RPW Column: Decker, Marks, Wilson Dominate Inaugural Prelude To The Finals At Cherokee

Column By: ROBERT SYMONDS / RPW – GAFFNEY, SC – For the first time, Cherokee Speedway held a Prelude To The Finals on Tuesday night November 2nd. The 410 Sprint Cars, Super Late Models, and Big Block Modifieds all shared center stage as they battled for high paying purses in the late season.

During Time Trials, the Cherokee Speedway Late Model Track Record was broken first by Chris Madden with a 14.563, then it would be Brandon Overton who timed a tenth better with a 14.435 but it was Daulton Wilson who would grab quick time and the New Track Record with a 14.411.

In the main events, Billy Decker would hold off Mike Mahaney to win the inaugural event for the Big Block Modified portion and punch his name into the record books. Rocky Warner finished third, Alex Yankowski fourth, and Kevin Root fifth.

For the 410 Sprint Cars, Brent Marks led from flag to flag to win the 30 lap feature over Parker Price-Miller, Eric Riggins Jr, Gio Scelzi, and Gray Leadbetter.

The Super Late Models also did not disappoint the Tuesday night crowd in Gaffney as Daulton Wilson would hold off Brandon Overton to seal the victory in the 40 lap feature event. Ross Bailes led the field to the green and would lead until a mid race caution. Bailes would lead them back to green but it was Wilson who took the lead on the lap 24 restart over Overton and would pull away from one of the more winningest drivers in the past few years. Even a late race caution couldn’t keep Wilson away from winning the Prelude to the Finals. Wilson would win over Overton by .637 seconds, crossing the line in third was Bryson Harper, Fourth was Rambo Franklin, and fifth was Adam Yarbrough.