PHENIX CITY, Ala. (Oct. 31) — Piloting a new Barry Wright Race Car, Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., returned to victory lane for the first time since April, leading flag-to-flag to earn a $25,000 payday in his second career National 100 victory at East Alabama Motor Speedway.

Starting on the pole, Owens edged ahead of fellow front row starter Chris Madden of Gray Court, S.C., at the drop of green flag. Holding off challenges from Randy Weaver of Crossville, Tenn., and Clint Smith of Senoia, Ga., Owens notched his second victory in four years in Alabama’s richest event.

“I had a lot of clean racers behind me,” Owens said in victory lane. “I knew the trick was going to be getting the lead on that start because the track was already not as good as we wanted it to be. But it’s all you can do with the weather and stuff in the area. I got to thank Barry Wright and Bryan Rowland and Widow Wax. It’s pretty awesome. We’ve won a lot of races with a lot of cool people, and it’s great to be in victory lane with Barry (Wright).”

Multiple yellow flags slowed the 100-lapper, with early frontrunners Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., and Dennis Franklin of Gaffney, S.C., among drivers pitting and returning to the tail of the field. But out front, Owens couldn’t worry about a similar fate.

“You’re up front and you ain’t going to pull in,” Owens said. “My crew guys was wanting me to swoop down there and look at my right-rear (tire) and I’m like, ‘What does it matter? If it’s going to blow out, it’s going to blow out in the lead. We ain’t going to let off and pull in for it.’”

After an up and down 2015 season, Saturday was a special night for Owens, who picked up the victory in a new Barry Wright car. He’s piloted a Club 29 Race Car for the last couple of seasons.

“Last Thursday, this car was a bare, unpainted frame, and Barry Wright and his whole crew have worked their tails off,” Owens said. “I just pretty much showed up and drove. It’s pretty awesome … we seem to work good together. It was definitely a fun weekend and I look forward to more.”

Fourth starting Weaver finished second, with Smith running third. Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., charged from the 11th starting spot to finish fourth, with Jason Hiett of Oxford, Ala., rallying to notch a top-five finish after pitting mid-race.

“We had a good car,” Weaver said. “I love racing down here and was hoping to pull one off for my car owner. It was fun. Hats off to Jimmy (Owens) … it’s good for him and Barry (Wright) and them guys. We’ll click one of these off one day. I’ve just got a good group of people around me and hopefully we can pull it off maybe next year.”

Racing as high as second, Smith said he hated to see the late-race cautions. But overall, he was pleased with his National 100 weekend.

“The caution flag wasn’t my friend there at the end,” Smith said. “My car wouldn’t go on the restart, it was just stumbling around. That’s why I couldn’t fire with (Randy) Weaver on the restart. But if it went green, I was just sitting there cruising behind the No. 20. I think I had something that could drive up with him … he’d had have to made a little mistake. But a top-three here, where we stared out, I’ll take it. We’ll just lick our wounds and go on to the next one.”

Notes: The first yellow waved on lap 11 for James Roulette, who slowed after damaging his No. 05 machine. … Kelly Guy slowed with a flat tire to draw a caution on lap 16. … A yellow flew on lap 37 when Scott Bloomquist slowed on the racetrack. … Mike Nasworthy drew a caution on lap 46 … A second yellow flew for Nasworthy on lap 67 when he slowed in turn four. … Fourth-running Dennis Franklin slowed in turn two to draw a caution on lap 68. … Another yellow flag waved on lap 89; Tyler Millwood and Casey Roberts tangled in turn two to draw a caution on the ensuing restart.

Other feature results

Crate Late Model feature finish: Cory Hedgecock, Montana Dudley, Matt Henderson, Cale Conley, Chase Edge, Terrance Nowell, Dana Eiland, Cla Knight, Dale Timms, Will Roland, Tim Dixon, Forrest Trent, Ronnie Cooper, Frankie Beard, Dylan Knowles, Rodgerick Dykes, Brandon Overton, Ryan Carter, Cord Dodgen, Taylor Jarvis, Riley Hickman, Grant Pearl, Craig Scott, Tom Maddox

Limited Late Model feature finish: Jason Hiett, Montana Dudley, Jimmy Sharpe Jr., Dwayne Johnson, Mark Whitener, J.R. Mosley, Thomas Lewis, Jake Knowles, Clint Smith, Tyler Crowder, Tom Maddox, Joey Armistead, Terrance Nowell, Matt Dooley, Clifton Moran, Brand Lewis, Kenny Collins, Pat Wall, Dana Eiland, Pearson Williams, Russ Ogletree, Ricky Culpepper, Dennis Hale

Consolation lineup

(10 laps; top six transfer)
Row 1: Brian Reese, Riley Hickman
Row 2: Kelley Guy, Dana Eland
Row 3: Tyler Crowder, Brian Connor
Row 4: Scott Knowles, Chad Marchman
Row 5: James Roulette, Terrance Nowell

Heat race results

First heat (top six transfer): Jimmy Owens, Randy Weaver, Brandon Overton, Devin Moran, Clint Smith, Mike Nasworthy, Dana Eland, Brian Reese, Scott Knowles

Second heat (top six transfer): Chris Madden, Jason Hiett, Dennis Franklin, Dennis Erb Jr., Mike Spatola, Austin Horton, Tyler Crowder, Riley Hickman, Chad Marchman

Third heat (top six transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Joe Armistead, Casey Roberts, Steve Francis, Tim McCreadie, Tyler Millwood, Kelley Guy, Brian Connor, James Roulette

Heat race lineups

(10 laps; top six transfer)
First heat
Row 1: Jimmy Owens, Randy Weaver
Row 2: Brandon Overton, Mike Nasworthy
Row 3: Devin Moran, Terrance Nowell
Row 4: Clint Smith, Dana Eiland
Row 5: Brian Reese, Scott Knowles
Second heat
Row 1: Chris Madden, Jason Hiett
Row 2: Dennis Franklin, Dennis Erb Jr.
Row 3: Austin Horton, Tyler Crowder
Row 4: Riley Hickman, Mike Spatola
Row 5: Chad Marchman
Third heat
Row 1: Scott Bloomquist, Joe Armistead
Row 2: Casey Roberts, Tim McCreadie
Row 3: Steve Francis, Tyler Millwood
Row 4: Kelley Guy, Brian Connor
Row 5: James Roulette

Time trial results

Driver (car no.), hometown
Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 14.842
Chris Madden (44M), Gray Court, S.C., 14.963
Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 14.996
Randy Weaver (116), Crossville, Tenn., 15.187
Jason Hiett (1H), Oxford, Ala., 15.200
Joe Armistead (21A), Senoia, Ga., 15.244
Brandon Overton (76), Augusta, Ga., 15.266
Dennis Franklin (2), Gaffney, S.C., 15.310
Casey Roberts (101), Toccoa, Ga., 15.434
Mike Nasworthy (0N), Macon, Ga., 15.465
Dennis Erb Jr. (28e), Carpentersville, Ill., 15.520
Tim McCreadie (39), Watertown, N.Y., 15.523
Devin Moran (99m), Dresden, Ohio, 15.596
Austin Horton (16), Newman, Ga., 15.615
Steve Francis (15), Ashland, Ky., 15.626
Terrance Nowell (55), Phenix City, Ala., 15.631
Tyler Crowder (47), Tallahassee, Fla., 15.647
Tyler Millwood (31), Kingston, Ga., 15.672
Clint Smith (44), Senoia, Ga., 15.685
Riley Hickman (R1), Cleveland, Tenn., 15.743
Kelley Guy (28), Thomson, Ga., 15.880
Dana Eiland (K9), Salem, Ala., 15.920
Mike Spatola (89), Manhattan, Ill., 15.937
Brian Connor (77X), Martinez, Ga., 15.964
Brian Reese (19), Sharpsburg, Ga., 15.997
Chad Marchman (27), Lagrange, Ga., 16.532
James Roulette (05), Dawsonville, Ga., 16.557
Scott Knowles (41), Lanett, Ala., 16.885

Saturday’s schedule

10 a.m. - First session
• Hobby consolation
• Late Model Sportsman hot laps
• Cruiser consolation
• Crate Late Model hot laps
• Bomber consolation
• KMSA consolation
• Modified consolation
• Late Model Sportsman time trials
• Crate Late Model time trials
1 p.m. - Second session
• Hobby feature (30 laps)
• KMSA feature (25 laps)
• Modified feature (25 laps)
• Cruiser feature (25 laps)
• Late Model Sportsman consolations
• Crate Late Model consolations
6 p.m. - Third session
• Super Late Model hot laps
• Bomber feature (30 laps)
• Super Late Model time trials
• Super Street feature (30 laps)
• Super Late Model heats (10 laps)
• Crate Late Model feature (50 laps)
• Super Late Model consolations (12 laps)
• Late Model Sportsman feature (50 laps)
• Super Late Model feature (100 laps)