Worrell Holds Off Lowe in Lanier Thriller

Braselton, GA — The Boot Racing League traveled to Lanier National Speedway on August 7, 2026, for Round 6 of the Bushtalk Radio Super Late Model Series, where 17 drivers faced 100 laps of short-track combat. Bill “Soups” and Papa Kenny Allen called the action as the field navigated a track that initially favored the bottom groove before rubber gradually built into the surface, opening the outside lane as a legitimate passing route later in the race.

Charles Roth started from the pole with newcomer Marlowe Strautmann alongside him on the front row, but Strautmann wasted no time taking advantage of the outside starting position. He launched forward at the drop of the green and quickly established himself as the driver to beat, leading the opening 38 laps.

The early calm didn’t last long. A major pileup erupted near Turn 4 when Michael Goodman struggled to get his car off the corner and was assisted by Chris Haizlip, triggering a chain reaction that collected several drivers and ended multiple nights prematurely. Strautmann avoided the chaos and continued to control the race from the front.

The middle portion of the event delivered some of the strangest moments of the season. Championship leader James Lowe became an innocent victim when Robbie Hensley misjudged a corner and spun him. Rather than throwing a caution, the race director allowed the action to continue while Lowe’s car sat perpendicular to the racing surface. Lowe eventually managed to get himself pointed in the right direction and began the long climb back through the field.

Then Chris Davis provided perhaps the most memorable moment of the night. Known throughout the league as “Mr. Manners,” Davis was in the middle of an interview with the broadcast team when he somehow lost control of his car and flipped. Once the car came to rest upside down, Davis delivered the line that instantly became the quote of the evening: “I’m a turtle.” It was an unusual bit of live racing television, to put it mildly.

As the race progressed, Chris Worrell moved to the front and began building his own advantage. Luke Logan Allen, piloting the “Goldfish special,” emerged as his primary challenger. The changing track conditions had finally transformed the outside groove into the preferred lane, and Allen used the additional grip up top to steadily close the gap on Worrell.

Behind the leaders, Lowe’s recovery drive became increasingly impressive. After falling all the way to the back following his earlier incident, the championship leader methodically worked his way back through the field and into contention for the finish. Tom Hilbert also turned in a strong drive, climbing from the 17th and final starting position to work his way inside the top ten.

The closing laps became a three-way battle between Worrell, Allen, and Lowe, with heavy lap traffic adding another layer of difficulty. John Wilson and a fading Strautmann became moving obstacles as the leaders searched for clean air and a way around the slower cars.

The decisive moment came in the final corner.

Allen committed to the high side, attempting to sweep around the traffic and retain second place. Lowe instead went into full veteran mode, diving “way low” in an attempt to find the shortest path through the corner. The gamble worked. Lowe emerged ahead of Allen to snatch second place just before the checkered flag.

Worrell had already done enough to secure the victory, leading the final 38 laps and completing a dominant closing stint. Lowe’s last-corner charge earned him second, while Allen settled for third. Ruben Altice finished fourth, followed by Michael Goodman, Robbie Hensley, Kurt Smith, Tom Hilbert, Joe Snyder, and Charles Roth.

Following the race, Worrell praised Allen’s patience during their battle and expressed surprise at the recovery drive produced by his teammate Lowe. Allen may have lost second in the final corner, but his performance remained one of the night’s highlights, particularly given the way he adapted to the increasingly competitive outside groove.

The “Kid Lemon Lime” also remained true to form during the post-race festivities, joining the broadcast team for a lighthearted discussion about his preferred survivalist breakfast cereal: Frosted Flakes. At Lanier, the racing was intense, the track was unforgiving, and apparently even breakfast cereal became part of the championship conversation.