Brandon Carlson was the class of the Pro Late Model division all season at Five Flags Speedway.

But the Pensacola native was denied his second division championship when he crashed out of the double points race in September. 

The 2005 Pro Late Model champion bounced back in a big way Saturday night, winning the Allen Turner Snowflake 100.

Carlson battled with defending Snowflake 100 winner Ryan Crane in the closing laps to earn the win.

"Wow, it's hard to even explain this," Carlson said, "A hometown guy, with all my family here.. and you figure how many people want to win this race."

The race produced many exciting moments.  Jason Young of Houston, Texas, started from the pole and led Josh Hamner for the first 23 laps. 

Young and Hamner looked like they were going to turn the race into a two car battle, but luck was not on either driver's side. 

With a large lead on the rest of the 38-car field, the two cars encountered the lapped cars of John Long and Kyle Sirizzotti. 

As Young and Hamner were attempting to go around the two slower cars, Sirizzotti got into the back of Long, turning him up into Young and Hamner.  Young, Hamner and Long all skidded to a stop against the outside wall.  All three cars were heavily damaged. 

With the top two cars out, Augie Grill then moved to the lead.  Grill established a sizable lead as the race went green until a lap-49 caution.  Most of the field elected to pit for tires under the caution.

Grill's crew apparently didn't get all the lug nuts tight on the car as he lost his right rear wheel exiting pit road.  He would be forced to take up the rear of the field and was later involved in a wreck. 

That gave the lead to Keeton Hanks, who did not pit.  Steven Davis was the first car in line that pitted in seventh position.  The benefit of fresh tires showed as Davis took the lead in less than five laps.

Crane, Logan Boyett and Carlson all followed Davis to the front.  

Crane took the lead from Davis on lap 87 and looked to be on his way to his second consecutive win in the Snowflake 100. 

But a caution with 7 laps remaining gave Boyett a chance to challenge for the win. 

Boyett's chance didn't last long.  He was slow on the restart allowing Carlson to pass.  Davis attempted to follow Carlson by, but instead got into the back of Boyett. 

Boyett spun, collecting Ryan Blaney and Tyler Millwood. 

The race was between Crane and Carlson from that point.  Carlson spun his tires on the restart, giving Crane some breathing room.

But the advantage wasn't enough as Carlson closed quickly and made the winning pass with five laps to go.  He made slight contact with Crane as he passed low, but both cars continued on. 

"Man I stuck it in there," Carlson said.  "He made it tight because we were both going for the win.  I knew I had to make a move because I didn't have many laps left."      

Crane battled back, but just didn't have enough. 

"It was a good race," Crane said.  "We'll take it and get ready for the Snowball.  This is good, but we're more worried about tomorrow."

Casey Roderick, who participates in Bill Elliot's driver development program, went down two laps early in the race when a flat tire forced him to pit under green.  But Roderick earned the laps back and finished a solid third.  

"Coming from two laps down was pretty amazing," Roderick said.  "I never thought we would be able to do it.  I was pretty brokenhearted when I had the flat, but I learned to never give up.  I wish I could have got back up there sooner.  I think I would have had something for them."

Georgia driver Paul Kelly finished fourth and Keeton Hanks of Kentucky finished fifth.