SOUTH BOSTON, Va. – Josh Berry ran into leader Lee Pulliam on the last corner of the last lap, allowing Timothy Peters to win the 8th annual Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown on Thursday night at South Boston Speedway.
The race will air on NBCSN in May. A date is to be announced.
NASCAR penalized Berry for aggressive driving and dropped the JR Motorsports driver to 17th, the tail end of the cars running at the end.
“Lee and Timothy were racing hard side-by-side hard, beating and banging, and they washed up and I tried to get underneath them and got into them,’’ Berry told NBC Sports.
“I’m just disappointed with it. I don’t really know what to say. It might have been too aggressive. You’re racing for the win. I’ve seen (Pulliam) do the same thing to people.’’
Pulliam, who hit Barry’s car in Turn 2 after the checkered flag, declined to talk to the media but tweeted his displeasure calling Berry the “Biggest joke in racing.’’ Pulliam finished 10th.
Peters, meanwhile, celebrated his first victory in the charity Late Model event. Peters started from the pole and led the first 109 laps. He never dropped out of the top five in the 210-lap race, which ended on the second attempt at a green-white-checkered.
“This is kind of a bucket list deal, I can check the box on that,’’ Peters said.
About the last lap, Peters said: “I know if you’re racing for bragging rights and $10,000, if I’m on the inside coming to the checkered flag, I’m going to use you up and that’s what happened. Unfortunately it backfired for him and we were on the receiving end of it.’’
Denny Hamlin had engine issues and finished 31st in the 36-car field, completing 69 laps. Chase Elliott placed 22nd after engine issues. David Ragan was collected in a late crash and placed 16th. Jeb Burton had engine issues and finished 28th.
Proceeds from the event benefit The Denny Hamlin Foundation, which is committed to raising awareness and funds for the needs of children with cystic fibrosis.
Race Results:
1 – Timothy Peters … 210 laps
2 – William Byron … 210 laps
3 – Mark Wertz … 210 laps
4 – Tommy Lemmons Jr. … 210 laps
5 – Tyler Ankrum … 210 laps
6 – Austin Thaxton … 210 laps
7 – Dalton Sargeant … 210 laps
8 – Kaz Grala … 210 laps
9 – Brendon Queen … 210 laps
10 – Lee Pulliam … 210 laps
11 – Quin Houff … 210 laps
12 – Matt Bowling … 210 laps
13 – Hermie Sadler … 210 laps
14 – Curtis Markham … 210 laps
15 – Payton Ryan … 208 laps
16 – David Ragan … 207 laps
17 – Josh Berry … 210 laps *
18 – Nick Smith … 202 laps
19 – C.E. Falk … 201 laps
20 – Peyton Sellers … 193 laps
21 – Bobby McMarty … 192 laps
22 – Chase Elliott … 192 laps
23 – Eddie Johnson … 124 laps
24 – Bruce Anderson … 124 laps
25 – Dude Gibbs … 124 laps
26 – Kyle Plott … 120 laps
27 – Juan Garcia … 119 laps
28 – Jeb Burton … 117 laps
29 – Myatt Snider … 99 laps
30 – Matt Waltz … 81 laps
31 – Denny Hamlin … 69 laps
32 – Davin Scites … 63 laps
33 – Chad Finchum … 43 laps
34 – Garrett Campbell … 9 laps
35 – Travis Swaim .. 3 laps
36 – Brayton Haws … 3 laps
* Penalized for aggressive driving on the last lap and moved to the last car on the track at the finish.
