Late Model Feature Winners Dustin Storm and Mike Darne
Old Dominion Speedway / August 31, 2002
Storm Takes 2nd Feature Win; Darne Takes 3rd Win And Point Lead
It only takes one night to turn a season that
has been all but perfect, into a nightmare. Coming into the nights activities at the
Old Dominion Speedway, Mark McFarland had what could have been an considered an
insurmountable lead in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Presented by Dodge point standings
at the famed 3/8 mile oval. Twin 50 lap races for the Late Models were on the schedule,
and all McFarland had to do was finish both of them in the top 5, and a possible NASCAR
Atlantic Seaboard Regional title was within reach. But in the span of a few hours,
McFarlands comfortable 52 point lead turned into an 18 point deficit. After it was
all said and done, McFarlands 22nd and 16th place finishes,
combined with a win and a second place finish for Mike Darne, has put the Winchester
driver in the position of having to play catch up with just one weekend of racing left
before the close of the NASCAR Regional points chase.
Dustin Storm picked up his 2nd feature win of the season in the first of the
twin 50 lap features, leading most of the event. The problems for McFarland started just
after the drop of the green flag in the first event, when he, polesitter Matt Bucher, and
Philip Morris got together in turn 3, as all three drivers piled into one another. The
remainder of the 27 car field was able to squeeze by, but both McFarland and Bucher
suffered too much damage to continue. Storm held on to the top spot, and had to hold off
the challenges of Darne for the final 15 laps to take the win. Darne finished a close
second, followed by Franklin Butler, Mike Southard, and Brian Jenkins.
Feature number two started out with Mike Southard and Danny Fair on the front row. Fair
held the lead for the first 19 circuits before Darne took over the top spot. McFarland,
who had gone to his backup car, started at the rear of the field, and had made his way up
to the 7th spot, when he and Stan Owens made contact entering turn one. This
caused McFarland to explode a right front tire, and forcing a pit stop. He lost a lap in
the pits, which in turn ended his chances for a top 5 finish. Darne stretched his lead
over Fair throughout the event, and won by 5 car lengths. Following Darne and Fair were
Franklin Butler, Dustin Storm, and Richard Boswell Jr.
Other racing action for the night included the Grand Stocks, with Jimmy Hardin taking home
win number 8 on the season in the Redman Fleet Service Grand Stock 50 lap feature. Tom
Beckman became the 6th different winner in the Mini Stock division, as he led
flag to flag in the 30 lap feature for the Mini Stocks. Jamie DeMattio, in a borrowed car,
led flag to flag in the Gaston Automotive Speedway Sportsman 25 lap feature, while Kyle
Hendershott had a wild night, winning the 30 lap feature for the INEX Legends cars.
Hendershott set a track record in qualifying, got spun out on lap number one and had to
start from the rear of the 31 car field, and came back through the heavy traffic to secure
his second win of the season.
Next Saturday night, the Old Dominion Speedway oval track is closed. Racing action returns
for the final leg of the 2002 season, with twin 50 lap events for the Late Models. Also on
the schedule, the Legends cars return for a 30 lap event, with a 50 lap feature for the
Grand Stocks, 30 laps for the Mini Stocks, and 25 laps for the Speedway Sportsman.
Qualifying gets underway at 5:15 PM, with racing action set for 7:00 PM.
Feature Winners From 8/31/02
From Top Left:
Tom Beckman - Mini Stock
Jimmy Hardin - Grand Stock
Kyle Hendershott - INEX Legends
Jamie DeMattio - Speedway Sportsman
The Hooter Girls - Ericka and Courtney