By Gary Daughtrey

Special to the News-Herald 

Two-time series champ Scott Prillaman of Suffolk took the lead on Lap 21 and survived a string of late caution periods to win the 50-lap Top Dog race, the featured event of Saturday’s season-opener for Arena Racing USA’s Pro Series.

Scott Allen drew the pole position, but was unable to answer the bell, passing the starting slot to John Nickens. Tommy Jackson Jr. lined up on the outside of Row 1, while Dylan Loving and Casey Sipe made up Row 2. Prillaman launched from the inside of Row 4.

The race got off to an inauspicious beginning as five machines piled up in Turn 2 on the opening lap, prompting a complete restart.

Nickens jumped out front as the inside line charged forward. Loving snagged second, followed by Matt Midgett and Prillaman.

On lap 3, Prillaman slipped past Midgett for third. A lap later, Loving swiped the lead from Nickens. Prillaman followed Loving’s cue and took over second. By lap 12, Loving and Prillaman were circling the track in nose-to-tail formation.

The second caution flag flew on lap 14, chasing Sipe, Brian Hager and Camden Testerman to the sidelines. On the double-file restart, Loving cleared Prillaman as they entered Turn 1. Prillaman dropped in line on the leader’s rear bumper, and the two front-runners began to distance themselves from the pack.

Closing in on lap 20, Prillaman started sneaking peeks to the inside of Loving, on the hunt for the lead. He pulled the trigger on lap 21, poking a fender underneath the leader at the end of the backstretch.

The two made contact in Turn 4 and Prillaman surged into the lead, while Loving turned his attention to Jason Styron and Jackson, who moved up to create a three-way joust for second.

Passing the halfway mark, Prillaman’s margin had grown to a full straightaway over Loving, who had fashioned a bit of breathing room over Styron and Jackson.

The third yellow flag appeared on lap 34, when Styron and Cullen Roberts tangled at the flagstand. In rapid succession, the fourth, fifth and sixth caution flags waved as the event inched toward a conclusion.

In an attempt to regain the lead, Loving put up a spirited tussle on the final restart, staying on Prillaman’s outside flank until they reached Turn 4. Preparing to exit the corner, Loving slipped up the track, and Prillaman motored ahead. As Prillaman pulled away, third-place Jackson pounced on the opening to the inside of Loving, taking over second place.

At the finish, Prillaman was the winner by half a straightaway. Jackson was second, followed by Loving and Jason Manes. Eleven-year-old Mini Tyrrell capped his Pro Series debut with a fifth-place Top Dog outing. John Alford finished sixth, and Styron, Midgett, Roberts and Testerman rounded out the top 10.