Crew chief Mike Lee made final adjustments before qualifying and crew member Johnny Hester taped up the nose for extra down force. Sam would qualify first under sunny conditions. Sam posted a time that would start him 14th in the race. The car looked and felt stable and was good on exit but, Sam was a little late on the throttle and just missed a top 10 qualifying spot. The team used all five minutes of the newly instituted impounded rule where minor adjustments could be made to adjust the car for race conditions.

When the field got under way in the first feature event, Sam held his ground in 14th position for the opening laps of the race. After working his way up to 13th after 20 laps, Sam was spun exiting turn four by the #05 car. The #70 car then smashed into the left rear of Sam destroying the front of the #70 car. Sam was able to re-
fire his machine and hit pit road and the team assessed the damage. Fortunately, only the left rear wheel was bent and there was some fender damage. The tire was replaced and the fender was pulled away from the tire, Sam was good to return. Sam spent several laps insuring there was not further/unforeseen damage to the car. He slowly marched forward passing several cars over the last 20 laps as the car's handling improved. The car was getting better and better as Sam drove from 16th after the spin to finish 9th, equaling his best finish of the year.

In the second 75 lap race of the evening Sam would start 9th, his finishing position in the first race. When the field took the green flag, Sam passed one car on his outside in turn one. He fell in line behind a gaggle of cars as the field settled into single file exiting turn four on the first lap. Sam quickly passed the #11 and by lap ten, climbed to seventh place. On lap twenty, the # 2 car got into the rear bumper of the #42 exiting turn four, sending Sam for his second spin of the night. Thankfully all the other cars avoided Sam but he would be forced to start at the rear of the field still on the lead lap.

At the re-start Sam jumped two cars on the opening lap and it was obvious he had a fast, well handling car. He was able to pass low on the exit of turn four as well as high in turn's one and two. By lap 40 of 75, he had worked his way back to 11th and was charging fast. During a restart on lap 60 heavy contact occurred between two cars just in front of Sam and his spotter, Larry Hollowell, screamed "go low, go low" as cars and smoke covered the track. It was a close call for the #42 team but the result was two positions gained for the final 15 lap dash to the finish. Sam would re-start 9th.

When a late caution came out with 10 laps to go, Sam had advanced to 7th and had a fast car. On the restart, Sam and the #40 car rubbed through the first corner. Sam made it by the #40 and charged forward joining a two way battle for 5th. The #44 car 5th, #03car 6th, and Sam in 7th. With six laps to go two cars further up made contact forcing the field to scatter. There was no caution but the incident gave Sam the chance to move by the #03 car into 6th place. Sam shot to the bottom, making a charge by the slower car on the inside. Sam caught the draft of the #44 with two laps to go and was able to slip inside and pass him in the middle of turn three and four on lap 74. Sam was able to hold the position on the final lap earning the team their first top 5 finish at South Boston Speedway.

Comments from Sam after the race:
"This week I worked harder and longer in testing than I ever had. I finally got out of school for the summer and had more time to dedicate to racing. I would like to thank Mike Lee and Frank Deiny for the long hours they committed to my testing on Wednesday and Thursday. The hard work seems to have paid off with the best finish at South Boston we've ever had. It felt great to finally be pointed to the tech shed after the race!! It was an interesting night for sure. After Godsey spun me in the first race and the #70 made contact, I was afraid our night was over.
 
The team worked quickly during the pit to get the tire changed and I think everyone was surprised when the car showed no ill effects from the contact. If anything it freed it up a bit and made it faster. We had a problem with the radio, I could hear Larry and Mike but to the crew but we improvised by using yes/no questions and I would steer the car left or right during cautions to respond. This finish is what we all needed after several disappointing efforts. I would especially like to thank my faithful sponsors Paul Koonce, Tony Trubisz, Bill Davis, Mike Dunleavy, Ronnie FaJohn, John Shaw, Lynn Swain, and J.R. Mclelland. I would especially like to thank our engine builders, John and David West for sticking with us during some difficult times and providing that WEST POWER".