Henry Daily Herald

Photo by Derrick Mahone Myatt Snider, of Charlotte, N.C., ran away from the pack for the entire 20 laps during the Semi-pro race at Thursday Thunder to take the checkered flag for his first official win in a Legends car at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Thursday.

It took Myatt Snider a few seconds to figure it out, but he eventually made his way to victory lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

After winning his first Legends race at Thursday Thunder, the 17-year-old Snider had a little trouble getting to victory lane where his father, Marty, and crew members were waiting to take pictures.

“I’m very proud of him,” said Mark Snider, a pit reporter for TNT’s NASCAR coverage. “He has done a fantastic job all year. We wanted to race Atlanta full-time this season.”

The younger Snider entered Thursday’s race five points behind Semi-pro leader William Plemons III, who had won three of the previous four races. Plemons, who was fifth on the pole Thursday, finished second.

“It was a good race,” Plemons said. “There were some good drivers out there.”

Snider was driving the white No. 2 car he rents from Taylor Hull, a championship driver at Thursday Thunder. The car is set up by Doug Stevens, who once owned the most wins in Thursday Thunder history.

In 2008, he won a specialty race at AMS in a Bandolero car.

“It’s always great to see your own car win,” Hull said. “I’m definitely proud of him.”

In four previous races this season, Snider has finished in the top 5 in all races with a pair of second place finishes.

But Thursday belonged to Snider, a Charlotte native.

“I’m very pleased at the way I raced,” he said. “I kind of ran away from the entire field. The car was set up well by Doug. It ran perfect.”

Because he was the points leader, Plemons was placed fifth on the pole. After a spinout on lap eight to bring out a caution flag, Plemons climbed to the second spot.

He would hold that position for the next 12 laps as Snider took the checkered flag.

“It was a good race,” Plemons said. “The track was tough today and it didn’t feel good. It is definitely tough to close the gap. I just ran out of time.”