By Gary Daughtrey

Special to the News-Herald

Continuing his early-season hot streak, Cody Carlton of Chesapeake posted his fourth victory of the year in the 50-lap Top Dog race for Arena Racing USA’s Pro Series, the featured event of Saturday evening’s races at the Richmond Coliseum.

With the win, he completed his second straight Top Dog/A Main sweep.

Matt Midgett drew the pole, sharing the front row with Mike Weddell. Carlton and Tommy Jackson Jr. made up Row 2, while Jason Manes and Scott Prillaman launched from Row 3.

As the race got going, Weddell kept his machine wound up on the top side of the track and nosed ahead at the end of Lap 1. He cleared Midgett in Turn 1 on Lap 2. Carlton followed Weddell’s cue and moved up to second.

The first yellow flag appeared on Lap 3, when Cullen Roberts overturned in Turn 4. The second caution flag flew just three laps later, when debris was spotted on the racing surface. Caution No. 3 came out on Lap 8, when Mini Tyrrell slipped loose off Turn 2 and collected Roberts along the backstretch.

The fourth caution flag appeared when Camden Testerman overturned in Turn 4 on the ensuing restart. With the event running in fits and starts, officials began scoring the caution laps to help the race toward a conclusion. The last caution flag waved on Lap 29, when John Alford spun in Turn 1. Roberts was ruled to have been involved and ended an active night by being black-flagged to the infield for the duration. Tyrrell also saw his night come to a premature end as he pulled aside with a flat tire.

Back under green to begin Lap 35, Carlton got the drop on Weddell and nosed ahead by half a car-length. He cleared Weddell on Lap 36 and set sail. Meanwhile, deeper in the field, Prillaman, Jackson and Testerman bypassed Midgett, kicking him from the top five. By lap 41, Carlton had widened his advantage to nearly half a straightaway over Weddell. Behind them, Prillaman and Jackson battled for third.

Exiting Turn 4 on Lap 45, Prillaman almost lost control of his machine, but regained command along the frontstretch, hanging onto third.

At the finish, Carlton was the winner by a full straightaway over Weddell. Prillaman was third, followed by Jackson and Testerman. Midgett headed up the second five, in sixth, while Wesley Givens, Manes, Alford and Jim Grady completed the top 10.