A lot of eyes will be on the division championship chase in South Boston Speedway’s Virginia State Police HEAT Hornets Division as one of two-teenagers battling for the division title can add to the track’s storied history in the 20-lap race for the division that will be part of the Halifax County Farm Bureau Championship Night event on Saturday night, August 31.
Sixteen-year-old Jordaine Penick of Meherrin, Virginia can become the second female driver to win a South Boston Speedway division championship and the first in 20 years if she brings home one more solid finish in what will be the final points race of the season. Terri Williams of Franklin, Virginia won the track’s 2004 Grand Stock Division title to become the first female driver to win a South Boston Speedway division title.
Penick heads into the August 31 race with a nine-point lead over her 15-year-old teammate, Max Sangillo of Farmville, Virginia. She is 23 points ahead of third-place driver Cameron Moss of Danville, Virginia and 28 points ahead of Daniel Byrd of Midlothian, Virginia.
It is a scenario that could make any teenager nervous, but Penick, who is in her third season competing in the division, is taking it in stride.
“I’m really excited,” Penick remarked, “not really nervous. It’s just an honor to possibly be the second girl to win a championship at South Boston Speedway.”
Penick has been a pillar of consistency. She is one of six drivers to lead laps in the division. She has posted five third-place finishes in a row, and has a total of six third-place finishes among her eight Top-5 finishes in nine starts.
She says she is going to approach the final points race of the season the same way she has approached every race this season.
“I’m just going to go after it like I normally do,” she pointed out. “I will be racing like I have been racing and try to keep up my normal pace without putting myself in a bad situation.”
Penick says she is not worried about Sangillo overtaking her in points.
“I don’t think he can catch me in points unless I don’t finish well,” she explained. “I feel that as long as I can finish in the top five like I have been he can’t catch me.”
Sangillo feels his chances of winning the division championship are slim but is happy with where he currently stands.
“I’m excited to be in the position I’m in, and I thank all of my sponsors for helping make this possible,” he remarked.
“Honestly, I don’t feel I have much of a chance to win the championship. I’m happy where I am. It’s something that I have not experienced before. It’s a great feeling.”
Sangillo has enjoyed a successful season, having compiled six Top-5 finishes, and having finished in the Top-10 in all nine of his starts. He had logged four fourth-place finishes in a row before posting finishes of fifth and seventh in his last two outings.
For his part, Sangillo plans to approach the final points race of the season in the same manner he has approached his previous races this season.
“I’m just going to race like I always do,” he explained. “I just want to be able to say I finished every race and brought the car home in one piece.”
The August 31 Halifax County Farm Bureau Championship Night event is one of the bigger events of the season at South Boston Speedway with the track’s four division championships being decided and fans being treated to a colorful fireworks show following the final race of the night.
A 150-lap race for the Sentara Health Late Model Stock Car Division that will pay $5,000 to the winner will headline the night’s racing action. The five-race card also includes a 50-lap race for the Budweiser Limited Sportsman Division, twin 15-lap races for the Southside Disposal Pure Stock Division, and a 20-lap race for the Virginia State Police HEAT Hornets Division.
Advance tickets for the Saturday, August 31 Halifax County Farm Bureau Championship Night event are priced at $17 each. Advance tickets may be purchased online on South Boston Speedway’s website, www.southbostonspeedway.com or by calling the speedway office at 434-572-4947 or toll free at 1-877-440-1540 during regular business hours.
Tickets at the gate on race day will be $20 each. Seniors ages 65 and older, military, healthcare workers, and students (with ID) can purchase tickets for $17 each at the gate on race day.
The event schedule for the Saturday, August 31 Halifax County Farm Bureau Championship Night event has registration and pit gates opening at 2 p.m. Practice will begin at 3:25 p.m. and run until 5:05 p.m. Frontstretch spectator gates will open at 3:30 p.m. and backstretch and trackside parking gates will open at 5:30 p.m. Qualifying is set for 6 p.m., pre-race ceremonies are slated for 6:45 p.m. and the first race of the night will get the green flag at 7 p.m.
South Boston Speedway PR
