5/16/2025
Southern All Stars
Billy Franklin Extends SAS Point Lead with $4,000 Victory in Rumble in the Sandbox
(WINFIELD, ALABAMA) In the inaugural visit to West Alabama Speedway by the Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series presented by Franklin Enterprises, it was point leader Billy Franklin that emerged victorious on Friday night in the ‘Rumble in the Sandbox.’ After timing in fourth quickest in Group A during VP Racing Fuels qualifying, Billy started the 40-lap headliner from the seventh position. The Calera, Alabama ace then bolted to the front and made a third-to first power move on lap eleven to grab the point.
From there, Billy controlled the field for the remainder of the distance to pocket the $4,000 first place prize money. Finishing 2.173 seconds back at the unfurling of the checkered flag was outside polesitter Shay Miller, who led the first ten circuits of the contest. Eleventh-starting Seth McCormack charged up inside of the top five to round out the podium in third. Newport, Tennessee native Josh Henry picked off ten competitors to record a strong fourth place performance, while thirteenth-starting Walker Greer placed fifth in the final finishing order.
“This car has been good ever since we put it together and I can’t thank Mark Richards and those guys at Rocket enough,” Franklin said in Victory Lane in front of a large crowd at the Winfield Alabama oval. “I told everybody when I won one of these races outright that I was going to nose it into the wall and blow it up. But I’m going to be honest with you, this car is so dang good, I don’t want to tear it up. I don’t care how much money you've got in the world, when you come to run one of these Super Late Model races, it is really hard. It’s hard to win and I’m proud of everybody associated with this team!”
Franklin’s winning #17 Rocket XR1.2 Chassis was powered by an Andy Durham Racing Engine and was sponsored in part by Franklin Enterprises, Showtime Properties, Zippy Autos, Skinner Body Shop, Brown Auto & Alignment, and Fox Racing Shox.
A total of 24 competitors piled into the pit area at West Alabama Speedway to enter round six of the Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series schedule. Jason Milam went fastest in MRP Fantasy League hot laps, while Brad Skinner topped the speed chart in VP Racing Fuels qualifying with his quick time of 15.077 seconds. The top five qualifiers in each group transferred directly into the 40 lap feature, while Seth McCormack and Sam Norman were victorious in the pair of consolation events.
There were six caution flags that slowed the pace in the ‘Rumble in the Sandbox.’ Grayson Brewer brought out the first yellow flag when he spun on lap six, while a multi-car tangle on the ensuing restart drew another caution. Polesitter Brad Skinner then spun from third on the twelfth circuit. On the ensuing restart, Matthew Brocato was spun from behind by another competitor. Brayden Skinner drew the fifth yellow of the evening when he stopped on the track on lap twenty-six and fourth-running Ronnie Johnson headed pitside to change a flat left rear tire. The final caution of the night came on lap twenty eight when Travis Kress slowed exiting the racetrack.
Next up for the Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series presented by Franklin Enterprises will be a stop at North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia, Alabama on Saturday, May 17 - paying $5,000 to the winner. The pit gates will swing wide open at 3:00pm and the grandstands will start to allow patrons into the facility at 4:00pm. The drivers meeting is scheduled for 6:00pm and hot lap will take to the racetrack shortly thereafter. Grandstand admission will be $25.00 for adults and $5.00 for kids ages 6-11. Pit admission will be $40.00 for adults and $15.00 for kids ages 6-11. Children ages 5 and under will be allowed onto the grounds for FREE.
Along with the Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series in action on Saturday at North Alabama Speedway, the 602 Late Model, Modified Sportsman, Factory Stock, Mini Stock, and Buzz divisions will also light up the racetrack. North Alabama Speedway is located at 12200 Highway 247 in Tuscumbia, Alabama and the track phone number is 256-577-9097.
Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series presented by Franklin Enterprises
Round 6 Race Summary
Friday, May 16, 2025
West Alabama Speedway - Winfield, Alabama
American Racer Tires Feature Finish (40 Laps):
- (7) Billy Franklin $4,000
- (2) Shay Miller $2,000
- (11) Seth McCormack $1,200
- (14) Josh Henry $1,000
- (13) Walker Greer $900
- (4) Jason Milam $800
- (10) Ronnie Johnson $700
- (17) Bradley Price $680
- (20) Justin Jacobs $640
- (6) Travis Kress $600
- (5) Brayden Skinner $580
- (16) Johnny Faucett $560
- (8) Matthew Brocato $550
- (15) Joe Denby $540
- (21) Michael Luna $530
- (1) Brad Skinner $520
- (22) Marty Meredith $510
- (3) Kendall Franklin $500
- (12) Sam Norman $500
- (9) Brandon Carpenter $500
- (18) Grayson Brewer $500
- (19) Johnny Robinson $500
Entries: 24
Lap Leaders: Shay Miller (Laps 1-10), Billy Franklin (Laps 11-40)
Caution Flags: 6
MRP Fantasy League Hot Laps:
Fastest Lap Overall: Jason Milam 14.952
VP Racing Fuels Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Brad Skinner 15.077
Qualifying - Group A (Top Five Locked Into $4,000 Feature): 1. 3B-Brad Skinner, 00:15.077[11]; 2. 317-Kendall Franklin, 00:15.091[8]; 3. 15-Brayden Skinner, 00:15.250[2]; 4. 17F-Billy Franklin, 00:15.267[4]; 5. 51B-Brandon Carpenter, 00:15.305[7]; 6. W1-Walker Greer, 00:15.334[10]; 7. 4-Seth McCormack, 00:15.442[9]; 8. 27-Joe Denby, 00:15.518[12]; 9. 28-Bradley Price, 00:15.713[3]; 10. 00-Johnny Robinson, 00:16.271[1]; 11. 112-Michael Luna, 00:16.354[5]; 12. (DNS) 38-Dillon Tidmore
Qualifying - Group B (Top Five Locked Into $4,000 Feature): 1. 21-Shay Miller, 00:15.178[6]; 2. 82B-Jason Milam, 00:15.272[7]; 3. TKO-Travis Kress, 00:15.301[12]; 4. 78-Matthew Brocato, 00:15.432[11]; 5. 5-Ronnie Johnson, 00:15.436[9]; 6. B00-Josh Henry, 00:15.440[1]; 7. 46-Sam Norman, 00:15.468[10]; 8. B44-Grayson Brewer, 00:15.478[5]; 9. 17-Johnny Faucett, 00:16.133[4]; 10. 3D-Justin Jacobs, 00:16.826[3]; 11. 51M-Marty Meredith, 00:17.309[2]; 12. (DNS) 23A-Tim Armstrong
J&J Construction B-Main #1 Finish (Top Six Transfer): 1. 4-Seth McCormack[2]; 2. W1-Walker Greer[1]; 3. 27-Joe Denby[3]; 4. 28-Bradley Price[4]; 5. 00-Johnny Robinson[5]; 6. 112-Michael Luna[6]; 7. (DNS) 38-Dillon Tidmore
Southern Racing Enterprise B-Main #2 Finish (Top Six Transfer): 1. 46-Sam Norman[2]; 2. B00-Josh Henry[1]; 3. 17-Johnny Faucett[4]; 4. B44-Grayson Brewer[3]; 5. 3D-Justin Jacobs[5]; 6. 51M-Marty Meredith[6]; 7. (DNS) 23A-Tim Armstrong
2025 Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series Schedule of Events:
Saturday, February 1 - I-75 Raceway (Sweetwater, TN) - CORY HEDGECOCK
Saturday, February 22 - Buckshot Speedway (Clanton, AL) - POSTPONED
Friday, March 21 - Southern Raceway (Milton, FL) - JOSEPH JOINER
Saturday, March 22 - Southern Raceway (Milton, FL) - RYAN CRANE
Friday, April 11 - Penton Raceway (Lafayette, AL) - CORY HEDGECOCK
Saturday, April 12 - Winder-Barrow Speedway (Winder, GA) - DILLON
TIDMORE
Friday, May 16 - West Alabama Speedway (Winfield, AL) - BILLY FRANKLIN
Saturday, May 17 - North Alabama Speedway (Tuscumbia, AL) - $5,000 to
win
Saturday, June 14 - Lavonia Speedway (Lavonia, GA) - $5,000 to win
Friday, June 20 - North Georgia Speedway (Chatsworth, GA) - $4,000 to
win
Saturday, June 21 - Sugar Creek Raceway (Blue Ridge, GA) - $5,000 to win
Thursday, July 3 - I-75 Raceway (Sweetwater, TN) - $5,000 to win
Saturday, July 5 - Mountain View Raceway (Spring City, TN) - $4,000 to
win
Saturday, August 16 - Sugar Creek Raceway (Blue Ridge, GA) - $10,057 to
win
Friday, August 22 - Ponderosa Speedway (Junction City, KY) - $7,500 to
win
Saturday, August 23 - Lake Cumberland Speedway (Burnside, KY) - $12,000
to win
Friday, August 29 - 191 Speedway (Campton, KY) - $4,000 to win
Saturday, August 30 - 191 Speedway (Campton, KY) - $6,000 to win
Sunday, August 31 - Tazewell Speedway (Tazewell, TN) - $5,000 to win
Saturday, September 13 - Wartburg Speedway (Wartburg, TN) - $5,000 to
win
Friday, September 19 - Anderson Motor Speedway (Anderson, SC) - $12,000
to win
Saturday, October 11 - Dixie Speedway (Woodstock, GA) - $TBA to win
Saturday, October 25 - I-75 Raceway (Sweetwater, TN) - $10,053 to win
Current Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series Point Standings:
- Billy Franklin - 1156
- Ronnie Johnson - 1096
- Joe Denby - 1088
- Kendall Franklin - 1078
- Michael Luna - 1026
- Dillon Tidmore - 906
- Cory Hedgecock - 588
- Ryan Crane - 556
- Allen Styck - 556
- Bo Slay - 534
The Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series presented by Franklin
Enterprises would like to thank all of our 2025 marketing partners
including Franklin Enterprises, American Racer Tires, J&J Construction,
VP Racing Fuels, Coltman Farms Racing, Southern Racing Enterprise,
Thirteen34 Racing Media, Fullmoon Graphics, Gentry Used Auto Parts &
Recycling, RockAuto.com, Knowles Race Parts & Bodies, Olivia Gentry Real
Estate, MD3 Body Panels, Delph Communications, and Rugged Radios. More
information on the tour can be found online at www.SASDirt.com or by
accessing the series Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/SouthernAllStarDirtRacingSeries.
Media Contact: Ryan Delph - Delph Communications
www.DelphCommunications.com
Article Credit: Ryan Delph | Delph Communications
