Brett Robinson Perseveres for Autumn Thunder Win at Nashville Fairgrounds

Brett Robinson added to his points lead in the Pro Late Model division at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway with a clutch win, surviving late-race chaos for the victory.

Chase Johnson started on the pole for the 100-lap feature and led the first 89 laps before a caution for debris from Jackson Boone's car, damaged in an earlier incident, turned the race on its head.

On the ensuing restart, door-to-door contact between Johnson and Hunter Wright set off a multi-car melee on the backstretch. Wright, Conner Popplwell, Cole Williams, Josh Stade and Mark Day were sidelined from the race as a result of the accident, whittling down the field.

That allowed Robinson to line up on the outside of the front row for the next restart after a red flag to clean up the backstretch accident.

Robinson had saved tire over the course of the feature race, which paid off in the closing laps. However, he had done so for an unplanned reason, battling overheating issues with his car.

"I was saving," said Robinson in victory lane. "I was a little faster than Popplewell, but I was actually running 225, which dad doesn't know or anybody else. I kept having to duck out of line and back off Popplewell to get enough air to the motor, because it was overheating.

"Once we went back green, I got the bottom and got to third there. It was balls to the wall, let's rock and roll. I kept thinking to myself, if I get two more spots, Stella Rose is gonna get some doughnuts tomorrow morning and Cash Boy. I tried for you Stella, we've got some doughnuts coming tomorrow morning."

The win marks Robinson's second victory in Nashville's Pro Late Model division, after winning the season opener in March. Two months later, Robinson was involved in a heavy head-on impact exiting turn two, which threatened to bring an early end to his season.

Instead, Robinson has soldiered on, holding the points lead entering the final race of the Pro Late Model championship battle. That will take place on Saturday, November 7 as part of All American 400 weekend.

Johnson finished second, with Ben Mack, Anthony Bello and Boone rounding out the top five.

-Photo credit: Jeff Ames

Autumn Thunder Unofficial Results