Luke Yarbrough Takes First Allen Turner PLM Win Following Roderick DQ

Luke Yarbrough claimed his first career Allen Turner Pro Late Model Series victory on Friday night after Casey Roderick was disqualified following post-race technical inspection.

Roderick crossed the finish line first in one of the most dramatic Allen Turner Pro Late Model Series events in recent memory. However, Roderick was disqualified for an illegal carburetor, turning the victory over to Yarbrough.

The 100-lap contest saw several side-by-side battles for the lead during the second half. First, Jake Finch and Zack Dixon fought for the top spot, ending when Dixon spun on lap 69.

Then, it was Roderick's turn to take the fight to Finch. After battling door-to-door for several laps, Roderick tucked in behind Finch, setting up for a later move. That came on lap 81, as Roderick muscled by Finch.

Roderick was not done yet, however, as he then had to fend off Luke Yarbrough for the victory. Despite a late restart after Finch spun into the wall after contact with Weston Marthaler. The veteran held off the young gum to cross the line first, but Yarbrough would ultimately leave with the trophy.

"The car was great," said on the frontstretch after the race, prior to technical inspection. "I just can't thank all the Fr8 guys enough, Ricky Turner, Brian, Will, Charles, Josh and everyone that helps. I've got the hardest working crew out here.

"It wasn't an easy race, by any means. Maybe if we could figure out how to qualify a little better and have a little better luck and not gotten that damage, we would have been able to contend for the win and finish first. I don't want to finish second, but I had to do it to anyone, it would be Casey. I look up to him a whole lot, and he's taught me a lot. That whole Ty King crew is great."

Finch had been unstoppable in Pro Late Model competition entering Friday's race. The Florida driver was a perfect five-for-five on the year, including a win in the first Allen Turner Pro Late Model Series race of 2026.

Roderick tipped his cap to Finch after their intense battle.

"I was just having to try too hard there on the outside," recounted Roderick. "I knew I wasn't going to clear him. He's just too strong off the bottom there. I was giving it all the throttle it could take, I just couldn't ever clear him. I just felt it was smarter to fall in behind him and try to get him on the inside."

"I hate we got together. We raced so good side-by-side before that caution. I got underneath him going into one, closed the door on me a little bit, but that's just part of racing. Jake's a good kid, I enjoy racing with him. We never touched there when we were racing side-by-side. That's how you're supposed to do it."

It was an up-and-down night for Marthaler, as he went to the rear of the field for an earlier spin and after the incident with Finch. Still, the Minnesota driver battled his way back onto the podium with a second-place finish

"Definitely not the night we wanted," said Marthaler. "The guys did not give up on me or the car. They worked their butts off with those pit stops and getting us back out there and keeping us on the lead lap. I've really got to thank everyone at Fat Head Racing, Jamie Yelton, Anthony Campi, all those guys. They really worked their tails off, and I couldn't be more appreciative."

Dixon finished third, with James Patrick and Jim Wall rounding out the top five.

The next event on the Road to the Snowflake will take place on Friday, August 28. The Pro Late Models will be joined by the Street Stocks, Pure Stocks and Crown Stocks that evening.

Racing returns to Five Flags Speedway later this month on May 29 for Meet the Drivers Night. Five Flags' Outlaws, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, Crown Stocks and Legacy Cars will be in action.

Road to the Snowflake #2 Unofficial Results