Rome Speedway
Thomas caps weekend, pockets $5,300 in Rome
William Thomas heads to a weekend sweep. (mikessportsimages.com)
ROME, Ga. (July 28) — Third-starting William Thomas of Phenix City, Ala., wrapped up the Schaeffer Oil Southern Nationals Series with a Sunday victory at Rome Speedway, earning $5,300 at the 4/10-mile oval in the non-points finale. He took the lead on lap 36. | Slideshow
While the tour’s prime title chasers, including champion champion Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., a Saturday night winner at Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway, passed up the race, Thomas made it part of a personal weekend sweep while ruling Rome. Thomas also won a Saturday night Southern All Star Racing Series event at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Ala.
Fellow second-row starter Vic Hill of Mosheim, Tenn., was the runner-up followed by polesitter and fast qualifier Ivedent Lloyd Jr. of Ocala, Fla. Jason Hiett of Lincoln, Ala. and Dennis “Rambo” Franklin of Gaffney, S.C. rounded out the top five.
Davenport passed up the race along with series runner-up Billy Ogle of Knoxville, Tenn., and third-place finisher Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., a four-time champion on the Ray Cook-promoted tour.
Notes: Thomas drove his CT 525-powered GRT Race Car to victory. He’s sponsored by J.W. Miller Lander & Timber, Alexanders Industrial Services, LSK and Austin Trucking. ... Thomas has four 2013 victories. ... He has two career Southern Nationals victories; his previous came last season at North Georgia Speedway in Chatsworth. ... Donald McIntosh of Dawsonville, Ga., started outside the front row but finished 20th. ... Rucker Orr of Newnan, Ga., drove his Limited Late Model to a 14th-place finish.
Schaeffer Oil Southern Nationals @ Rome: (1) William Thomas, (2) Vic Hill, (3) Ivedent Lloyd Jr., (4) Jason Hiett, (5) Dennis Franklin, (6) Jake Knowles, (7) Michael Page, (8) Jason Croft, (9) Brian Reese, (10) Frank Ingram, (11) Austin Smith, (12) Cody King, (13) Jason Wilson, (14) Rucker Orr, (15) Doug Stevens, (16) Brian Smith, (17) Michael Asberry, (18) Chuck Page, (19) Scott Hall, (20) Donald McIntosh, (21) Tyler Millwood, (22) Gary McPherson. Fast qualifier (among 28 cars): Llloyd, 14.094 seconds. Dash winner: Lloyd. Consolation race winners: Reese, Knowles.
