Michael Atwell Scores Second UARA National Win of 2025 at Mobile

It was a tale of two races for the UARA National Super Late Models at Mobile International Speedway on Saturday night.

During the first 75 laps of the Johnny's RV Backyard Brawl 125, the field of Late Model competitors did everything in their power to slow down their fast cars around the high-banked half-mile in Irvington, Alabama. After a mandatory caution at lap 75, the contest took on a breakneck pace.

After spending most of the first stage running in the third position, Rattler 250 winner Michael Atwell quickly fired into the lead after the restart and pulled away to his second UARA victory of the 2025 season. The Florida driver knew saving his tires and equipment to start the race would be key, and parlayed those efforts into a trip to victory lane.

"Just save as much as we could," said Atwell in victory lane. "Make sure we don't haze the rear tires. I thought we had a pretty good piece. We made a couple of adjustments there at the break, and Mike Garvey gave me a badass race car this weekend. So happy for the guys behind me. Everything they do.

"It takes so many people to get these things done. It's all got to go your way, and it all worked out this weekend."

Dustin Smith, the Lee Fields Memorial winner and Pro Late Model track champion for 2025, finished second to Atwell. He fell as far back as 10th in the field at one point to save his tires, but fought a tight-handling race car after beginning his charge to the front.

"I thought I had saved enough," Smith said. "It just got really tight there at the end. I couldn't do nothing, couldn't make the car do what I wanted to. I was lucky to get past Daniel there."

Daniel Webster matched his best career UARA finish with a third-place effort in the 125-lap feature. Making his first Super Late Model start at Mobile, he perfectly described the difference in intensity between the two stints in the race.

"The difference from the first half to the second half, I was having full-sentence radio conversation talking to my dad, the spotter," Webster explained. "That's how easy we were taking it. You're still hauling ass around here, don't get me wrong, but the pressure difference from the first 75 to the second 50. I could have gotten out and ran a mile after the first 75, and I am fully out of breath after the last 50.

"My first time here in a Late Model, I'm definitely happy with that. We'll take that."

Jake Finch finished fourth, with Colin Allman rounding out the top five.

With the Johnny's RV Backyard Brawl 125 in the books, one race remains for UARA National. The series convenes at Freedom Factory on November 28-29 for the 10th annual Bill Bigley, Sr. Memorial 128.

-Photo credit: Tyler Sontag/SpeedRacer Photos

Johnny's RV Backyard Brawl 125 Unofficial Results