Kinetic Chaos at the Beach: Lowe Outlasts the Turtles and the Accordion

Round 2 of the RLR Skitter Creek Modified Series at Myrtle Beach Speedway was a 100-lap battle of survival on the notoriously abrasive “Old School” asphalt of the Grand Strand. The track’s curved front stretch, tight confines, and infamous concrete-filled “turtles” demanded precision, while the crowded 29-car field made even the smallest mistake capable of triggering a chain reaction. Coming into the round, the focus was on five-time champion Dalton Williamson and Eric Stout, who was looking to rebound after a disappointing opening round. By the time the checkered flag fell, however, it was James Lowe who emerged from the chaos with the victory.

The trouble started before the green flag. A mid-pack stutter involving Brian Bianchi and AJ Hamel during the pace lap triggered an accordion effect on the backstretch, catching Mark Poe and several others in the resulting pileup. The early incident set the tone for a race that never really settled down. A staggering 46 of the scheduled 100 laps were run under caution, with drivers including Brian Neff and Chris Stofer repeatedly finding themselves caught up in the turbulence.

Myrtle Beach’s concrete turtles proved just as unforgiving. Chad Alcares was sent spinning after making contact with one, while Kenny Allen, who had shown strong speed early, became involved in a battle with James Lowe that sent him tumbling toward the back of the field. Ricardo Cano and Adin All-Vecchione also fell victim to the tight lower groove as drivers repeatedly tried to find the few inches of extra space needed to gain an advantage.

One of the night’s biggest drives came from Bradley Stefane. Starting 26th, Stefane avoided the worst of the chaos and methodically worked his way forward while much of the field struggled through the repeated restarts. He gained 20 positions to finish sixth, passing drivers such as Ruben Altice and Glenn Jamieson along the way. Josh Buckley and Fred LeClair also survived the carnage to secure top-ten finishes.

The race ultimately came down to a final-lap showdown between Lowe and Stout. Stout made a bold attempt around the outside exiting Turn 2 and briefly gained the advantage, but the outside line proved difficult to hold on the Myrtle Beach surface. Stout later explained that he needed more rotation to make the move work, as missing the preferred groove can quickly push a car up the track. Lowe stayed committed to the bottom through Turn 3, using the shorter line and superior grip to retake the lead before the finish.

Despite a final challenge from Dalton Williamson, Lowe held on to win the chaotic Grand Strand battle. Eric Stout finished second, Williamson third, and Luke Logan Allen fourth. The victory gives Lowe a major boost in the early championship fight, while Williamson leaves Myrtle Beach still thinking about the next round at New Smyrna Speedway, which he has already “circled” on his calendar.

Myrtle Beach once again proved that at the Beach, speed alone isn’t enough. The drivers who could stay out of trouble, protect their cars, and capitalize when opportunities appeared were the ones who survived. Lowe did all three, turning a night of kinetic chaos into a trip to Victory Lane.