JAMAICA, Virginia – In one of the best races of 2008 Stevie Long of Mechanicsville, MD held off Stephen Evans of Tyner, NC to get the win in round 3 of the Victory Lap Late Model $25,000 Challenge presented by BB&T at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway in beautiful Jamaica, VA. With the victory Long joins round one and two winners Walker Arthur and Tom Cohick for a chance at a $5000 bonus in round 4 of the Challenge Series on September 20th.
Long took the lead from Tom Cohick on lap 6 and once out front had to fend off the advances of Evans for the remaining 34 laps. Long and Evans raced side by side as they pulled away from Cohick and the rest of the field.
By the halfway point of the 40 lap affair one of the fastest cars on the track was the car of Roland Mann who had worked his way to tenth form his twenty-first place starting position. With laps winding down Long and Evans threaded heavy lapped traffic as they battled for the top spot.
On lap 26 the best battle other than the one for the lead was for sixth as Sommey Lacey Jr., Walker Arthur and Roland Mann wrestled three wide for the spot.
The battle for the lead continued side by side with Long working the top and Evans working the middle groove. With three laps to go Evans slid under Long in turn 1 getting a nose out front as the two raced outside turn 2. Long was able to hold on to the lead and on the last lap Evans tried one more time and got under Long out of turn four only to have long take home his first victory of 2008.
“Stephen (Evans) and I have raced side by side for two weeks now, I got to thank him for racing me clean, if the fans didn’t like that race I’m not sure what they want to see,” commented a very happy Long in victory lane.
Following Long to the checkers were Evans, Tom Cohick, Brett Carlton and Anthony Kincaid. Carlton was the Thurston Spring Service Dirt Series Rookie of the Race with his fourth place finish.
In other action Bret Hamilton of Powhatan, VA picked up his first Budweiser Modified victory of 2008 holding off matt Marshall for the win. The New Generation Racing Sprint Car 25 lap feature went down to the final lap to decide a winner as Daren Bolac of Moyock, NC held off Kyle Pruitt of Ijamsville, MD for the victory. In the Truckin Thunder Sportsman 25 lap feature Kenny Moreland of Waldorf, MD led flag to flag to pick up his career first victory.
In the Budweiser Modified 25 lap feature Joey Polevoy of Powhatan. VA and Wayne Taylor of Tappahannock, VA led the field to green with Taylor taking control out of turn 2 to lead the first lap.
Taylor had to keep current point leader Matt Marshall at bay as they raced through traffic. Joining the duo up front for the battle for the lead was defending champion Bret Hamilton. On lap 13 Marshall slipped in turn 2 allowing Hamilton to take second.
Hamilton then set out to reel in Taylor, catching him on the next lap. On lap 16 Taylor slide up the track out of turn 3 opening the door for Hamilton but powered back by Hamilton to keep the top spot. Over the next two laps Hamilton looked the track trying to find the groove that would propel him to the lead. On lap 21 Taylor bobbled down the back stretch allowing Hamilton and Marshall to get by for position.
Once out front Hamilton was able to pull away from Marshall to take his first victory of 2008. Following Hamilton to the checkers were Matt Marshall, Wayne Taylor, Page Harrison and Kelly Samuels. Matt Marshall was the Thurston Spring Service Dirt Series Rookie of the Race with his runner up position.
The New Generation Racing Sprint Car feature went down to the final lap before deciding a winner. Mary Anne Williams and Brent Bordeaux led the field to green with Williams leading the first circuit.
On lap 2 current point leader Daren Bolac swept around Williams on lap 2 in turn 4 to take over the top spot. Once out front Bolac began to pull away as Kyle Pruitt began working on Williams for second. On lap 10 Pruitt rocketed to the outside of Williams to take over second.
Pruitt then set out to catch Bolac who had worked his way to a full straight lead. Lap by lap Pruitt, working the cushion, began to reel in Bolac. By lap 17 Pruitt had cut it to two car lengths and looked to have the faster car. On lap 19 Pruitt got to the outside of Bolac in turn 2 as the two raced side by side.
On lap 23 Brent Bordeaux hit the wall hard in turn 3 to bring out a caution just as Pruitt had a run off tunr 2 on Bolac.
On the races final restart Pruitt went right to the top, grazing the turn 2 wall in the process. On the final circuit Pruitt looked to pull off the move but Bolac was able to hold on out of turn 4 top take his fifth win of 2008. Trailing Bolac at the checkered flag were Pruitt, Matt Stambaugh, Eric Keck and Mary Anne Williams. Brent Bordeaux was the Thurston Spring Service Dirt Series Rookie of the Race with his ninth place finish.
In the Truckin Thunder 25 lap feature Todd Traylor and Kenny Moreland led the field to green with Moreland taking control of the top spot with roger Jamerson following to second. Jamerson tried several times to get inside Moreland but to no avail, losing second to Jimmy Humblet on lap 6.
On lap 8 the battle for the lead got heavy as Moreland worked to hold off Humblet and Tim Shelton. Humblet tried several times to get inside Moreland for the lead but had to fend off Shelton in the process for second.
With Humblet and Shelton battling for second, Moreland drove on to pick up his career first victory. Rounding out the top five were jimmy Humblet in his first visit of 2008, Tim Shelton, Okey Synan, Jr. and Tony Wood. Humblet was the Thurston Spring Service Dirt Series Rookie of the Race with his runner up position.
Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway will take a week off due to the NASCAR events at Richmond International Raceway. The Speedway will return back to action Saturday September 13th to host WIGO / Richamond.com “Kids In Uniform” Night. All children wearing a football, baseball, softball, soccer, Boy Scout or Girl Scout uniform will be admitted free.
All five of the tracks divisions will be competing in Thurston Spring Service Dirt Series Championship action.
Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway, an ASA Member Track affiliate, is a ½ mile dirt oval track located on U.S. Route 17, eight miles north of Saluda, VA and 25 miles south of Tappahannock, VA in Jamaica, VA. The speedway is just a short drive from Richmond, Fredericksburg, Southern Maryland and the Hampton Roads area.
To learn more about Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway and its 2008 schedule of events, fans may call the Speedway office at (804) 758-1VMS or visit the track’s web site at www.vamotorspeedway.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: DAVE SEAY (804) 758-1867 OR (804) 357-7223
RACE RESULTS FOR BILL HUDGINS PONTIAC – GMC / CAPITAL BOILER WORKS NIGHT AT THE RACES, AUGUST 30, 2008:
RD 3 VICTORY LAP LATE MODEL$25,000 CHALLENGE presented by BB&T 40 LAP FEATURE (22 CARS):
A-Main -- 1. Stevie Long, Mechanicsville, Md.; 2. Stephen Evans, Tyner, N.C.; 3. Tom Cohick, Gloucester; 4. Brett Carlton, Mechanicsville; 5. Anthony Kincaid, Hayes; 6. Sommey Lacey, Jr., Clements, Md.; 7. Walker Arthur, Forest; 8. Roland Mann, Chaptico, Md.; 9. Scott Adams, Chester; 10. Matt Morgan, Hughesville, Md.; 11. Chris Stacy, Spotsylvania; 12. Ben Bowie, Brandywine, Md.; 13. Donnie Daniel, West Point; 14. Brett Royal, Owings, Md.; 15. Brandon Long, Mechanicsville, Md.; 16. William King, Norfolk; 17. Wayne Carroll, Fredericksburg; 18. Roy Skaggs, Highland Springs; 19. Austin Hubbard, Laurel, Del.; 20. Tyler Bailey, Chesterfield; 21. Brad Rigdon, Chesapeake; 22. Tony Buckler, King George.
FAST TIME: Stephen Evans – 19.545 seconds, 92.095mph.
TRUCKIN THUNDER SPORTSMAN 25 LAP FEATURE (20 CARS):
A-Main -- 1. Kenny Moreland, Waldorf, Md.; 2. Jimmy Humblet, Shiloh, N.C.; 3. Tim Shelton, Fredericksburg; 4. Okey Synan Jr., Fredericksburg; 5. Tony Wood, New Kent; 6. John Kirby, Sandston; 7. Roger Jamerson, Glen Allen; 8. Michael Roop, Stafford; 9. J.R. Guy, Mechanicsville, Md.; 10. Tommy Upshaw, West Point; 11. Gene Snow Sr., Richmond; 12. Taylor Doggett, Ruther Glen; 13. Jimmy Duncan, Fredericksburg; 14. Rusty Steele, Providence Forge; 15. John Rhoades, Hayes; 16. Michael Hayes, Ruther Glen; 17. Chris Stacy, Spotsylvania; 18. Todd Traylor, King William; 19. Bruce Wilson, Quinton; 20. Stephen Childress, St. Stephens Church.
FAST TIME: Jimmy Humblet – 21.511 seconds, 83.678mph.
BUDWEISER MODIFIED 25 LAP FEATURE (24 CARS):
A-Main -- 1. Bret Hamilton, Powhatan; 2. Matt Marshall, Stuarts Draft; 3. Wayne Taylor, Tappahannock; 4. Page Harrison, Jetersville; 5. Kelly Samuels, Richmond; 6. Brian Dobie, Partlow; 7. Brian Maxey, King George; 8. John Ferguson, Gloucester; 9. Gary Conner, Powhatan; 10. Tony Quade, Leonardtown, Md.; 11. Dan Arnold, Petersburg; 12. Mark Schools, Midlothian; 13. David Reid, Mechanicsville; 14. Dustin Bishop, Stony Creek; 15. Jack Foulkes, Fairfax Station; 16. Brandon Cohick, Gloucester; 17. Joey Polevoy, Powhatan; 18. David Parker, Powhatan; 19. Brandon Galloway, Gloucester; 20. Charlie Hubbard, Chesapeake; 21. Lance Grady, Maidens; 22. Josh Harris, Gloucester; 23. Bill Roberts, Mechanicsville; 24. James Snead, Colonial Beach.
FAST TIME: Matt Marshall – 20.680 seconds, 87.041mph.
NEW GENERATION RACING SPRINT CAR 25 LAP FEATURE (10 CARS):
A-Main -- 1. Daren Bolac, Moyock, N.C.; 2. Kyle Pruitt, Ijamsville, Md.; 3. Matt Stambaugh, Fredericksburg; 4. Eric Keck, Providence Forge; 5. Mary Anne Williams, Chester; 6. Scott Davis, Virginia Beach; 7. Charlie Fasano, Ettrick; 8. Troy Severin, Ashland; 9. Brent Bordeaux, Fredericksburg; 10. John Snead, Fredericksburg.
FAST TIME: Daren Bolac – 16.910 seconds, 106.446mph. (New Track Record)
