CONCORD, N.C. — It’s not very often a race driver is speechless after a big victory, but that was the case Saturday night at Concord Motorsport Park after Colt James topped the Supersonic 100 for the ASA Late Model Series Southern Division.
Racing in front of a huge contingent of family and friends, the Texan, who now calls Troutman, N.C., home, claimed a hard-fought, emotional victory at the three-eighths-mile asphalt oval.
“I don’t know what to say,” the 25-year-old driver said while wiping tears from his eyes. “This is for my dad. He pours so much money into this operation and he really believes in me.”
James battled with 15-year-old Drew Brannon, who had become the youngest winner in ASALMS history the previous weekend at I-70 Speedway in Missouri, throughout the 100-lap event.
Brannon led from the pole, but James moved ahead on lap 26. However, Brannon used a three-wide move through lapped traffic to regain the point on lap 34.
James was finally able to retake the lead on lap 68 and held on for the victory. Brannon finished second.
Point-leader Jimmy Lang, who won the first three events of the season, finished third after a flat tire sent him to the rear of the field during the first third of the event. Rookie-driver Blake Lehr was fourth, while NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Landon Cassill, who also came back from a flat right-front tire, finished fifth.
The finish:
Colt James, Drew Brannon, Jimmy Lang, Blake Lehr, Landon Cassill, Brandon Johnson, Jeff Choquette, Butch Miller, Justin Larson, Jeremy Gerstner, Victor Pfluger, Logan Ruffin, A.J. Fulgenzi, Jerick Johnson, Chad Pierce, Casey Caudill, Dustin Dunn, Preston Peltier, Jessica Murphy, Bobby East, Scott Rueschenberg, Will Hannah, Todd Bradberry, Trent Snyder, Brian Blum, David Odell.