By Matt Skipper
As the temperatures began to drop at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Luke Doggett only began to heat up in the SRI Performance Monster Thunder Bombers Feature race.
After a competitive 20-lap Feature, the Forest City, NC driver scored his first career World Short Track Championship Feature win in his #97 machine.
Doggett began the Feature in sixth place – but quickly climbed up the field to the leaders by the third lap.
Doggett had to earn the lead, racing side-by-side with Boiling Springs, NC’s Luke Clements for the top spot. Using the high lane to his advantage, Doggett cleared the #51 to claim the lead.
Doggett never relinquished the lead but had to fend off a field of fast Thunder Bombers – including last year’s champion Rod Tucker. Though Tucker got close, he could never outpace the fast car the Doggett had to wheel.
Chris Dolack Photo
For Doggett, this is what he explains is the biggest and best win he has had in his racing career.
“This is a pretty crazy (win)”, Doggett said. “I’ve won some big races as far as these cars are concerned, but this is the best win I’ve ever had. Me and (Luke) were racing pretty hard there and I tried to run him as clean as I could. I got into him a couple of times trying to cut underneath him, but I think (he and I) will be alright. Me, Rod, Luke, and Tyler all raced pretty clean and I don’t know how to explain the feelings of winning at Charlotte.”
Tucker, of Greenville, SC, came home in second place after racing all-around the top five in the Feature.
Completing the Feature’s podium was Tyron, NC’s Mattison Hoots. After starting the Feature in seventh – then dropping to 10th after an early caution, Hoots climbed back up the field to take third in the latter portion of the 20-lap battle.
Flat Rock, NC’s Tyler Guice took home a fourth-place finish, and Clements ended the night with a top-five result.
RESULTS (20 Laps):
1. 97-Luke Doggett[6]; 2. 28-Rod Tucker[3]; 3. 47H-Mattison Hoots[7]; 4. 47-Tyler Guice[2]; 5. 51-Luke Clements[1]; 6. 78-Hunter Funderburke[10]; 7. 811-Randy Cantrell[12]; 8. 2F-Bradley Weaver[24]; 9. 135-Travis Jamieson[8]; 10. 54-Daniel Massey[19]; 11. 21-Nathaniel Jackson[13]; 12. 19-Stetsen Todd[4]; 13. 43-Jacob Funderburke[23]; 14. 13-Jesse Wall[16]; 15. 12X-Benji Knight[5]; 16. G41-Grant Burton[26]; 17. P8-Christopher Patterson[20]; 18. 32-Brandon Greene[21]; 19. 10W-Justin Watts[15]; 20. 483-Hannah Wall[25]; 21. 00P-Benny Peeler[17]; 22. 48-Grant Parr[14]; 23. 119-Jason Edmonds[9]; 24. 46-Bailey Hipp[11]; 25. S4-Tyler Smith[18]; 26. 196X-Brayson Riddle[22]
HIGHLIGHTS:
