Luke Baldwin Bags $50,000 in Heart of Dixie 200 at Mobile

Luke Baldwin fended off Dustin Smith in a thrilling battle for $50,000 on Saturday night, winning the Heart of Dixie 200 at Mobile International Speedway.

Baldwin, Smith and Jake Finch battled for the top spot, swapping the lead multiple times over a 40-lap run to end the Pro Late Model feature. Baldwin and Smith distanced themselves from the field, then exchanged the lead four times over the final five laps.

At the checkered flag, Baldwin stayed ahead of Smith to take home the $50,000 winner's payday in the No. 47 Bryson Lopez Racing entry.

"Hats off to all these BLR guys," said Baldwin in victory lane. "Really fast race car. I might have burned it up in the first stint, that last part, after we got the tires on. We held on, we wanted it more. It just means so much, it's so special.

"The Lopez family and the Bryson family have been so gracious to me the past couple of years, allowing me to drive their race cars and give me a shot. It's good to see people who still believe in you. This year's been, most definitely, the most mentally challenging year I've had in my life. To finally put one on the board, of this magnitude, I'm so thankful.

"Hats off to Mobile International for rolling the dice and getting this race in. Making so many sacrifices to allow us to race on this racetrack today for this prize, and this group of cars. It's really cool, man. All the management heare at Mobile, I'm so thankful to make laps on your racetrack and put it in your winner's circle."

After a hard-fought battle, a disappointed Dustin Smith finished second.

"It sucks coming home P2. Them guys work just as hard as we do, so congrats to them. Thanks to all the fans. I hope we put on a hell of a show for y'all guys. It just sucks."

Michael Atwell passed Finch with two laps to go to pick up third-place honors.

"We just got too tight there at the end and didn't have enough speed to keep up with them and make the passes we needed to quick enough to get to them before they lengthened that gap," said Atwell. "Hard-fought there the last couple of laps. I can't thank Rhonda and Chris Davidson and Mike Garvey enough and the whole crew for all that they do, letting me come out here."

Finch finished fourth, with Brandon Lopez rounding out the top five.

-Photo credit: Alexa Cuzzone Digital Creations

Heart of Dixie 200 Unofficial Results