Lawrence, Austin Jr., Fox,
Callihan Winners At ODS.......8/9/08
Willard Lawrence from Haymarket Va. drove
another nail in the competition Saturday night, taking home win number ten
in the 75-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock Car
feature at the Old Dominion Speedway. Lawrence, piloting his Foster's
Grille Pontiac, took over the top spot on lap 28, and took home the
checkers in the event. Only three late-race cautions kept the field within
striking distance of Lawrence, who crossed the stripe 1.075 seconds ahead
of runner-up Michael Arnold in the EV AirTight Pontiac. Lawrence took home
his 9th Quick Qualifier Award with a lap of 16.057 around the 3/8 mile
oval. Second quickest was Arnold, who circled the speedway in 16.312
seconds, followed by 4-time feature winner Adam Brenner in the Moe's
Southwest Grille Ford with a 16.413 lap. Mike Southard, who has been on
fire as of late, circled the track in his Try-It-Racing Chevy in 16.418
seconds, followed by the J&J Music-To-Go Chevy of Robert Bruce
(16.450) and the H.O.Engen Chevy of Les Miranda (16.502). With the
inversion, Arnold would start on the front row and lead the first few laps
before being passed by Southard and Lawrence. Lawrence would stalk
Southard and take the top spot on lap 28. From then on it was a race for
the second spot as Southard had it, and Arnold wanted it. Lap 70 saw
Southard lose control of his machine, spinning down the back straight.
Arnold inherited the second spot and finished just over a second behind
Lawrence at the end. Les Miranda came home third, while Dave Carter
finished fourth. Southard battled back in the late laps to come home
fifth. Roger Austin Jr. took home his fifth win of the season, holding off
a charging David Polenz for the win in the 30-lap Finish Line Towing /
INEX Legends feature. Austin took over the top spot on lap 2 from pole
sitter George Cushman, and began to stretch out his lead over the field.
Polenz, who had started 6th, finally made his way through traffic, and
began to cut into Austin's lead. Once he caught Austin, it was tougher
going as Austin was able to hold off several charges from the 17-year old
from NJ. Austin would cross the stripe just a half a car length ahead of
Polenz at the end. Cushman held on for third, while Matt Cannon and John
Jansen Jr. rounded out the top 5. Bryan Fox came home the winner for the
7th time this season, besting Billy Ingle in the 20-lap UCAR feature. Fox
took the lead early and was able to hold off Ingle at the stripe by less
than a car length. Jeff Beamer came home third, while Greg Sites and Craig
Oglevee rounded out the top 5. In the Mini Modified twin features, Davey
Callihan picked up the wins in both feature events, beating Bobby Able in
race # 1, and Scott Gore in race #2. Next Saturday night, the Old Dominion
Speedway oval is closed. Racing action returns to the famed 3.8 mile oval
on Saturday night, August 23rd, with the Va. Sprint Series. The 14 second
lap machines will compete in a 20 lap event. Also on the schedule is a
75-lap feature for the Late Models, 30 laps for the Mini Modifieds, 20
laps for the UCAR's, and a 20-lap event for the Mini Cups. Practice begins
at 2PM, qualifying is set for 5PM, with racing action going green at 7PM.
Photos From 8/9/08:
1st Row:
The Winners of the Bike Giveaways
Courtesy of Polenz Motorsports and Austin Legends
2nd Row:
Bryan Fox - UCAR Feature Winner
Davey Callihan - Mini Modified Feature Winner
3rd Row:
Bob Harman Had Some
Mechanical Problems In Practice
Jeff Dillon Made His First Start Of 2008 At ODS
Jason Shultz Barely Got On The Track Before Transmission Problems Ended
His Day
4th Row:
"Really, I Am Having A Blast Here Today!!"
Kristin Keyes At Speed
The Work Never Stops
5th Row:
Willard Lawrence - Late Model Feature Winner
Roger Austin Jr. - Legends Feature Winner
