By Gary Daughtrey 

Special to the News-Herald

Cody Carlton of Chesapeake moved out front on lap 37 and led the rest of the way to win the 50-lap Top Dog feature for Arena Racing USA’s Pro Series, the headline event of Saturday’s U.S. Armed Forces 200 at the Richmond Coliseum.

The victory was Carlton’s second straight in Top Dog competition and gave him a clean sweep for the night — Top Dog, A Main and pole.

Rugged A and B Mains whittled the Top Dog starting field from 14 to 10 cars as Joey Moore, Scott Allen, Francis Jarrelle III and Tyler Daniels were all unable to answer the bell. Those four drivers still received one point for qualifying for the night’s final race.

Tripp Thurston and Tommy Jackson Jr. shared the front row as the truncated field made its way toward the opening green flag. As the race got under way, Jackson motored ahead of Thurston to take the lead. Behind them, series points leader Scott Prillaman of Suffolk was on the move in the early going, emerging in fifth. By lap 7, he had made his way into second, while Jackson widened his lead to a full straightaway.

The first caution flag waved on lap 9. It would be the first of six yellow flags. Carlton, who started near the tail of the field, found slow going at the beginning of the race. His cause was further hampered when he went to the rear of the field after the first yellow flag. After that, though, he was able to stay out of trouble and quickly moved toward the front.

On a restart at lap 19, Carlton slipped into the runner-up spot and began to pressure Jackson for the lead. He made one charge on lap 24, but came up empty. Before he could muster another bid, the battle was cut short by caution No. 4.

On the ensuing restart, Jackson bolted into the clear, while Troy Doggett moved up to challenge Carlton for second. A bobble off Turn 2 on lap 33 proved costly for Doggett, however, as he gave way to Carlton and Prillaman, who was on the comeback from his own trip to the back of the pack. Carlton launched his bid for the lead on lap 35, ducking underneath Jackson as they raced off Turn 4.

Maintaining momentum in the high lane, Jackson was able to keep his nose out front on laps 35 and 36. Working the inside, Carlton finally got the better of the exchange on lap 37 and cleared Jackson on lap 38. Prillaman took second from Jackson on lap 43.

The race was interrupted by two more caution flags in the closing laps. Lining up for the final double-file restart, Carlton and Prillaman occupied Row 1, followed by Jackson and Thurston. As the last green flag waved, Carlton quickly pulled ahead of Prillaman, who found Jackson to his inside. Jackson couldn’t make the move stick, though, as Prillaman regained second and set out after Carlton, who had fashioned a three-length advantage.

Over the waning circuits, Prillaman was unable to narrow his deficit to Carlton, who extended his winning margin to 0.849-second — about four lengths. Jackson was third to the line, followed by Thurston and Jason Styron.

Prillaman was able to stretch his lead in the Pro Series standings to 32 points, 322-290. Davis remains second, followed by Styron and Jason Manes. Carlton, buoyed by his recent success, has vaulted to fifth.

The next race will be held April 12 at Richmond Coliseum.