4/14/2025
Lake View Motor Speedway
Christian Thomas Wins Ultimate Season Opener At Lake View
LAKE VIEW, SC (April 12) – Wake Forest, NC driver Christian Thomas led flag-to-flag to win Saturday night's Ultimate Super Late Model Series season opener at Lake View Motor Speedway. It was Thomas' third career Ultimate win and first since 2023.
Thomas set a blistering pace in qualifying with a lap of 15.477seconds and would lead the 16-car field to the green flag. Thomas gained the advantage at the start over another former track champion, Willie Milliken. Ben Watkins made his move towards the front, passing Milliken and setting his sights on Thomas. The leaders entered heavy lapped traffic before the first caution of the night waved on lap 22 for a spin in turn four by Hunter Kohn. The race would be slowed again six laps later when Brian Strickland had a mechanical problem resulting in a spin by Colby Jenerette exiting turn four. On the restart, Watkins made an attempt to take the lead from Thomas with the two cars making contact in turn two. Thomas maintained the lead and led the rest of the way to take the checkered flag over Watkins, Brent Robinson, Adam Yarbrough, and Milliken. Rounding out the top 10 were Donovan Jackson, Michael Rouse, Dale Timms, Anthony Sanders, and Jordan Yawn.
Dawson Lowe led every lap to win the Red Clay Series 602 Late Model feature. Other than a couple of spins by Brandon Greene, the race moved swiftly with Shaun Sise, Kevin Fisher, Greene, and Kenny Pepple, Jr. following Lowe at the finish.
Eric Thompson grabbed the lead from Denny Williams at the start and led the rest of the way for the Southern Wedge Late Model win. Kris Dunlap had a top five run early but fell out with a mechanical issue. Following Thompson to the checkered flag were Chuck Southard, Williams, David Stone, and Todd Barlow.
Cameron Holloway took the lead from Terry Caples at the start and led the rest of the way for his first Street Stock win of the season. The first caution of the race waved on lap eight when Reed Doyle pulled to a stop in turn two. On the restart, contact from Ryan Touchberry sent Andrew Register spinning into the turn three embankment. Holloway held Caples off for the win over Jonathan Hinson, Mike Manes, and Register.
Former Street Stock racer and champion, Michael Butler, took the lead halfway through and led the rest of the way for his first Fred's Tire & Auto Stock V8 win of the year. Cameron Bosworth spun into the backstretch embankment on the opening lap of the race to bring out the first caution of the race. Chip Fenoff led at the drop of the green flag but was passed by Butler for the lead on lap 10. Following Butler and Fenoff to the checkered flag were Tom Lovett, Justin Parker, and Derek Kemper.
Preston Beckham took advantage of a problem for race-long leader Bryan Funk to claim the win in the Sharp Mini Late Models. The caution waved soon after the green flag when Christian Pitts' car would not turn entering turn one, collecting Beckham and Anthony Burrell. Beckham made his way back through the field and pounced on Funk when he had a problem in turn two on the final lap. Following Beckham and Funk at the finish were Zeke Whitman, Burrell, and Mackenzie Hereford.
The next event at Lake View Motor Speedway will be the SCDRA Beach Bash Saturday night, April 26 and will feature the SCDRA Sport Compacts racing for $5,000 to win. Late Models, Street Stocks, Sportsman Modifieds, Stock V8, Bell & Bell Vintage Cars, and Juicebox Racers will also be in action For more information, please “Like” Lake View Motor Speedway on Facebook, follow @LakeViewDirt on X or by visiting lakeviewmotorspeedway.com.
Submitted By: Lisa Clemons
