Josh Brock grabs North/South SLM Challenge win at Nashville

Josh Brock claimed the N/S Challenge at Fairgrounds Speedway

The North/South Super Late Model Challenge 100 took the green flag a day later than expected at the Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville on Sunday afternoon to contest an event co-sanctioned by the ARCA/CRA Super Series, the Southern Super Series, and the CARS SLM Tour. Persistent rains throughout the day on Saturday forced series officials to postpone the event, which ran along with the ARCA Menards Series, from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon.

At the end of the day it was Josh Brock, representing the ARCA/CRA Super Series, who left the Music City as the winner of the event held on the historic track that once played host to NASCAR Cup Series races.

With track time being limited on Saturday because of the rain, practice times served as the basis for setting he starting lineup. Matt Craig set the overall fast time of 18.450 seconds around the .596 paved oval to beat out Josh Brock, Stephen Nasse, Donnie Wilson, Johnny VanDoorn, Michael House, Scotty Tomasik, Anthony Sergi, Chris Davidson and Jared Fryar.

A redraw reset the starting grid and that placed Josh Brock and Scotty Tomasik on the front row for the main event.

At the start of the 100-lap feature it was Brock who went to the top spot followed by Wilson, Tomasik, VanDoorn, Sergi and Craig. However, Craig went to work quickly as he took fifth away from Sergi and the second circuit. Further back, Nasse moved to seventh.

Brock and Wilson separated themselves from the field while Tomasik, VanDoorn and Craig fought over position 3-5.

Beginning on lap 10 and throughout most of the race distance Wilson would hound Brock as the top-two drivers disputed the race lead. At the same time, Craig continued to moved forward as he took fourth away from Tomasik on lap 12.

As the race advanced, the top-4 cars of Brock, Wilson, VanDoorn and Craig pulled ahead of the pack and rode in close formation as the laps clicked toward the halfway mark of the race. Slower traffic kept the lead machines closely bunched during this long period of green flag racing.

A lap 52 caution for a spin by Christian Rose stacked the field back together again. Craig took advantage of the ensuing restart to move around VanDoorn and assume the third position. Soon afterward Nasse would emerge to challenge VanDoorn for fourth.

Brock held firm to the top spot on lap 61 when Wilson maneuvered his car underneath that of the race leader. Slight contact resulted but the No. 17 held the position. The top-two were soon joined by Craig and those three cars remained tightly packed as they worked through slower vehicles.

Brock(17) held back Wilson(2) and Craig(54) over the closing laps

Wilson continued to stalk Brock until a lap 92 yellow flag set up a final dash to the finish. During that caution period, the car driving by the fourth-running Nasse stalled on the backstretch and required a push to get going. However, the No. 51 would have to restart from the tail of the lead lap cars.

Over the closing laps Brock held back the advances of Wilson and Craig to claim the biggest win of his career.

Finish: 1. Josh Brock, 2. Donnie Wilson, 3. Matt Craig, 4. Johnny VanDoorn, 5. Jared Fryer, 6. Anthony Sergi, 7. Jack Dossey III, 8. Giovanni Bromante, 9. Jeremy Pate, 10. Austin Kunert, 11. Casey Roderick, 12. Stephen Nasse, 13. Molly Helmuth, 14. Cole Williams, 15. Nolin Pope, 16. Scotty Tomasik, 17. Jett Noland, 18. Hunter Jack, 19. Justin Crider, 20. Logan Runyon, 21. Tim Hollis, 22. Chris Davidson, 23. Connor Okrzesik, 24. Kyle Bryant, 25. Trey Bayne, 26. Lee Tissot, 27. Wayne Grubb, 28. Michael House, 29. Christian Rose, 30. Greg Van Alst, 31. Spencer Wauters, 32. Johnny Brazier, 33. Colten Nelson, 34. Dennis Prunty

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