JACKSONVILLE, NC – Nathan Hall picked up his second career victory at New River All-American Speedway on Saturday night and, this time, he got to celebrate it in victory lane in front of the fans.
The Jacksonville driver started at the rear after breaking out twice in qualifying. Once the green flag dropped, Hall methodically worked his way through the field over the course of the 25-lap race, taking the lead on lap 13. From there, he was able to hold off the competition en route to victory.
After the race, he was overcome with emotions in victory lane.
“I told y’all I was going to put on a show starting in last place,” Hall said. “I think I did that pretty good. I was passing people in the grass and giving it everything this car had just to put on a show for my family right here. All this wouldn’t be possible without my wife [Amber], Eddie Humphrey and all those guys who coached me in victory lane here. I love y’all.”
Hall scored his first win back in March, but he did not find out he had won until a few days later when a handful of drivers who finished ahead of him were issued time penalties for breaking out. With two wins on the season, Hall will likely find himself locked in to the Race for the Championship playoffs at the end of the regular season.
Hunter Brown finished in the runner-up position for the second time this season, while Eddie Humphrey, Richard Smith, and Kevin Wrenn rounded out the top five in the 17-car field.
Reigning Charger champion Michael O’Brien scored an upset victory in the second of two NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Late Model races. After an invert of all the lead lap cars in the first race put O’Brien on the pole for the second, he was able to hold off a hard-charging Rusty Daniels to score his first career Late Model victory.
“After the day we’ve had, I definitely wasn’t expecting this,” O’Brien said after the race. “This is for everybody who helps on this car. We sucked all day. Kind of, first race, played the tire game a little bit. Made a major swing after the first race and it helped. The first race, we were on new tires and that’s their game. I’ve run on scuff tires [in Chargers] for the past eight years. The second race was more of a Charger race, and we’ve run really good in Charger.”
Last season, O’Brien won the Charger division championship at New River, Wake County Speedway and Carteret County Speedway.
Daniels, who finished in the runner-up position in the second feature, won the first race over Brandon Clements, who was victorious in the Mini Stock feature race. T.J. Barron finished third in both races.
Daniel Baker picked up his first Champ Kart victory at New River, while Joseph Bryant won in Mini Cup.
New River All-American Speedway roars back in action on Saturday, April 29 with Late Models, Bombers, Champ Karts, Legends, Bandoleros, Mini Stocks and U-CARs all competing under the lights.
New River All-American Speedway is Jacksonville’s Action Attraction featuring racing and other events. For more information about New River All-American Speedway, check out the speedway’s website, like/follow “New River Speedway” on Facebook, follow @newriverswy on Twitter, or follow the track on Instagram.
RESULTS
Late Model Race 1 | 40 laps
1. 16-Rusty Daniels[1]; 2. 7-Brandon Clements[2]; 3. 44-T J Barron[5]; 4. 4-Adam Resnick[7]; 5. 29-Paul Williamson[3]; 6. 61-Michael O’Brien[8]; 7. 40-BRIAN THOMAS[6]; 8. 21-Gerald Benton[4]
Late Model Race 2 | 40 laps
1. 33-Nathan Hall[18]; 2. 11-Hunter Brown[5]; 3. 14-Eddie Humphrey[1]; 4. 77-Richard Smith[7]; 5. 41-Kevin Wrenn[8]; 6. 95-David Fulk[13]; 7. 13-Tom Bonner[11]; 8. 3-Johnny Floyd[6]; 9. 4-Chad Cunningham[17]; 10. 34-Michael Withrow[14]; 11. 97-Justin Brooks[4]; 12. 66-Ronnie Kropp[12]; 13. 51-Adam Mattice[15]; 14. 5-Haley Brown[10]; 15. 53-Parker Deatley[16]; 16. 83-Robert Drum[9]; 17. (DQ) 81-Brian Gooden[2]
Bomber | 25 laps
1. 33-Nathan Hall[18]; 2. 11-Hunter Brown[5]; 3. 14-Eddie Humphrey[1]; 4. 77-Richard Smith[7]; 5. 41-Kevin Wrenn[8]; 6. 95-David Fulk[13]; 7. 13-Tom Bonner[11]; 8. 3-Johnny Floyd[6]; 9. 4-Chad Cunningham[17]; 10. 34-Michael Withrow[14]; 11. 97-Justin Brooks[4]; 12. 66-Ronnie Kropp[12]; 13. 51-Adam Mattice[15]; 14. 5-Haley Brown[10]; 15. 53-Parker Deatley[16]; 16. 83-Robert Drum[9]; 17. (DQ) 81-Brian Gooden[2]
Champ Kart | 20 laps
1. 1-Daniel Baker[7]; 2. 2-Aaron Layden[2]; 3. 28-Josh Eubanks[1]; 4. 55-Corey Lucas[6]; 5. 7X-Tripp Dail[4]; 6. 20-Martin Grasso[11]; 7. 18-Keith Webb[9]; 8. 13-Miles Rochelle[10]; 9. 211-Jacob Tingen[3]; 10. 127-jimmie whitehurst[8]; 11. 82-Wayne Hunter[12]
Mini Stock | 35 laps
1. 7-Brandon Clements[1]; 2. 27-Lee Kozikowski[2]; 3. 99-Travis Miller[3]; 4. 38-Joseph Bryant[4]; 5. 03-Cornell Williams[5]
Mini Cup | 15 laps
1. 38-Joseph Bryant[2]; 2. 10-Landon Strickland[1]; 3. 40-Bobby Memory Jr[3]
