Lowe Holds Off Rookie Charge for Southern National Victory

Lucama, NC — The BRL Bushtalk Radio Super Late Model Series rolled into Southern National Motorsports Park on July 31, 2026, for Round 5 of Season 28, delivering another bruising 100-lap short-track battle. Southern National’s narrow corners and high horsepower made throttle control paramount, with the Super Late Models eager to rotate their rear ends on corner exit and drivers forced to balance aggression with restraint on a surface that offered very little room for error.

The starting grid was once again determined by an inversion of the top 13 finishers from the previous round. Chris Haizlip was originally slated to start from pole, but elected to begin from pit road, promoting Charles Roth to the top spot alongside Joe Segalla. Joseph Snyder, Donnie Moore, and Todd Liston occupied the rows immediately behind the front runners as the field prepared for 100 laps of short-track combat.

The opening laps immediately delivered trouble. Michael Goodman became the first major casualty when an accordion-effect check-up involving Josh St. Hilaire sent Goodman’s car around and brought out an early caution. The restart provided little relief as newcomer Robbie Hensley, making his series debut, discovered just how unforgiving Southern National could be when he spun his car on corner exit after getting too aggressive with the throttle. Hensley’s early mistake, however, would prove to be only the beginning of his story.

While Roth controlled the early stages, championship leader James Lowe quietly began his march toward the front. Starting 11th, Lowe avoided the worst of the opening chaos while steadily picking off positions. The frequent cautions provided some relief from tire wear, but they also made the racing increasingly unpredictable as drivers fought for position in a congested field. Lowe’s championship rival, John Wilson, endured a much more difficult evening. Early damage sent Wilson tumbling down the running order, eventually leaving the points contender more than 30 laps behind the leaders.

Luke Logan Allen also demonstrated impressive resilience. “Kid Lemon Lime” suffered substantial front-end damage in a multi-car incident involving Kurt Smith and Chris Worrell, yet somehow kept his car moving forward and eventually worked his way into the top five.

As the race moved into its second half, the caution-filled opening finally gave way to the long green-flag run everyone had been waiting for. Robbie Hensley had plenty to prove after his early spin, and the 18-year-old newcomer steadily recovered while beginning to show the speed that had made him a threat despite the setback.

By Lap 71, Lowe had established a lead of approximately 1.1 seconds, but Hensley was closing in on the battle for second. Hensley found himself door-to-door with veteran Todd Liston, and the two drivers fought through the corners in a tense side-by-side battle before Hensley finally completed the pass and secured second place.

The rookie now had Lowe in his sights. Hensley pushed hard during the closing stages, but Lowe was simply too consistent. The championship leader maintained an advantage of approximately 1.2 seconds, hitting his marks and refusing to give the young challenger an opening. The final laps became a demonstration of Lowe’s ability to manage a short-track race without overdriving the car.

James Lowe took the white flag with the lead intact and comfortably navigated the final lap to claim another victory in his championship campaign. Hensley crossed the line second in a remarkable series debut, while Liston secured third after his hard-fought battle with the rookie. Luke Logan Allen finished fourth, followed by Louis Flowers, Chris Worrell, Donnie Moore, Michael Goodman, Joe Segalla, and Chris Haizlip.

Lowe credited patience for the victory, explaining that surviving the early wrecks and refusing to overwork his car allowed him to control the race when the field finally settled down. For Hensley, second place was an extraordinary introduction to the series. The 18-year-old Florida business student admitted that his car initially felt loose, but he gradually figured out how to manage both the machine and the competition. By the end of the night, he was already confident that he could challenge Lowe for a victory in the races ahead.

Liston, a former SK Modified champion, completed the podium and offered a more pragmatic assessment of the evening. The Super Late Models were difficult to tame, but keeping the car in one piece was enough to earn him a well-deserved third-place finish.

With Lowe continuing to build momentum atop the championship standings and Hensley immediately announcing himself as a serious new threat, the Bushtalk Radio Super Late Model Series heads into its next round with the title fight becoming increasingly interesting.