Boone Wins Battle of Tennessee Drivers in Pensacola, Captures Allen Turner PLM No. 3; Barber Makes it 4 in a Row

Boone Wins Battle of Tennessee Drivers in Pensacola, Captures Allen Turner PLM No. 3; Barber Makes it 4 in a Row

August 25

By Chuck Corder
5flagsspeedway.com reporter

The only thing hotter than the temperature Friday at Five Flags Speedway was the performance of Jackson Boone.
With the sweltering heat prompting drivers to rehydrate during cautions, Boone stayed cool under pressure. The Tennessee driver led nearly every lap en route to the third Allen Turner Hyundai Pro Late Model 100 race of 2023 at Five Flags.
It was Boone’s first victory at Pensacola’s high banks since last September. He outlasted a 25-car field and more than a half a dozen cautions to get his fourth PLM victory overall this season.

“I was outta breath those last three laps,” Boone said. “Those were the longest laps of my life. Hats off to my team. I’m so proud.”
Boone and the Friday night survivors will head to Mobile International Speedway tonight to cap the first Gulf Coast doubleheader in some time. He got his weekend off on the right foot by maximizing the most of his aggressive approach early on Friday.
Boone started fourth, but it was clearly on a mission at the drop of the green flag. He found clean air on Lap 3, passing Augie Grill coming out of Turn No. 2, and withstood a multitude of restarts.
“I can’t tell you how awesome this feels,” Boone said. “It has been a labor of love for us this season. And, it’s been hard on us mentally more than physically. But my guys are resilient.”

Defending Allen Turner PLM track champion Dylan Fetcho took the lead from Boone following a restart at Lap 65. However, Boone quickly fought back and reclaimed his advantage four laps later. Fetcho finished third while newcome Carson Brown finished runner-up.
“It seemed like there was not much saving going on the whole race,” Fetcho said. “We have definitely made improvements and made the car better because the car was really good. I wish we would’ve stayed green. We were better on the longer runs, and I think we could’ve got to (Boone).”

Zoom Equipment Pro Trucks
Grant Thompson has his rivals in the palm of his hand.
Whether he starts on the pole or near the tail end, the Mobile hotshoe is once again dominating the Zoom Equipment Pro Trucks division at Five Flags Speedway.

Thompson scored his third victory of the season, assuming the lead on Lap 3 and never breaking a sweat in the 20-lap feature.
“We had a good car tonight,” said Thompson, who was the Pro Trucks track champion at Five Flags in 2020. “We’re gonna try to finish off with another championship.”
Treyce Capers was second and Cody McCawley finished third.
“We’re getting closer and closer,” Capers said. “We fix one problem and another one comes up it seems like. We’ll keep working on it, keep massaging it. Grant’s tough to beat, though.”

Lloyd’s Glass Pure Stocks
Robert Barber didn’t let a strange sequence of events interrupt his streak Friday at Five Flags Speedway.
The Alabama driver tallied his fourth consecutive victory, his fifth win in the last six races, capturing the Lloyd’s Glass Pure Stocks 20-lap feature despite a mid-race pit stop to repair a flat tire.
“The right rear went flat, the car went sideways,” Barber explained in Victory Lane, “and I couldn’t keep it under me.”
It was a truly remarkable comeback in a race that saw a driver get black-flagged and a Five Flags rookie finish second. Thomas Norman was the recipient of the black flag when he suddenly opted for the outside lane on a restart with seven laps complete just moments after following the inside pack when drivers are required to choose.

Norman’s peculiar moves and two-time winner Mason Johnston’s struggles paved the way for Wayne Burkett and Connor Odom to lead several laps until Barber passed them both en route to his win.
Odom was making his first appearance at Pensacola’s high banks and left with a runner-up result. Burkett came home third.
“This was an absolute blast,” Odom said. “I’ve been on dirt my whole life. To do this on asphalt was absolutely awesome.”

Story & Bleich Crown Stocks
The largest field in the young history of the Story and Bleich Crown Stocks class at Five Flags Speedway yielded its most dramatic result Friday night. And eye-popping field of 25 cars battled in the beginner’s division, which is in its inaugural season at the famed half-mile asphalt oval.
Adam Salter captured his second 15-lap feature victory of the year when the dust settled much to the chagrin of Tyler Young, who was leading on the final lap. Salter, who battled with Young for most of the race, seized on his opportunity with the white flag waving and moved Young for the P1 position as the two leaders came out of Turn No. 4.

Young, who finished fifth, took exception and roughed Salter up in the post-race cool down, T-boning Salter on his way to Victory Lane.
“We had the fastest car,” said Salter, who scored his second win of the season. “I thought we were good. He just slammed over me. I used every square inch I could. I thought you were supposed to race for the win on the last lap. I guess if you can’t win, you tear everybody else up. We’ll be in Mobile (tonight) if he wants to do it again.” .

Dave Nolen finished runner-up and Hunter Lambert rounded out the podium.
Lapped traffic played a massive part in the 15 lapper’s outcome. Salter took the lead from Young on Lap 13 only to see Young fight back and reclaim the lead as the pair came out of Turn No. 2 on the white flag lap.
With a host of lapped cars between them and the checkered flag, Young and Salter raced down the back stretch until Salter saw his chance as the pair dove into Turn No. 4.

“It was fun, but definitely a little difficult with all the lapped traffic,” Lambert said. “That’s what happens when all these cars show up.”

Article Credit: Chuck Corder