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(Travis Dockery • Clay County Progress) “Big Sexy” Brandon Overton proudly shows of his reward for winning the 16th Tarheel 50 at Tri County Racetrack.
Brandon Overton added his name to the prestigious list of winners of the Tarheel 50 as he dominated the 53-lapper earning him $10,053 for the victory Friday, Oct. 11 at Tri County Racetrack in Brasstown. As one of the hottest drivers in the country right now, the win pushed Overton’s earnings to $30,053 in a seven day period. The Evans, Ga. driver led start to finish holding off Kyle Hardy at the end for his first Fall Nationals Series victory while becoming the fifth different winner in six races. Overton is now the tenth different winner of the Tarheel 50 event which drew a standing room only crowd for the event.
Four-time winner Casey Roberts and Overton would lead the field to green for the start of the main event with Roberts in hot pursuit. Roberts would pull off early in the race with small mechanical failure. Overton would continue to lead with Dale McDowell running second. Kyle Hardy, who started third, worked his way around McDowell for second near the halfway point in the event and would go to work on the high side and charge toward the front where Overton was and had momentum until the caution came out on lap 30. Hardy would hold on to second and make one last attempt on the final circuit but would come up short as Overton crossed the line for the win over Hardy, McDowell, Donald McIntosh and Kenny Collins.
Three cautions slowed the main event. The first yellow flag would wave on lap ten as Ashton Winger would slow on the backstretch. The second caution flag would come out on lap-17 as Bo Eaton came to rest at the top of turn four. The final yellow flag would wave on lap-30 as Andy Standridge spun his mount in turn four.
Division winners:
Super Late Model: Brandon Overton
602 Thunder Series: Rod Roberts
Street Stock: Jim Twiggs
Pony: Adam Brooks
Front Wheel Drive: Justin Queen