Brad Arthur Conquers New Track Surface at Southern National

By Jason Buckley

Earlier this season Southern National Raceway Park in Kenly (NC) decided it was time for a face lift.  The track was resurfaced, giving the facility a smooth new appearance.  As with most track resurfacing, the speeds increase as well as the excitement. 

While local division cars including Late Model Stocks and Limited Late Models have worked in the track, the Legends waited until Saturday to try out the new surface. Eleven Legends drivers felt the speed as they took to the track for practice and qualifying.  Pro driver Brad Arthur timed in second, but at the start of the race made the jump to the lead.  That was the winning move as he held off Billy Gomez for 20 caution-free laps to take the win.

Gomez, who started on the pole, was forced to drop back to second on the start.  Although he was second on the track at the end of the race, Gomez claimed the Masters win.

“I was asleep at the wheel,” said Gomez.  “The green flag dropped and I was sleeping.  My dad isn’t here and that is probably what is wrong.  He isn’t here crew chiefing me today.

Brad Arthur. (LN Photo)

“This place is all about the one groove.  If you get out in the black you are into the marbles.  If I had the jump I think I could have held him off.  I couldn’t get my line.  I had to slow up since he was slow in the turns.  But that is racing.  We will try to get them next time.”

Billy Gomez in his #66 Legends.  (LN Photo)

Arthur took the point on the start, but didn’t relax during the race as his handling started to go towards the end of the run.

“We got a little pull on him at the start of the race,” said Arthur.  “Towards the end, he started catching us.  My car got a little tight in the center.   I knew the only shot I had was to get him on the start.  It just worked out for us.”

The two leaders checked out on the field, leaving the rest of the drivers to battle for third.  William “Sparky” West, Jamie Price and Bo Triplett battled hard for the third spot with West holding on for the position, giving him the Semi Pro Division win.

“It was a good race,” said West.  “We made a few adjustments to loosen the car up.  It was a good race between me and Jamie Price.  He is my buddy.  I have raced him for a long time, back to Karts.

“I got me another 100 point win, which is what I need.  I am first in state and after they update the points I should be in the top 10 in points.  We are going after that state title.”

Although fourth spot isn’t necessarily where Price wanted to finish, he wasn’t going to press the issue with his friend West.

The Legends drivers praised the new surface at Southern National. (LN Photo)

“It was a good clean run,” said Price.  “Me and Sparky just like to go at it.  I know he will run me clean and vice versa.  We give each other room and that makes it fun.  I got underneath Sparky twice and he held me off on the outside, so the second groove isn’t too bad.”

Behind the two close friends was Triplett, who was boxed in, settling for fifth place.  Driving a team car to the race winner Arthur, Triplett showed patience in route to a solid finish.

“I was just kind of laying behind the #8 (Price) and #99 (West) hoping something was going to play out there,” said Triplett.  “I was just kind of stuck behind them.  Luck just didn’t come, but fifth place, I will take that.”

After the race, drivers seemed to enjoy the new track surface.  Triplett gave a thumbs up to the facility on the repaving.

“There is so much grip,” said Triplett.  “You can mash the gas in the center of the corner.  On the scale of one to 10 I would give it a seven or eight.  I have to give it to the speedway.  Great track.”

Race winner Arthur couldn’t agree more.

“They did an excellent job paving this track,” said Arthur.  “It is smooth as glass.  It is the smoothest racetrack I have raced on.  This track is unbelievably fast in the Legends car.  We are waiting for the second groove to come in right now, but it will get there.  I wish we could get a few more Legends cars to run with us.”

Division Winners

Pro: Brad Arthur

Semi Pro: William "Sparky" West

Masters: Billy Gomez