April 20
Ultimate Motorsports Park,
Elkin, NC
Sanction: Ultimate Southeast Series (Ultimate Takeover) - $7,500
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated April 22, 10:57 am)
Bailes steals $7,500 Ultimate Takeover triumph
Ultimate Takeover
- Ross Bailes
- Payton Freeman
- Jordan Koehler
- Jamison McBride
- Ben Watkins
- Michael Leach
- Gray Parton
- Christian Thomas
- Benji Hicks
- Luke Morey
- Greg Clark
- Brent Robinson
- Willie Milliken
- Jeff Parsons
- Donovan Jackson
- David Yandle
- Caleb Fulp
- Matthew Nance
- Dustin Mitchell
- Dennis Franklin
- Dale Moore
- Dalton Jacobs
- Steve Banal
- Anthony Sanders
Ross Bailes holds his $7,500 winner's check in victory lane at Ultimate Motorsports Park.
What won the race: Slipping inside race-long leader Jordan Koehler on the 49th circuit, fifth-starting Ross Bailes of Clover, S.C., captured Saturday's 50-lap Ultimate Takeover at Ultimate Motorsports Park. Bailes pocketed $7,500 for his first feature victory of the season and his 13th career Ultimate Southeast Series triumph.
Quotable: “That was really fun. I hate that I got into Jordan (Koehler) there on that last lap, but man, it was go time,” Bailes said. “He left me a lane and I had to take it, but that was a fun race. There at the beginning, I was way too patient, but I think it paid off there at the end. These new tires, I think they’re throwing me for a loop .. I’m just way too patient, I need to be more aggressive, I guess.”
Key notes: Bailes recorded his first win since topping last fall's $20,000 Beckley USA 100 and his first Ultimate Southeast victory since Oct. 22, 2022, at Gaffney, S.C.'s Cherokee Speedway. ... Third-starting Payton Freeman passed Koehler heading to the white flag and finished 2.074 seconds behind Bailes. ... Koehler, of Mount Airy, N.C., led the opening 48 laps from the pole before settling for a third-place finish at the track owned and promoted by his family. ... Ben Watkins ran as high as fourth before rounding out the top-five finishers. ... Brent Robinson, a week removed from earning his first career Carolina Clash Series victory, improved nine positions and placed 13th. ... Dustin Mitchell slowed from sixth on lap 20 to draw the race's first caution; he was unable to continue and credited with 19th. ... Saturday's feature lasted 24 minutes, with 12 competitors completing the distance and 16 running at the finish. ... An on-demand replay of the Late Model action is now available for viewing on Pit Row TV.
On the move: Michael Leach of Sun River, Mont., started 12th and finished sixth.
Winner's sponsors: Bailes’s Joey Malone-owned Longhorn by Wesley Page Chassis carries sponsorship from Fred Caldwell Chevrolet, Mid-Atlantic Roofing Supply, Bailes Construction, Wakefield Logging, WP Racing Shocks, Bobby Taylor Oil Company, VP Racing Fuels, Indocil Art and ShopBM23.com.
Points chase: After Ultimate: 1. Ben Watkins (93); T2. Gray Parton (91); T2. Christian Thomas (91); 4. Willie Milliken (75); 5. Greg Clark (74).
Current weather: Clear, 63°F
Car count: 30
Fast qualifier: Jamison McBride
Time: 15.281 seconds
Polesitter: Jordan Koehler
Consolation race winners: Benji Hicks, Michael Leach
Next series race: May 4, Lancaster Motor Speedway (Lancaster, SC) $0
Editor's note: Transposes the 12th- and 13th-place finishers after a scoring adjustment.