Deep South Speedway
Joiner wins $2,000 in Deep South's finale
LOXLEY, Ala. (Nov. 5) – Returning to the racetrack for the first time in two months, Joseph Joiner dominated the inaugural Southern Dirt Track Nationals at Deep South Speedway Saturday night on his way to a $2,000 victory.
The second-starting Joiner, 18, of Milton, Fla., outdueled home-state hotshoe Shep Lucas of McKenzie, on the opening circuit of the 40-lap Crate Late Model special event and pulled away from Tennessee invader Todd Morrow en route to scoring the biggest payday of his young career.
Morrow settled for the runner-up finish with Chris O’Connor of Cantonment, Fla. third. Lucas slid back to fourth at the finish with Steven Brantley of Brewton, Ala., rounding out the top five.
The event completes the season for Deep South, which reopened late in the summer after sitting idle for nearly two years. The 4/10-mile, high-banked oval near Mobile, Ala., plans to host Crate Late Models sanctioned by the NeSmith Weekly Racing Series as its headlining division in 2012.
Notes: Joiner’s MasterSbilt Race Car is sponsored by twelve23movement.org, Genesis Shocks and Valken Racing. ... Joiner’s victory is his second in a row at Deep South. He scored a $1,000 Crate victory in his last outing on Sept. 10 in his first visit of the season. ... The victory is Joiner’s 14th overall of win of the season. He scored 12 victories in Super Late Model action this season on his way to a track championship at Southern Raceway in Milton, Fla.
Deep South Speedway: (1) Joseph Joiner, (2) Todd Morrow, (3) Chris O’Connor, (4) Shep Lucas, (5) Steven Brantley (complete finish unavailable). Fast qualifier: Lucas. Dash winner: Lucas.