There have been three Jenkins, none related, scattered throughout the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Presented by Dodge Late Model Stock Car field for the past few seasons at ODS, all looking for their first feature win. Saturday night, one of them broke into the win column for the first time, and another broke the top five for the first time. Brian Jenkins from Fairfax Va. held off the determined challenges of the NASCAR Atlantic Seaboard Regional point leader Mark McFarland for most of the 75 laps, and took home the checkers for his first ever feature win Saturday night in the Gatorade 75 lap feature for the Late Model Stock Cars. Jenkins started from the front row, and led flag to flag to take home the win. It was not an easy task as McFarland, who had come from his second row starting spot, hounded Jenkins throughout most of the event. McFarland himself had a tough time as well, as he had to battle his way to the front, and hold off challenges by defending track champ Dustin Storm throughout most of the event. McFarland followed Jenkins closely until he began to pressure him with 20 laps to go. Several times it appeared McFarland had the edge, but Jenkins was able to hold him off on each lap. Contact was made several times, but both drivers held their ground. Storm, who had worked his way up through the field from the sixth starting spot, pressured McFarland towards the end of the event, but was unable to make the pass. The other story of the night was Mark Jenkins from Catlett Va., who has been ever so slightly making his presence known week after week. Jenkins worked his way up from his 4^th row starting spot, and was pressuring Storm for the third spot with 2 laps to go. But a last lap caution period ended that charge, and Jenkins wound up fourth, his first ever, top five finish. Finishing in the 5^th spot behind Jenkins, McFarland, Storm, and Jenkins was David Quackenbush, who had another strong run, finishing in the top 7 for the fourth time in 6 weeks. With the win, Jenkins is the 5^th different winner thus far in the Late Model division.
Chris Donnelly picked up his second win in 2002, holding off defending track champ Jimmy Hardin for the win in the 50 lap Redman Fleet Service Grand Stock feature. Donnelly, who had started on the outside of row one, led flag to flag. Hardin once again had to work his way up through the field, narrowly avoiding a first lap crash that eliminated several drivers, including Mark Miller, Bryan Short, and Ron Jardine. This allowed Hardin to close right in behind Donnelly, but Donnelly used up most of the track to hold off the defending track champ. On one occasion, Hardin actually got along side of Donnelly, but the higher line prevailed, and Donnelly held on for the lead. While this was going on, Jerry Back made his way to the front, and pressured Hardin for the second spot. Those two made contact on a couple of occasions as well, but Hardin held on. The three crossed the stripe with less than a car length between them. Rounding out the top 5 was Jim Todd Jr. and Jack Crocker.
Sean Dawson from Stephen’s City, Va. broke into the win column for the second time, taking the lead with just a few laps remaining to take home the checkers in the 30 lap Mini Stock feature. It was Dawson’s first win since April 20^th, and it thrust him into the point lead as early leader and point leader Mike Carte had a right front tire go flat with just a handful of laps remaining. Finishing a close second was Tom Beckman from Fairfax, Va. It was Beckman’s third runner-up finish in four weeks. Rounding out the top 5 were Kieth Machleit, Johnny Lowery, and Colt White.
Jeff Sisak from Linden, Va. picked up his second win in 2002 in the Gaston Automotive Speedway Sportsman 25 lap feature, holding off a fierce challenge by James Lucas. Lucas followed Sisak for 24 of the 25 laps, and made his move on the final turn of the final lap. But he came up about 1 foot short at the end, and settled for his second runner-up finish in 4 weeks. Rounding out the top five was Ray Miller, followed by Les Miranda, and Jamie DeMattio.
Craig Goess, the 2001 Legends National Champion, took advantage of the misfortunes of Roger Austin Jr., and claimed the win in the 30 lap Legends feature. Austin, who had led 29 of the 30 laps, developed an oil leak and was black flagged with just one lap to go, handing the win to Goess. Following Goes across the stripe was defending track champ Kyle Hendershott, followed by Kevin Yeatts, Nick Carlson, and Dave Hendershott. Goess becomes the fourth different winner in four events run thus far in the Legends division in 2002.
Next Saturday night, the Late Models will do battle for 75 laps at the famed 3/8 mile oval. Also on the schedule will be a 50 lap feature for the Grand Stocks, along with a 30 lap feature for the Mini Stocks, and a 25 lap feature for the Speedway Sportsman. Qualifying gets underway at 5:15 PM, with racing action set to take the green at 7:00 PM.