Season Ends with Overton in Victory Lane and Thomas a Two-Time Champion

11/30/2024

Crate Racin' USA

Season Ends with Overton in Victory Lane and Thomas a Two-Time Champion

(Swainsboro, GA - November 30th, 2024) – The 2024 Rogers-Dabbs Performance Parts Crate Racin' USA Dirt Late Model Series season came to a thrilling conclusion with Evans, Georgia’s Brandon Overton taking home the $10,000 payday at the Turkey 100, while Phenix City, Alabama’s Jimmy Thomas captured his second career Crate Racin' USA National Championship.

Overton's victory on Saturday night marked his second career series win, his first since 2010 at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, GA. Overton led the final 16 laps of the 100-lap feature event, crossing the finish line ahead of Michael Brown and 2020 series champion Wil Herrington. The win came after a dramatic twist in the race when Lincolnton, NC’s Carson Ferguson, who had been leading the race, pulled off on lap 34 due to a mechanical issue, handing Overton the lead and ultimately the win.

Ferguson had started the race on the pole, with Overton alongside. Ferguson jumped out to a strong early lead, only to be slowed by slower cars in the back of the field. The first caution came on lap 15 when Mario Gresham of Rome, GA experienced issues, forcing him to the pits. Ferguson continued to hold the lead, but Overton and Brown soon began to close the gap. The race’s turning point came on lap 34 when Ferguson was forced to the pits, ending his bid for a sweep of the weekend’s races and allowing Overton to take control. He would hold that lead for the remainder of the race, earning his second career Crate Racin' USA victory.

In addition to the Turkey 100 drama, the race also marked the final event of the 2024 season and saw Jimmy Thomas clinch his second career Crate Racin' USA National Championship. Entering the weekend with a slight advantage over Matt Dooley, Thomas’ seventh-place finish was enough to secure the title, ending the season 62 points ahead of Dooley and 116 points in front of third-place finisher Matt Henderson. Over the course of the 2024 season, Thomas accumulated 4 top-5 finishes and 11 top-10 finishes in 17 events, proving to be consistently competitive throughout the year.

Race 17 of 2024 - Swainsboro Raceway (11/30/24)
1-11B Brandon Overton-Evans, GA
2-24D Michael Brown-Lancaster, SC
3-00 Wil Herrington-Hawkinsville, GA
4-59 Trey Mills-St. Augustine, FL
5G4 Trent Ivey-Union, SC
644 Kam Boyd-Blackshear, GA
7-22 Jimmy Thomas-Phenix City, AL
8-22S Jeremy Steele-York, SC
9-5 Colby Quick-Salisbury, NC
10-98 Matt Dooley-Brooks, GA
11-10G Ty Giles-Moultrie, GA
12-86 Cole Exum-Valdosta, GA
13-2S Layton Sullivan-Gaffney, SC
14-21 Mario Gresham-Rome, GA
15-22H Matt Henderson-Lenoir City, TN
16-00R John Ruggiero Jr-Lincolnton, NC
17-11S Spencer Hughes-Meridian, MS
18-42 Cla Knight-North Augusta, SC
19-46 Bryson Mitchell-Russelville, AL
20-75 Carson Ferguson-Lincolnton, NC
21-21W Pearson Williams-Dublin, GA
22-J1 Joshua Bishop-Statesboro, GA
23-28 David Williamson-Seminary, MS
24-515 Bubba Roling-Clay Hill, FL
Car Count: 50

Lap Leaders:
Caron Ferguson - 34
Brandon Overton - 16

ATC Bolts & Fasteners - Hard Charger:
#98 Matt Dooley - Brooks, GA (+13) 23rd to 10th

STAKT by CV Racing Products - Fastest Qualifier:
#75 Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC | 14.796

Chevrolet Performance Heat Races:
H1 - Carson Ferguson - Lincolnton, NC
H2 - Brandon Overton - Evans, GA
H3 - Trey Mills - St. Augustine, FL
H4 - Kam Boyd - Blackshear, GA

Rogers Dabbs Chevrolet B-main winners:
B1 - Colby Quick - Sailsbury, NC
B2 - Pearson Lee Williams - Dublin, GA

As the 2024 national champion, Thomas joins a select group of multi-time champions in Crate Racin' USA history. Those names include David Gentry ('06 & '07), Eric Cooley ('09 & '10), Ronnie Johnson ('13, '14, & '15), and most recently Cory Hedgecock in ('16 & '17). Now Thomas in 2021 and 2024.

In the Rookie of the Year battle, Matt Dooley finished the season strong, taking home the 2024 Cruise with the Champions - Rookie of the Year award. Dooley, who led the national points earlier in the season, held off Bubba Roling for the honor by just 56 points. Dooley’s season included 5 top-5 finishes and 12 top-10 finishes in the 17 events, marking a standout year for the young driver. As the Rookie of the Year, Dooley will receive a free cruise, courtesy of Cruise with the Champions.

The excitement of the 2024 season now shifts to the upcoming 2024 CRUSA Awards Banquet, set for Saturday, January 11th, at Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge and Resort in Pigeon Forge, TN. Tickets for the banquet are available through MyRacePass at https://www.myracepass.com/series/1848/tickets/1422501. The weekend will also feature the Southeastern Promoter's Workshop & Tech Seminar, presented by My Race Pass and Speed Sport TV, on Friday, January 10th. The workshop, which is 100% FREE to any promoters or track officials, will be an essential event for the motorsports industry, with additional details to be announced soon.

Cruise with the Champion - Rookie of the Year Points
1-Matt Dooley(R)-Brooks, GA | 1356 (-)
2-Bubba Roling(R)-Clay Hill, FL | 1300 (-56)
3-Braden Mitchell(R)-Russellville, AL | 934 (-422)
4-Josh Ray(R)-Byhalia, MS | 884 (-472)

Next Series Race:
Round 1 of 2025 (Winter Shootout Series)
January 2-4
Talladega Short Track / Talladega, GA
34th Annual Ice Bowl

For rules and information on both the Rogers Dabbs Performance Parts Crate Racin' USA Dirt Late Model Series (604 Late Models) visit our website at www.crateracinusa.com or email us at crateracinusa@gmail.com.

Crate Racin' USA would like to thank it's marketing partners Rogers Dabbs Performance Parts , Chevrolet Performance, Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, VP Racing Lubricants, KRC Power Steering, Knowles Race Parts and Bodies, Willy's Carb & Dyno Shop, LLC, Competition Racing Equipement, Cruise with the Champions, Savage Chassis, BMF Race Cars,Velocita by Melissa Markewitz , Eagle Racing Engines, Hickman Manufacturing, ATC Bolts & Fasteners, and Sin City Bail Bonds.

Article Credit: Cody Earley