Stop #4 on the SGP Tour

The Southern Ground Pounders made their return to the historic South Boston Speedway on Saturday, May 10th, for the Sundrop Showdown, and the vintage stock cars put on a show worthy of the track’s legendary status. With 15 cars in the field and a 35-lap main event, the night was packed with speed and side-by-side action.
Before the race even began, misfortune struck Barry Dalton, who had planned to debut his striking new Cavalier-bodied Modified. A motor failure in practice dashed those plans, sidelining him before he had a chance to show the car’s potential, and it was fast in Fridays practice before the event. 

 The infamous PILL DRAW would rack them up and send them on their way. 

The green flag waved with Steve Mendenhall surging to the lead ahead of Griffin. Mendenhall set a strong early pace and looked poised to control the race, but the pressure behind him was relentless. Dennis Werner and Shayne Lockhart began methodically working their way forward.
The turning point came a few laps in, as Lockhart made a move to the inside of Mendenhall entering into turn one, sliding into the lead. But the race was far from over. Mendenhall didn’t back down, keeping him in striking distance as Werner closed in. The trio ran in a tight formation for much of the second half, as they navigated lap traffic and swapped lines, all looking for an opening. Mendenhall and Werner were putting on a show in the laps, showcasing the talent in the club runs deep. 
Lockhart would ultimately hold the top spot, but  Mendenhall and Werner kept him honest all the way to the checkers.

The Sportsman division delivered as well. Kevin Floars, unbeaten coming into South Boston, started 3rd and looked strong early to nobody's surprise. But Josh Roberts starting from 9th wasn’t content to ride. He charged through the field, and as the laps wound down, he began to reel in Floars lap by lap.
With 10 to go a debris caution would rerack the field. Roberts would jump to the highside on Floars—but Floars had just enough drive off the bottom to edge him out by a few car lengths at the stripe, claiming victory to continue a dominant season.
Mack Tatum made his season debut in the ever-popular “2¢ Chevy Vega”, and he didn’t disappoint. Tatum ran smart and steady, hanging with the lead pack and finishing 6th—the last car on the lead lap, a strong showing as usual.
The action didn’t stop in the lead packs either. Chris Hicks, Bobby Griffin (Stokesdale, NC), and Bob Wallace battled hard among the lapped cars, swapping positions and running nose-to-tail for much of the event. Their effort was a reminder that racing isn’t just about the front—it’s about pride, passion, and giving the fans a race from top to bottom.

    David Hill and Allen Rowe would retire early with separate issues. James Turner and Preston Clark would find themselves nose to tail at the end of the night to round out the field. Cole Adkins, meanwhile, was making his Southern Ground Pounders debut in a sharp-looking Sportsman entry. After a minor spin in practice, Adkins settled in during the race, staying out of trouble and showing impressive composure in his first outing with the group.

Remarkably, the entire 35-lap feature ran with only one caution for debris and zero contact or incidents. The field showed a level of respect and professionalism that’s become a hallmark of the Southern Ground Pounders tour. 

    Final Rundown1. Lockhart(M) Modified Winner 2. Steve Mendenhall(M) 3. Dennis Werner(M) 4. Kevin Floars(S) Sportsman Winner 5. Josh Roberts(S) 6. Mack Tatum(M) 7. Chris Hicks(M) 8. Bobby Griffin(S) 9.Bobby Wallace(S) 10. James Turner(S) 11. Preston Clark(M) 12. Cole Adkins(S) 13. David Hill(M) 14. Allen Rowe(S) 15. Barry Dalton (M) DNS 

With thrilling passes, fierce competition, and standout performances across both divisions, the Sundrop Showdown was a true testament of vintage racing at the highest level that SGP is known for. The crowd got their money’s worth, and the Southern Ground Pounders once again proved that old-school machines can still bring edge-of-your-seat action. Two short weeks will see the SGP in action at Carteret County Speedway for the Memorial Day Classic.