LAKELAND, Fla. — Bobby Gill took care of any drama left in the championship battle by winning the Robert H. Brooks Aaron’s 250 presented by the NGA Hooters Pro Golf Tour at USA Int’l Speedway Saturday night.
Gill, who needed a 15th-place finish to clinch the title, fought off a hard-charging Trevor Bayne on a late-race restart to claim his series-high 46th victory and fourth Hooters Pro Cup National title. The title was Gill’s first since the 2001 season.
“I’m not sure which one was sweeter because this one hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Gill, driver of the No. 06s USG Sheetrock Brand Ford. “This one was harder, though. We had the other ones wrapped up before we got to the final race.”
After taking the lead from Ben Stancill on lap 161, Gill built a comfortable lead by lap 200, but several late-race cautions allowed Bayne to close.
“It took a few laps for my car to get going on those restarts,” said Gill.
Bayne, driver of the No. 29s Strutmasters.com/DEI Chevrolet, took advantage of the final restart on lap 246, jumping to the inside of Gill and leading lap 247 before Gill pulled away by .264 second at the finish.
James Buescher, driver of the No. 84s Mercedes Homes Chevrolet, nipped Mark McFarland at the line to finish third and take home the Miller Lite Rookie of the Race honors.
Matt Hawkins finished fifth and nearly pulled off an amazing comeback in the Miller Lite Rookie of the Year standings. Hawkins, driver of the No. 2 H&H Electric Ford, came up one point shy of Brandon Ward’s winning point tally.
With 10 to go, Ward had the rookie title in hand, but contact with Kirk Leone sent Ward spinning into the wall. Ward limped home 21st to claim the closest rookie battle in Pro Cup history.
“Without the incident on the backstretch, we were in good shape,” said Ward. “That was just a racing deal. We got tight off the corner late in the race and he got into us. It made it close, but that’s what the Hooters Pro Cup Series is about.  Matt is a tough competitor. And if we couldn’t win it, I can’t think of anybody else more deserving.”

The finish:
Showing driver, car, laps completed and money won: 1. Bobby Gill, Ford, 250, $12,000; 2. Trevor Bayne, Chevrolet, 250, $6,500; 3. James Buescher, Chevrolet, 250, $7,000; 4. Mark McFarland, Chevrolet, 250, $5,500; 5. Matt Hawkins, Ford, 250, $5,500; 6. Dange Hanniford, Chevrolet, 250, $3,500; 7. Mike Garvey, Ford, 250, $3,000; 8. Billy Bigley, Jr., Ford, 250, $3,050; 9. Matt Carter, Ford, 250, $3,600; 10. Jody Lavender, Ford, 250, $2,400; 11. Ben Stancill, Ford, 250, $2,200; 12. Benny Gordon, Ford, 250, $2,100; 13. Johnny Rumley, Chevrolet, 250, $2,000; 14. Richard Boswell, Chevrolet, 250, $1,900; 15. Bill Plemons, Jr., Ford, 250, $2,050; 16. Sam Fullone, Chevrolet, 250, $1,700; 17. Mart Nesbitt, Ford, 250, $1,700; 18. Derrick Kelley, Ford, 250, $1,700; 19. Kirk Leone, Ford, 250, $1,700; 20. Derek Kale, Chevrolet, 250, $1,700; 21. Brandon Ward, Ford, 250, $1,600; 22. Clay Jones, Ford, 244, $1,600; 23. Woody Howard, Chevrolet, 242, $1,600; 24. A.J. Frank, Chevrolet, 241, $1,600; 25. Joe Harrison, Jr., Chevrolet, 237, $1,600; 26. Dusty Williams, Ford, 235, $1,500; 27. Gary St. Amant, Chevrolet, 209, $1,500; 28. Wade Day, Chevrolet, 205, $1,500; 29. Jeff Agnew, Ford, 186, $1,500; 30. Michael Ritch, Ford, 171, $1,500; 31. Ray Love, Jr., Chevrolet, 163, $1,500; 32. Mike Herman, Jr., Chevrolet, 154, $1,500; 33. Tom Hessert, Chevrolet, 87, $1,500; 34. Chase Pistone, Chevrolet, 86, $1,500; 35. Shane Wallace, Ford, 56, $1,500; 36. Jay Fogleman, Ford, 49, $1,500.