surviving the night’s relentless attrition, describing the event as a race where simply avoiding trouble was often as important as outright speed.

The victory further strengthened Lowe’s championship campaign as the Bushtalk Radio Super Late Model Series prepares for the next stop on its Season 28 schedule after one of the most chaotic nights the series has seen in recent memory.