8/29/2025
Southern All Stars
Michael Brown Beats SAS Field to Win Brad York Memorial at Lavonia Speedway
(LAVONIA, GEORGIA) Michael Brown, of Pageland, South Carolina, recorded his first career Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series presented by Franklin Enterprises victory on Friday night in the annual ‘Brad York Memorial’ at Lavonia Speedway! Michael knocked down the quickest time in Group A during the qualifying session to earn the pole position for the 40–lap main event. After getting the holeshot at the drop of the green flag, Michael held the top spot throughout the contest and held off a late surge by Ross Bailes to bag the $4,004 first place prize.
Bailes, who started ninth on the grid at the historic Lavonia, Georgia oval, charged through the top ten and ultimately finished a close second - only 0.565 of a second behind Brown. Casey Roberts ran second through much of the race and pressured leader Brown for the point on several different occasions in the first half of the contest before winding up third at the checkered flag. Seventh-starting Chris Woods advanced to finish fourth, while Banjo Duke rounded out the top five in the ‘Brad York Memorial.’
“I was definitely nervous on that late-race restart, that’s for sure - I started struggling there,” commented “Downtown” Michael Brown in victory lane. “I didn’t tighten up enough and I was struggling there late in the race. I want to thank the good Lord above for keeping us all safe and letting this be possible. Thank you to all of these fans for coming out and supporting this deal.”
Michael Brown piloted a Mark McLeod Racing #24-D Longhorn Chassis powered by a Clements Racing Engine with sponsorship in part from Black Crest Farm, Hammond Land Clearing, Piggly Wiggly, John Page Racing, JR’s Bar, Fox Racing Shox, and VP Racing Fuels.
A total of 27 Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series competitors were in the pit area on Friday night at Lavonia Speedway for the ‘Brad York Memorial.’ Tucker Anderson was fast right out of the box, as the young Blairsville, Georgia ace laid down the quickest lap in both MRP Fantasy Racing hot laps and VP Racing Fuels qualifying. The pair of consolation events were topped by Devon Morgan and Payton Freeman, while series regulars Ronnie Johnson and Michael Luna utilized provisionals to gain access into the 40-lapper.
Only three caution flags slowed the ‘Brad York Memorial’ with the first yellow appearing on lap 28 when Kendall Franklin slapped the frontstretch wall. Tucker Anderson slowed from the fourth spot to draw a caution flag on lap 32 before Kenny Collins also encountered problems inside of the top five on lap 33. The 40-lap main event lasted just shy of 21 minutes with 12 starters completing the entire distance. Series point leader Ronnie Johnson picked up an extra $500 for the engine bonus, while Ross Bailes received an extra $500 for being the highest finisher on four American Racer tires.
Competitors racing with the Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series presented by Franklin Enterprises will trek north to Volunteer Speedway on Saturday, August 30. A $4,000 payday will be up for grabs at “The Gap” in a Labor Day Weekend shootout. Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Ronnie Johnson brings the SAS point lead into Volunteer Speedway over Michael Luna, Billy Franklin, Kendall Franklin, and Dillon Tidmore.
The pit gates will open on Saturday at 3:00pm and the grandstands will start to allow fans into the Bulls Gap, Tennessee facility starting at 4:00pm. The Drivers Meeting is set for 6:30pm and hot laps will take to the high banks starting at 7:00pm. Along with the ground-pounding Super Late Models, other divisions on the racing card include the Sportsman Late Models ($1,000 to win), Open Wheel Modifieds ($1,000 to win), Street Stocks ($600 to win), and Front Wheel Drives ($400 to win).
Adults will be admitted into the stands for $20.00 and into both tier parking and the pit area for $40.00. Kids ages 10 and under will be admitted into the grandstands for FREE, while children ages 5 and under will be allowed into tier parking and the pits for FREE. Volunteer Speedway is located at 14095 West Andrew Johnson Highway in Bulls Gap, Tennessee. Can't make it to the track? Watch every lap LIVE on www.thethrill.tv or learn more at www.volunteerspeedway.com.
Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series presented by Franklin Enterprises
Round 14 Race Summary
Friday, August 29, 2025
Lavonia Speedway - Lavonia, Georgia
American Racer Tires Feature Finish (40 Laps):
- (1) Michael Brown $4,004
- (9) Ross Bailes $2,500
- (3) Casey Roberts $1,200
- (7) Chris Woods $1,000
- (4) Banjo Duke $900
- (6) Beckham Malone $800
- (13) Devon Morgan $700
- (12) Jake Jackson $680
- (14) Payton Freeman $640
- (11) Cla Knight $600
- (10) Blake Craft $580
- (15) Brent Dixon $560
- (17) Billy Franklin $550
- (21) Ronnie Johnson $1,040
- (5) Kenny Collins $530
- (2) Tucker Anderson $520
- (8) Kendall Franklin $510
- (20) Dillon Daves $500
- (16) Layton Sullivan $500
- (18) Andy Picklesimer $500
- (19) Daniel Wilson $500
- (22) Michael Luna $500
Entries: 27
Lap Leaders: Michael Brown (Laps 1-40)
Cautions: 3
$500 Engine Bonus: Ronnie Johnson
$500 American Racer Tire Bonus: Ross Bailes
MRP Fantasy Racing Hot Laps:
Fastest Lap Overall: Tucker Anderson 16.020
VP Racing Fuels Time Trials:
Fast Time Overall: Tucker Anderson 16.280
Qualifying - Group A (Top Six Locked Into Feature): 1. 24D-Michael Brown, 00:16.303[13]; 2. 101-Casey Roberts, 00:16.339[11]; 3. 1C-Kenny Collins, 00:16.347[6]; 4. 17W-Chris Woods, 00:16.378[10]; 5. 16-Ross Bailes, 00:16.459[5]; 6. 42-Cla Knight, 00:16.533[12]; 7. 21-Devon Morgan, 00:16.573[3]; 8. 1-Brent Dixon, 00:16.670[9]; 9. 17-Billy Franklin, 00:16.678[8]; 10. 12-Daniel WIlson, 00:16.955[2]; 11. B00-Josh Henry, 00:17.049[14]; 12. 5-Ronnie Johnson, 00:17.172[4]; 13. 108-Chuck Southard, 00:17.774[7]; 14. 112 Michael Luna, 00:17.872[1]
Qualifying - Group B (Top Six Locked Into Feature): 1. 22-Tucker Anderson, 00:16.280[11]; 2. 33-Banjo Duke, 00:16.519[9]; 3. 23-Beckham Malone, 00:16.646[5]; 4. 317-Kendall Franklin, 00:16.655[13]; 5. 121-Blake Craft, 00:16.696[4]; 6. J1-Jake Jackson, 00:16.801[1]; 7. 2-Layton Sullivan, 00:16.823[7]; 8. F1-Payton Freeman, 00:16.886[2]; 9. 187-David McCoy, 00:16.970[6]; 10. 95W-Fletcher Wulff, 00:17.249[3]; 11. 35-Dillon Daves, 00:17.379[12]; 12. 369-Andy Picklesimer, 00:17.458[10]; 13. 21M-Chris McKeehan, 00:17.698[8]
J&J Construction B-Main #1 Finish (Top Four Transfer): 1. 21-Devon Morgan[1]; 2. 1-Brent Dixon[2]; 3. 17-Billy Franklin[3]; 4. 12-Daniel Wilson[4]; 5. B00-Josh Henry[5]; 6. 5-Ronnie Johnson[6]; 7. 108-Chuck Southard[7]; 8. 112-Michael Luna[8]
Southern Racing Enterprise B-Main #2 Finish (Top Four Transfer): 1. F1-Payton Freeman[2]; 2. 2-Layton Sullivan[1]; 3. 369-Andy Picklesimer[6]; 4. 35-Dillon Daves[5]; 5. 95W-Fletcher Wulff[4]; 6. 21M-Chris McKeehan[7]; 7. 187-David McCoy[3]
Provisionals: Ronnie Johnson, Michael Luna
2025 Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series Schedule of Events:
Saturday, February 1 - I-75 Raceway (Sweetwater, TN) - CORY HEDGECOCK
Saturday, February 22 - Buckshot Speedway (Clanton, AL) - RAINED OUT
Friday, March 21 - Southern Raceway (Milton, FL) - JOSEPH JOINER
Saturday, March 22 - Southern Raceway (Milton, FL) - RYAN CRANE
Friday, April 11 - Penton Raceway (Lafayette, AL) - CORY HEDGECOCK
Saturday, April 12 - Winder-Barrow Speedway (Winder, GA) - DILLON
TIDMORE
Friday, May 16 - West Alabama Speedway (Winfield, AL) - BILLY FRANKLIN
Saturday, May 17 - North Alabama Speedway (Tuscumbia, AL) - DILLON
TIDMORE
Saturday, June 14 - Lavonia Speedway (Lavonia, GA) - POSTPONED TO 8/29
Friday, June 20 - North Georgia Speedway (Chatsworth, GA) - ZACK
MITCHELL
Saturday, June 21 - Sugar Creek Raceway (Blue Ridge, GA) - TUCKER
ANDERSON
Thursday, July 3 - I-75 Raceway (Sweetwater, TN) - GARRETT SMITH
Saturday, July 5 - Mountain View Raceway (Spring City, TN) - RUSTY
BALLENGER
Saturday, August 16 - Sugar Creek Raceway (Blue Ridge, GA) - TUCKER
ANDERSON
Saturday, August 23 - Lake Cumberland Speedway (Burnside, KY) - JASON
JAMESON
Friday, August 29 - Lavonia Speedway (Lavonia, GA) - MICHAEL BROWN
Saturday, August 30 - Volunteer Speedway (Bulls Gap, TN) - $4,000 to win
Sunday, August 31 - Tazewell Speedway (Tazewell, TN) - $5,000 to win
Saturday, September 13 - Wartburg Speedway (Wartburg, TN) - $5,000 to
win
Friday, September 19 - Anderson Motor Speedway (Anderson, SC) - $12,000
to win
Saturday, October 11 - Dixie Speedway (Woodstock, GA) - $TBA to win
Saturday, October 25 - I-75 Raceway (Sweetwater, TN) - $10,053 to win
Current Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series Point Standings:
- Ronnie Johnson - 2472
- Michael Luna - 2265
- Billy Franklin - 2206
- Kendall Franklin - 2104
- Dillon Tidmore - 2045
- Joe Denby - 1912
- Josh Henry - 1371
- Jordon Horton - 1036
- David Payne - 894
- Will Hicks - 820
The Southern All Star Dirt Racing Series presented by Franklin Enterprises would like to thank all of our 2025 marketing partners including Franklin Enterprises, American Racer Tires, J&J Construction, VP Racing Fuels, Coltman Farms Racing, Southern Racing Enterprise, Fullmoon Graphics, Gentry Used Auto Parts & Recycling, RockAuto.com, Knowles Race Parts & Bodies, Olivia Gentry Real Estate, MD3 Body Panels, Delph Communications, and Rugged Radios. More information on the tour can be found online at www.SASDirt.com or by accessing the series Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SouthernAllStarDirtRacingSeries.
Media Contact: Ryan Delph - Delph Communications
www.DelphCommunications.com