Santos Returns to 500 Sprint Car Tour Victory Lane

Santos returns to 500 Sprint Car Tour Victory Lane

ANDERSON – Although he has always been a contender for a victory with the 500 Sprint Car Tour, Bobby Santos III finally made his return to the winner's circle.

Santos last won a 500 Sprint Car Tour event in October, 2022 at Anderson Speedway. Kody Swanson looking to repeat in the Gene Nolen Classic set fast time and started fourth as a result of the redraw.

Santos and Shane Butler started on the front row for the 100-lap race with Butler grabbing the lead at the start chased by Santos and Shane Hollingsworth. Swanson's night ended on lap eight with an apparent flat tire, which will have implications in the point standings.

Butler's car started smoking from the right rear and Santos took the lead on lap 15 and with Butler calling it a night.

Gene Nolen Classic Race Results - July 13, 2024

That moved Hollingsworth into the second spot with 2023 rookie of the year Jackson Macenko running third with Billy Wease and Donnie Adams Jr. rounding out the top five. The driver on the move was Kyle O'Gara who started 13th in the field and was running fifth on lap 39 when he made contact with the outside retaining wall in turn three and Adams rolled to a stop on the front straight.

For the next 61 laps Santos, Hollingsworth, Macenko and Wease ran in a tight pack lap after lap with Joe Liguori moving into fifth on lap 67 with a pass of Nathan Byrd. Hollingsworth repeatedly looked for a way inside of Santos while being threatened by Macenko for the second spot.

At the checkers Santos won by 1.2-seconds over Hollingsworth with Macenko coming home a career best third followed by Wease and Liguori.

“Competed against Shane (Hollingsworth for many years and he always races me clean,” Santos said in the Riley & Sons Victory Lane. “Starting up front helped. The car was good all day once we unloaded.”

Hollingsworth driving for Nolen Racing, said the handling of the car went away with 15 laps remaining.

“I used my stuff up with about 15 to go,” he said. “I thought on the restart with 70 laps to go I could put the pressure on him.”

Macenko said his car needed a little more grip coming off the corners.

“I had all the front end grip, but it wouldn't bite coming off the corner,” he said. “What a race. What a great way to come back to Anderson.”

Macenko said now that he finished on the podium he is anxious to record a first win with the series.