Cochran Motor Speedway
Lloyd tops Weaver for SAS victory at Cochran
COCHRAN, Ga. (Oct. 30) — Third-starting Ivedent Lloyd Jr. of Ocala, Fla., powered past leader Randy Weaver just before the halfway point of Cochran Motor Speedway's Southern 50 on Saturday night to capture his second career victory on the Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series.
Lloyd, a two-time series champion who earned $5,000 for the victory, put a Snow Brothers Racing Chassis into victory lane for the first time in the 28-year history of the season.
"I have run (the chassis) a lot in my career and they are very comfortable for me. And they definitely can compete," said Lloyd, who has run infrequently on the tour since his second title in '08. "It feels good to get a win with these guys. I love running with the Southern All Stars. We are planning on running a lot more of them next year now that we have our Super program back up to where we need it."
Weaver, of Crossville, Tenn., settled for second but increased in points lead in pursuit of his second straight championship. Phillip Pittman of Vidalia, Ga., who started outside the front row and led the first five laps, was the top home-state finisher followed by Swainsboro, Ga., drivers Chesley Dixon and Ben Faircloth.
After Pittman's brief stint up front, Weaver took command on the sixth lap with a sweeping pass outside turns one and two. Lloyd dropped Pittman to third a lap later and began tracking the leader.
"Our car really began to tighten up and I had trouble keeping the car around the bottom," Weaver said. "We probably used up a little more than I should have to get the lead back, but I wasn't sure how long the track was going to good enough to pass on. I knew when I saw Ivedent stick his nose under me over there in turn four he was going to be hard to hold off."
Lloyd powered by Weaver just a few laps prior to the halfway point and then began to open up a huge lead. A late-race caution flag allowed Weaver to restart right on Lloyd's rear deck.
"I got a little worried when we had the yellow," Lloyd said. "My car had started to get tight through the center of the corners and I was afraid Weaver might be able to use the same move that I had used on him earlier to drive back by me. But we were able to get away enough to hold him off."
Notes: Lloyd's Snow Brothers chassis is powered by a Roush Yates Racing Engine and is sponsored by Wells Brothers Farms, Marion Machine and Tool, Hoosier Tire South and Dent's Racing Products. ... Lloyd's first series victory came in June 2008 at Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, Tenn. ... The event drew 21 cars representing six states. ... SAS enacted a limited-compound tire rule for this South Georgia event. ... The track announced it was making plans with the series to host a large purse event in the spring of 2011.
Southern 50: (1) Ivedent Lloyd Jr., (2) Randy Weaver, (3) Phillip Pittman, (4) Chesley Dixon, (5) Ben Faircloth, (6) Tommy Kerr, (7) Scott Creel, (8) Monk Gulledge, (9) Mike Collins, (10) Bob Robertson, (11) Duane Treadwell, (12) Benji Cole, (13) Casey Barrow, (14) Jake Knowles, (15) Ricky Williams, (16) Jeremy Ledford, (17) Keith Freeman, (18) Marvin Cook, (19) Matt Dooley, (20) Freddy Smith (20) Brian Nuttall Jr. Fast qualifier: Weaver, 15.548 seconds.
