SWAINSBORO, Ga. For the first time in his World of Outlaws Late Models career, Cody Overton is set to be the hometown hero.

This weekends Battle at the Crossroads will mark the first World of Outlaws event at Swainsboro Raceway since 2012, several years before Overton ever climbed behind the wheel of a dirt Late Model.

Lil Sexy grew up an hour north of Swainsboro in Thomson, Ga., and has more laps around the track than any other in the country. The fans who fill the stands every night have watched Overton become one of the top young stars of Late Model racing, and this weekend theyll get to see him go to battle on the national stage.

That town is just so little, theyre all there, Overton said. Thats whats cool about it. It kind of reminds me of Fairbury. You know the same people are going to be there, the whole town is there. I think itll be cool they get to see all this.

After years of watching his brother Brandon rip around the track, Cody thought to himself at the start of the 2018 season, I think I could do that. So, he loaded up a Crate Late Model and made the trip south to Swainsboro to get his feet wet.

How did that first night go?

It wasnt very good, Overton said with a laugh.

The rocky start to his driving career didnt deter him though, as Overton quickly proved he had the talent to win on any given night. By the end of his first season, Overton had racked up trophies from Swainsboro, Senoia Raceway, Needmore Speedway, Laurens County Speedway and Rome Speedway.

While Overton has done plenty of traveling since the start of his career, Swainsboro has always been home. And for the Swainsboro locals, theres no bigger race than the season-ending Turkey 100. Its been a family tradition for as long as Overton can remember, and winning it ranks as one of his top accomplishments behind the wheel of a race car.

Thanksgiving, thats a big deal for our family, Overton said. Weve been going since I was a baby, Brandons been going since he was 13, so thats just a big deal for our family. Hes won it now and Ive won it a couple times, so it makes it pretty cool.

With a sizeable portion of the World of Outlaws field having little or no Swainsboro experience, several teams came out to the tracks Spring Nationals Series event on Feb. 28 to turn some laps, and Overtons Dave Steine Motorsports team was one of them.

What started as a promising night went sideways when the right-rear tire broke off in Qualifying. Overton made his way from the back of a Last Chance Showdown to take the final transfer spot but was unable to advance higher than 18th in the Feature.

As long as the lug nuts are tight this time around, Overton is confident in his chances to put his years of Swainsboro knowledge to good use and contend for his first win with The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet.

Its its own little animal, flat in a circle, Overton said of the uniqueness of the 3/8-mile facility. I think well be a lot better. We got ourselves buried, but we know what we did wrong.

Overton and the rest of the World of Outlaws Late Models will head to Swainsboro Raceway for the Battle at the Crossroads on Friday and Saturday, March 21-22.