Matt Craig dominated the Deep South Cranes 100 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola this past Saturday, leading every lap to secure the victory. Craig capitalized on a strong qualifying effort and a beneficial invert, holding off his closest competitor, Spencer Davis, who had set the fastest time in qualifying and ran second throughout the race. Jake Finch also contended for the track’s Blizzard Series Championship, but ultimately fell short of Stephen Nasse, who clinched the title with a seventh-place finish.
Stephen Nasse secured his first Blizzard Series Championship despite a challenging night. The number 51 car suffered damage after a stack-up in Turn 1 on Lap 2. Nasse worked his way up the field to finish seventh, a result he called "bittersweet" but satisfying, as he had been close to the title before the race. He expressed that he is already focused on future races, including the Snowball Derby and the Nashville and Winchester events.
The night also saw a dramatic incident involving Pro Late Model driver Dustin Smith. After finishing third, Smith was involved in the same Lap 2 incident as Nasse. On Lap 16, a tire from his left front wheel well blew out, causing him to hit the outside wall in Turn Three. Smith was removed from the car and subsequently taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
Smith confirmed that the crash was severe, stating he was taken to the ER to check for a concussion. While he reported that he is okay, the damage to his car was extensive, forcing him to miss several upcoming races. The results saw Craig take the win, Davis finish second, and Finch and Nasse complete the top three of the SLM feature.
Source: Short Track Scene