The final night of the regular season for the ASA Southern Super Series and the Deep South Crane Blizzard Series offers many storylines for the race fans. These are just some of the things to watch at the season finale at Five Flags Speedway on September 28th.
Roderick Eyes Third ASA Southern Super Series Title
It’s almost over. Roderick needs just to take the green and score points and avoid any penalties that would cost him points before the night is over. This comes as no surprise as Roderick has had the title locked up in a way for a few races. Despite only one win, his seven top-five runs have cemented his place atop the point standings. Six of those seven races have been on the podium.
Here is one thing that has been hard to beat about the 2024 Roderick campaign. He’s completed all the laps thus far in 2024. All 1450 laps are accounted for as he leads the points by a wide margin. The potential championship will be his third with the Southern Super Series, making him the only man to have three and giving car owner Anthony Campi his first with a Touring Super Late Model Series.
Nasse Eyes Blizzard Title for the First Time
With all that Stephen Nasse has accomplished, it’s surprising to think he has never won a Blizzard Series title at Five Flags Speedway. The two-time Southern Super Series champion is seeking his first Deep South Cranes Blizzard Series title. Nasse has won seven of the last 19 races in the Blizzard Series and leads the points over Casey Roderick.
The only thing that Nasse has struggled with this year in the Blizzard Series is qualifying. In three races he’s started no better than eighth, but has been first or second after each event. Perhaps we will see more calculating driving for Nasse as he keeps his eyes on the championship prize.
Who Will Finish Second in the Southern Super Series
Race car drivers hate to finish second, but there is a lot on the line with a second-place run in the season-long points for the Southern Super Series. Bubba Pollard leads Matt Craig by 12 points. Craig would be seeking his second consecutive runner-up finish in the points. Pollard has been a runner-up four times in the past.
The other factor is they would be the next in line for the Snowball Derby provisional in December if needed. The chances that these two drivers would need to use that are slim and none, but then again a bad draw in qualifying could be costly. Having that extra insurance in your back pocket is worth fighting for.
The Race for 10th
Billy VanMeter currently sits 10th in the Deep South Crane Blizzard Series standings heading into the final race. Behind him sit Jeremy Doss, Dylan Fetcho, and Dustin Smith all within eight points of the top 10. As mentioned above a provisional is awarded for both the Southern Super Series points and the Blizzard Series points. The top 10 are eligible to receive the spot.
On the Southern Super Series side, Connor Okrzesik sits 10th with a 17-point lead over Jett Noland. Dawson Sutton is 12th, but he’s 87 points behind.
Who Will Win the Pro Late Model Title?
Carson Brown leads the Allen Turner Pro Late Model standings by 14 points over Seth Christiansen and 25 points over defending series champion John Bolen. Brown has posted finishes of fourth, second, and first in the most recent race. Christiansen won the first two races before posting an uncharacteristic ninth in the last race.
Last year we saw John Bolen come from behind to win the title and he will have to do that again to post a second-consecutive Pro Late Model track title. Bolen would be the first back-to-back champion from Alabama since DJ VanderLey in 2010 and 2011.