Yarbrough Locks In to South Carolina 400 with Florence Win

Sam Yarbrough held off NASCAR Cup Series competitor Chase Briscoe to win the Marty Ward Memorial Locked In 150 at Florence Motor Speedway, earning him the pole position for the South Carolina 400 in November.

Yarbrough, a multi-time champion at Myrtle Beach Speedway, took the top spot from Cody Kelley with 25 laps to go in the 150-lap Late Model Stock feature and led the rest of the way to score the victory against a field which also included NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Earnhardt, Jr. was a surprise, last-minute addition to the field of racers in Friday's event. The event was originally scheduled for Wednesday but the path of Hurricane Idalia necessitated a postponement of the race.

During the first segment of the race, 97 laps in distance in dedication to Marty Ward, was dominated by Kelley after he took the lead from pole-sitter Matt Cox. Kelley remained in front until lap 125, when Yarbrough completed his pass for the lead. Kelley ultimately finished third, with Chase Briscoe also muscling by Kelley in the closing laps of the race.

Friday’s race marked the inaugural running of the Locked In 150, which comes with a special perk for Florence’s biggest race of the season, the South Carolina 400 on Saturday, November 18. Not only is Yarbrough guaranteed a starting spot in the field for the marquee event, but he will also start on the pole for the race.

Last year’s South Carolina 400 winner, Brenden Queen, finished fourth, with Cox rounding out the top five. Earnhardt, Jr. finished sixth, followed by Doug Barnes, Jr., Travis Truett, Jonathan Shafer and Brandon Pierce.

Briscoe and Earnhardt, Jr. took part in the race at Florence before their respective NASCAR Cup Series obligations take them a short 20 minutes away to Darlington Raceway for the Southern 500.

-Photo credit: R&S Race Cars on Facebook

MARTY WARD MEMORIAL LOCKED IN 150 UNOFFICIAL RESULTS