First Time Winners Crowned in Pure Stocks, Sportsmen at Five Flags

The Sunshine State 200 weekend got underway with a pair of features for local divisions at Five Flags Speedway, with a pair of new faces finding victory lane.

The Dock of Pensacola Beach Sportsman feature saw a first-time winner, with Kevin Mitchell holding off Maddox Langham for the victory.

“The Good Lord has blessed me so much in the past year, and this is just another blessing,” said Mitchell. “Those guys back there, the Langham family, the Lathams, they make me get better and work on my stuff. I have a lot of respect for everyone in this class.”

“We’ve worked really hard. I am super blessed with people that believe in me. I’ve got a lot of family around me, my little boy. This is the first time he’s been in victory lane with daddy as a winner. We didn’t win a race last year on dirt or asphalt, and I told myself that wasn’t going to happen again.”

Mitchell not only survived Langham's challenges, but also a first-lap skirmish which dashed BJ Latham's chance at a win. However, Mitchell could find even a bright spot in that scare.

“I’m glad the car got tore up. I don’t have to worry about it being pretty no more.”

Langham settled for second place to start what will be a busy season for the Sportsman competitors at the Pensacola, Florida half-mile.

“I think if we didn’t bobble off turn four, we may have had him," said Langham. "Congratulations to Kevin. Hopefully, there’s more to come for him, but I’m going to do everything I can to beat him this season.”

The Lloyd's Glass Pure Stock feature also saw a first-time winner, as Mason Johnson took the checkered flag. He dedicated the win to Okie Mason, a champion driver throughout the Gulf Coast in several divisions.

"I learned a lot from him, I can tell you that," said Johnson. "Most importantly, he's my role model. He's taught me everything. All the countless hours he puts into this car at the shop, and he's got his own, too. We worked on it all night until midnight and until three o'clock this afternoon, too. This win right here is dedicated to him."

The racing action continues Saturday at Five Flags Speedway with the ASA STARS National Tour's inaugural event, the Sunshine State 200. The event will also feature Five Flags Speedway's Faith Chapel Outlaws. The Sunshine State 200 is scheduled to start at 7:30 PM CT / 8:30 PM ET.

SPORTSMAN FEATURE RESULTS

1. Kevin Mitchell
2. Maddox Langham
3. James Patrick
4. Brannon Fowler
5. Chad Robinson
6. Daryl McDonald III
7. Jim Pokrant
8. Parker McDonald
9. B.J. Latham
10. Jonathan Langham

PURE STOCK FEATURE RESULTS

1. Mason Johnson
2. Colby McDonald
3. Robert Barber
4. Brad Mosley
5. Sarah Dorothy
6. Butch Harvell
7. Ben Cranford
8. Ryan Sanchez
9. Wayne Burkett