By Gerald E Harris
Photo Creidt: Keith H. Anderson
The SEST Limited Late Models has been a very important part to the Southeast Super Truck Series over the last couple years. As the car count has been on the rise, the competition has increased tremendously as well. The drivers had a long off season, however the first race of the season they all made their way down to Anderson Motor Speedway on June 6th. Several rookies were making their first starts this year Marvin Miller (never competed in stock car racing), DJ Canipe (a graduate from the INEX Legends) just to name a few. Taylor Nesbitt made her return to the series after taking a few years off to compete at other tracks.
In the first afternoon practice, it was Justin Southerlin from right down the road in Liberty, SC who set the fastest time. Andrew Cordell, Taylor Nesbitt, Chris Phipps, and Josh Goble rounded out the top five. The difference from first to fifth was just a couple tenths. As they went into the final practice, it was the young lady of Nesbitt who found her way on top of the charts. She was followed by John Gallman, and TJ Lollis. Qualifying was up next, Fourteen of the best limited late model drivers went out onto the track each trying to knock off the fastest lap. Andrew Cordell claimed the Renegade Race Fuels Pole Award with a lap time of 15.966. He rolled a five on the invert dice which now set Chris Phipps in the #37 Appalachian Tile & Flooring Dwight Huffman Racing Chevrolet Impala.
The entire field made their way on to the speedway in behind the Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet Pace Truck, warming up their engines and tires. The flagman waited until the field made their way in the start box, Green flag flew for the first time in 2020. Phipps tried to get out front of the field and not look back, however Ryan Howard and John Gallman had other plans. The pair tried to split Phipps, but it didn’t work out, they fell back in behind the #37 machine. As they went into the third turn, Gallman seen his move and ducked to the inside of Chris, as they went side by side for the lead on the first lap. Gallman came across the start line with his nose out front and led the first lap, as they sailed into turn one, Gallman now had the advantage and pulled in front of Phipps.
Andrew Cordell was working his way inside the top three as he easily went by the #7H of Ryan Howard. Josh Goble kept his eyes peeled as he had just seen the #33 of Cordell go by Howard, he then ducked under the #7H. They raced side by side down the back straight away and into turn three. Justin Southerlin followed right in Gobles tracks and moved past Howard as well. The first caution flew as Marvin Miller went around in turn two. Miller fired his #41 Outback Cycles Chevrolet back up and aimed it back in the right direction. John Gallman led the fifteen car field back to the green flag. The battle for third began to heat up as Cordell, Goble and Southerlin were fighting for the position. The three car pack quickly caught the #37 of Phipps going down the back straight away. As Cordell tried to get under Phipps and washed up the track just a touch, and made slight contact with Goble sending him up the track. This allowed several cars to slip by the #65 Blackbear Transmission Chevrolet of Goble.
While all the action was coming to life in the the pack, Gallman was beginning to pull away from everyone. Cordell who had been trying for several laps to take over the second place from Phipps pulled up to the inside of him. They raced side by side down the back straight away before Cordell was able to capitalize on the second position, but he brought Southerlin with him. The battle for fifth was starting to heat up between the Lenoir, NC drivers of Charlie Watson and Goble as they raced door to door. Goble finally made the power move and passed his neighbor to capture the position. The second caution flew on lap 21 as Miller spun around in turn four. Gallman once again paced the field back to the green flag, and he shot out of the cannon. Southerlin and Cordell battled side by side for second, as they went back in the third turn Phipps seemed to go in to hard and washed up the track shuffling him back through the field. The third caution flew as the #41 of Miller went around again in turn two, as he got it fired back up and back in the right direction he was forced down pit road and to the discovery of his team they found the rear track bar was broken. Gallman once again led the field back to the green flag.
The rookie of Canipe began to put heavy pressure on Goble for sixth, while Chris Smith and Taylor Nesbitt were leering behind them. Canipe was able to work his way around Goble and take over that position. Meanwhile back up front Ryan Howard drove past Cordell for third setting his sights on Southerlin and Gallman up front. As the field worked their way into the final 33 laps of the race, Charlie Watson dived under the fifth place car of Alan Rich, and right in the rear view mirror was DJ Canipe. As they came down the front stretch, Watson wiggled just a tad bit and he ducked back in behind Rich.
After not being touched the entire first 45 laps of the race, Southerlin had now caught the leader Gallman. He waited for the right time to work his way around him, as they went into turn three, Southerlin dove to the inside and power moved his way up to the front of the #81 JWI Heating and Cooling Chevrolet. The fourth caution flew on lap 49 as Andrew Cordell cut a left rear tire down and came to a stop on turn four. Southerlin led the field back to the green flag and took off. Ryan Howard was the one who was able to make the best out of the restart as he pulled up beside Gallman for second. They raced door to door for one lap, before Howard was able to take over that position. The battle for fifth was now the show on the track as Rich had his hands full of Nesbitt, Canipe and Smith.
The fifth caution flew as the #29 On the Go Quick Lube DHR Chevrolet looped it around on the front straight away on lap 55. The young driver who was making his SEST Limited debut had a fantastic run going until that point. He spun his car back around and rejoined the tail end of the field. Southerlin led the field back to the green flag. Howard was in the cat birds seat as he stayed on the outside of Southerlin, they raced side by side for several laps. As the field came out of turn four Watson and Gallman made contact sending Watson to the bottom of the track. The sixth caution flew as Goble went around going into turn one on lap 56. Southerlin led the field back to the green once more, as they went into turn one, Gallman tagged the left rear quarter of Southerlin sending him up the track. This allowed Alan Rich and Chris Smith to slide on by the #47 machine.
Southerlin regained his composure and pulled back to the inside of Smith and they raced door to door until Justin was able to pull back into the fourth place. He then set his sights on the #03 Chevrolet of Rich and picked him off taking over the third position. While that battle was taking shape, the #92 Alan’s Jewelry and Pawn Chevrolet of Nesbitt pulled up to the inside of Smith battling for fifth. The young female over powered Smith to take over the that position on the track and it left the door open for Canipe to work his way up to the inside of Smith. They battled it out until Canipe was able to capture the sixth position. Nesbitt quickly caught the #03 machine of Rich and didn’t waste any time getting around him taking over fourth. Canipe followed the driver of the #92 and passed Rich as well. Ryan Howard went on to capture his first SEST Limited Late Model victory in his first start with the series.
The SEST Limited Late Models will be back in action on June 20th at Anderson Motor Speedway for the second installment of the 2020 season. For more information you can visit our website www.southeastsupertrucks.com or our social media outlets. Also don’t forget if you cant make it out to the track, you can always watch every second of the action, by logging on to www.sest.tv and purchasing your subscription today.
Official Results:
1. 7H Ryan Howard
2. 47 Justin Southerlin
3. 81 John Gallman
4. 92 Taylor Nesbitt
5. 29 DJ Canipe
6. 48 Chris Smith
7. 9 Charlie Watson
8. 65 Josh Goble
9. 03 Alan Rich
10. 33 Andrew Cordell
11. 50 TJ Lollis
12. 88 Alexx Brazeale
13. 37 Chris Phipps
14. 41 Marvin Miller
15. 8 Will Jones
Photo Creidt: Keith H. Anderson
The SEST Limited Late Models has been a very important part to the Southeast Super Truck Series over the last couple years. As the car count has been on the rise, the competition has increased tremendously as well. The drivers had a long off season, however the first race of the season they all made their way down to Anderson Motor Speedway on June 6th. Several rookies were making their first starts this year Marvin Miller (never competed in stock car racing), DJ Canipe (a graduate from the INEX Legends) just to name a few. Taylor Nesbitt made her return to the series after taking a few years off to compete at other tracks.
In the first afternoon practice, it was Justin Southerlin from right down the road in Liberty, SC who set the fastest time. Andrew Cordell, Taylor Nesbitt, Chris Phipps, and Josh Goble rounded out the top five. The difference from first to fifth was just a couple tenths. As they went into the final practice, it was the young lady of Nesbitt who found her way on top of the charts. She was followed by John Gallman, and TJ Lollis. Qualifying was up next, Fourteen of the best limited late model drivers went out onto the track each trying to knock off the fastest lap. Andrew Cordell claimed the Renegade Race Fuels Pole Award with a lap time of 15.966. He rolled a five on the invert dice which now set Chris Phipps in the #37 Appalachian Tile & Flooring Dwight Huffman Racing Chevrolet Impala.
The entire field made their way on to the speedway in behind the Rick Hendrick City Chevrolet Pace Truck, warming up their engines and tires. The flagman waited until the field made their way in the start box, Green flag flew for the first time in 2020. Phipps tried to get out front of the field and not look back, however Ryan Howard and John Gallman had other plans. The pair tried to split Phipps, but it didn’t work out, they fell back in behind the #37 machine. As they went into the third turn, Gallman seen his move and ducked to the inside of Chris, as they went side by side for the lead on the first lap. Gallman came across the start line with his nose out front and led the first lap, as they sailed into turn one, Gallman now had the advantage and pulled in front of Phipps.
Andrew Cordell was working his way inside the top three as he easily went by the #7H of Ryan Howard. Josh Goble kept his eyes peeled as he had just seen the #33 of Cordell go by Howard, he then ducked under the #7H. They raced side by side down the back straight away and into turn three. Justin Southerlin followed right in Gobles tracks and moved past Howard as well. The first caution flew as Marvin Miller went around in turn two. Miller fired his #41 Outback Cycles Chevrolet back up and aimed it back in the right direction. John Gallman led the fifteen car field back to the green flag. The battle for third began to heat up as Cordell, Goble and Southerlin were fighting for the position. The three car pack quickly caught the #37 of Phipps going down the back straight away. As Cordell tried to get under Phipps and washed up the track just a touch, and made slight contact with Goble sending him up the track. This allowed several cars to slip by the #65 Blackbear Transmission Chevrolet of Goble.
While all the action was coming to life in the the pack, Gallman was beginning to pull away from everyone. Cordell who had been trying for several laps to take over the second place from Phipps pulled up to the inside of him. They raced side by side down the back straight away before Cordell was able to capitalize on the second position, but he brought Southerlin with him. The battle for fifth was starting to heat up between the Lenoir, NC drivers of Charlie Watson and Goble as they raced door to door. Goble finally made the power move and passed his neighbor to capture the position. The second caution flew on lap 21 as Miller spun around in turn four. Gallman once again paced the field back to the green flag, and he shot out of the cannon. Southerlin and Cordell battled side by side for second, as they went back in the third turn Phipps seemed to go in to hard and washed up the track shuffling him back through the field. The third caution flew as the #41 of Miller went around again in turn two, as he got it fired back up and back in the right direction he was forced down pit road and to the discovery of his team they found the rear track bar was broken. Gallman once again led the field back to the green flag.
The rookie of Canipe began to put heavy pressure on Goble for sixth, while Chris Smith and Taylor Nesbitt were leering behind them. Canipe was able to work his way around Goble and take over that position. Meanwhile back up front Ryan Howard drove past Cordell for third setting his sights on Southerlin and Gallman up front. As the field worked their way into the final 33 laps of the race, Charlie Watson dived under the fifth place car of Alan Rich, and right in the rear view mirror was DJ Canipe. As they came down the front stretch, Watson wiggled just a tad bit and he ducked back in behind Rich.
After not being touched the entire first 45 laps of the race, Southerlin had now caught the leader Gallman. He waited for the right time to work his way around him, as they went into turn three, Southerlin dove to the inside and power moved his way up to the front of the #81 JWI Heating and Cooling Chevrolet. The fourth caution flew on lap 49 as Andrew Cordell cut a left rear tire down and came to a stop on turn four. Southerlin led the field back to the green flag and took off. Ryan Howard was the one who was able to make the best out of the restart as he pulled up beside Gallman for second. They raced door to door for one lap, before Howard was able to take over that position. The battle for fifth was now the show on the track as Rich had his hands full of Nesbitt, Canipe and Smith.
The fifth caution flew as the #29 On the Go Quick Lube DHR Chevrolet looped it around on the front straight away on lap 55. The young driver who was making his SEST Limited debut had a fantastic run going until that point. He spun his car back around and rejoined the tail end of the field. Southerlin led the field back to the green flag. Howard was in the cat birds seat as he stayed on the outside of Southerlin, they raced side by side for several laps. As the field came out of turn four Watson and Gallman made contact sending Watson to the bottom of the track. The sixth caution flew as Goble went around going into turn one on lap 56. Southerlin led the field back to the green once more, as they went into turn one, Gallman tagged the left rear quarter of Southerlin sending him up the track. This allowed Alan Rich and Chris Smith to slide on by the #47 machine.
Southerlin regained his composure and pulled back to the inside of Smith and they raced door to door until Justin was able to pull back into the fourth place. He then set his sights on the #03 Chevrolet of Rich and picked him off taking over the third position. While that battle was taking shape, the #92 Alan’s Jewelry and Pawn Chevrolet of Nesbitt pulled up to the inside of Smith battling for fifth. The young female over powered Smith to take over the that position on the track and it left the door open for Canipe to work his way up to the inside of Smith. They battled it out until Canipe was able to capture the sixth position. Nesbitt quickly caught the #03 machine of Rich and didn’t waste any time getting around him taking over fourth. Canipe followed the driver of the #92 and passed Rich as well. Ryan Howard went on to capture his first SEST Limited Late Model victory in his first start with the series.
The SEST Limited Late Models will be back in action on June 20th at Anderson Motor Speedway for the second installment of the 2020 season. For more information you can visit our website www.southeastsupertrucks.com or our social media outlets. Also don’t forget if you cant make it out to the track, you can always watch every second of the action, by logging on to www.sest.tv and purchasing your subscription today.
Official Results:
1. 7H Ryan Howard
2. 47 Justin Southerlin
3. 81 John Gallman
4. 92 Taylor Nesbitt
5. 29 DJ Canipe
6. 48 Chris Smith
7. 9 Charlie Watson
8. 65 Josh Goble
9. 03 Alan Rich
10. 33 Andrew Cordell
11. 50 TJ Lollis
12. 88 Alexx Brazeale
13. 37 Chris Phipps
14. 41 Marvin Miller
15. 8 Will Jones