Oakley Johns was able to steal the win from Tanner English during 36th Annual Gobbler at Duck River Raceway Park in Lewisburg, Tennessee on Saturday evening.
Oakley Johns via Duck River Raceway Park Facebook
During the 40-lap super late model feature, Tanner English started on the pole and led nearly every single lap until the final two when Oakley Johns took advantage of a lap car who got completely sideways in front of him and forced him to abandon the bottom groove and take evasive action to it.
Johns was able to slip underneath English and race him side by side through turns 3 and 4 and then completed the pass down the front stretch while taking the white flag. He never looked back and took home the win.
Oakley Johns slips past Tanner English to take the lead and the win after a lap car gets sideways with just 2 laps to go. pic.twitter.com/mT1kNUjkrI
— John Trent Racing (@JFTrentRacing) November 25, 2024
While Johns was able to take advantage of the lap car spinning in front of English, he methodically worked his way through the field from the fourth starting spot by sticking to the bottom while many of the other drivers ran the top especially early in the race. He picked off Josh Putnam for third with 22 to go after a nearly 10-lap battle.
After taking the third position, a caution would come out for Brad Skinner with 21 laps to go. On the ensuing restart, Johns would take the bottom underneath second place Sam Seawright and easily passed him down the front stretch and into turns 1 and 2.
Johns then stalked English for the rest of the race staying true to the bottom line while English ran the top. In fact, with about 15 to go Johns began edging in front of English down the back stretch. But English remained strong on the high side and would use a lap car as a pick to keep Johns behind him.
Oakley Johns and Tanner English battle for the lead during The Gobbler at Duck River Raceway Park. pic.twitter.com/WtjaLh7zER
— John Trent Racing (@JFTrentRacing) November 25, 2024
After using the lap car as a pick, English went to the bottom in 1 and 2 to takeaway Johns’ line. However, he remained up top in 3 and 4 for a couple of laps. With 9 to go he eventually moved to the bottom in 3 and 4. That move looked like it was going to secure him the win, but the with just 2 laps to go the lap car would get complete sideways in front of him, force him to check up, and drift to the outside giving Johns his preferred line.
In victory lane, Johns shared, “In the feature there, that brown was pretty good in 1 and 2. Just keep rolling it and rolling it. I could tell I was getting better. I got around Josh first and then I got Sam on that restart. I could tell I was gaining on Tanner there. Lap traffic was coming on and I had just passed him and a lap car held me up. And he passed me back. I thought we was done there because he got down there and protected the line from us.”
“And then two to go there, the lap car gets him and gives us the fortune there,” he continued. “It sucks for Tanner, but it did work out good in our favor.”
Official Finishing Order
1. Oakley Johns; 2. Tanner English; 3. Sam Seawright; 4. Jadon Frame; 5. Ray Cook; 6. Christian Hangar; 7. Josh Putnam; 8. Riley Hickman; 9. Steven Holcomb; 10. Dalton Cook; 11. Andy Picklesimer; 12. Clayton Stuckey; 13. Dillard Hatchett; 14. Brayden Skinner; 15. Cory Posey; 16. Matthew Taylor; 17. Mark Bangs; 18. Sawyer Tinker; 19. Tyler Stevens; 20. Dillon Tidmore; 21. Chase Oliver; 22. Brad Skinner; 23. Jack Franklin; 24. Michael Luna.