Pulliam’s hot streak continues with eighth victory at SBS


Lee Pulliam is certainly doing all he can to create an opportunity for a repeat NASCAR Whelen All-American national title run.

Pulliam cruised to his eighth win at South Boston Speedway this season and his 11th overall in Saturday’s feature event. He entered the night as the national points leader. Pulliam had the strongest car in the field, and had to battle past a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular and a former NASCAR Whelen all-American national champion to take the checkered flag.

Pulliam enjoyed a comfortable lead at the end. Even with his national title run last year and all his success, Pulliam is seeking to win his first SBS track title, which he has not done.

Pulliam and former SBS track champion Timothy Peters battled wheel-to-wheel at the start, until a crash stopped the field on lap 4. Austin Thaxton and Bobby McCarty were among those pitting or slowed after the incident. Bruce Anderson also pitted during the caution.

Dustin Storm also had major damage and ended up on the hook.

Peters outgunned Pulliam after the restart, although this remained a very competitive race.

By lap 30, Peters had carved out a small advantage over Pulliam, with C.E. Falk rolling third. Pulliam regained the lead on lap 36, with Falk slowly reeling in the top of the field.

Peyton Sellers also gained some ground on Falk, improving to third.

By halfway, Pulliam had firm control of the race – at least until the yellow flew for a virtual competition caution on lap 77.

Pulliam, Peters and Sellers held the top three.

The restart came on lap 80, with Pulliam digging into a low line lead. Peters held second, with Sellers third and Falk running fourth.

Pulliam quickly pulled away.

At lap 108, Sellers and Peters were battling side-by-side in a determined position battle.

But Peters could not keep pace, eventually slipping to third. Sellers had a strong car, and the former SBS track and national champion had to settle for second.

Pulliam had a comfortable, drama free end to the late model race.

Pulliam won by 1.774-seconds, with Peters a whopping 5.851 seconds back of the winner in third. Falk was fourth, well off the pace at 8.907 seconds off the pace. Anderson was fifth, 12.642 seconds out of first. Ronald Hill, Patrick Coleman, Mark Wertz, Eric Winslow and Austin Thaxton rounded out the top ten. Pulliam won with an average speed of 65.831 mph, putting up a fast lap of 90.760. Pulliam had qualified on the pole with a speed of 92.125 mph.

Sellers said second was pretty good.

But Sellers came away very impressed with Pulliam’s blistering effort.

“Anytime you come here and put a straightaway on Timothy Peters, you’ve done something. When you get a straightaway (put) on you, it’s even worse. I thought second was pretty good,” said Sellers.

Sellers said his car has been a work in progress.

“We’re getting there,” said Sellers.

Peters looked strong early, but could not sustain the run.

“We made some adjustments, just made the (No. 17 car) a little too tight. But … these guys are tough,” said Peters, who will return to the Truck Series action at Dover this weekend.

Pulliam pulled away from Sellers over the final 40 laps. He led twice in the race for a total of 127 laps, with Peters leading the other 23.

Peters seized the lead from Pulliam on lap 13 on the restart that followed the race’s first caution period.

Pulliam regained the lead on lap 37 and held it the rest of the way.

Sellers passed Peters to grab second place with 40 laps left in the race. The former South Boston Speedway and NASCAR national champion tried to run down Pulliam in the late stages of the race but came up short.

Six cars in the 18-car starting field were involved in a crash in the second turn on the third lap of the race. All suffered varying amounts of damage with three drivers that have been top contenders throughout the season – Bobby McCarty, Dustin Storm and Josh Oakley – unable to continue.

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