Old Dominion Speedway / June 2, 2001
Colabucci Takes Home Win In 75 Lapper …..
Mike Colabucci from Waldorf Md. snapped a winless streak dating
back to September of 2000, dominating the 75 lap feature for the Bailey’s NASCAR
Weekly Racing Series Late Model Stock Cars. Starting on the pole for the feature,
Colabucci outraced the other front row starter Mike Southard into turn one from the
outset, and led flag to flag for his first feature win in 2001, and only his second top 5
finish of an otherwise horrible season. The win made Colabucci the fifth different driver
thus far to visit victory lane in the Late Model division this season.
Lustine Chevrolet Quick Qualifying was led by young Dustin Storm from Prince Frederick
Md., as he paced the 27 car field in qualifying. But after the inversion, the top six in
the lineup were Colabucci, Southard, Stan Owens, Dave Moon, Storm, and point leader and
current NASCAR Atlantic Seaboard Regional leader Mark McFarland. The green waved over the
field on the, with Colabucci getting the jump on Southard heading into turn one. Southard
maintained his second place spot until Stan Owens took that spot away as the feature
progressed. McFarland, who had admitted in an pre- race interview that car was not working
like he had hoped, was struggling from his sixth place starting spot, but managed to put
Southard back another notch late in the event. In the meantime, Colabucci was holding on
to his slim lead as Owens was about 3 car lengths behind. Owens and McFarland battled side
by side with two laps remaining, allowing Coloabucci to extend his lead. Owens held on the
the second spot as he and McFarland crossed the stripe side by side, Owens taking the spot
by inches. Southard held on for the fourth spot, while Andreras Kestermann, Dustin Storm,
and Eric Corbett rounded out the top seven. "Track position means a lot here. We have
put a lot of work into this car the last couple of weeks because of problems and wrecks.
It feels good to finally get a good run in" Colabucci said in victory lane.
Willard Lawrence from Haymarket Va., the current point leader in the Redman Fleet Service
Grand Stock division, picked up his second feature win of the season in the first of two
25 lap features. Lawrence held off Jim Todd Jr. from Casanova Va. for the win. In the
second of the twin features, Jimmy Hardin from Pomfret Md. picked up his second feature
win in 2001 as he held off 2000 Rookie of the Year Jerry Black from Elkridge Md.
throughout the 25 lap feature.
Steve Loughman from Locust Grove Va., the 2000 track champ in the D&K Electric / Aldie
Construction Mini Stock division, picked up win number 2 as he battled from deep in the
field, and overtook early leader Adam Flis for the win in the 30 lap Mini Stock feature.
Loughman, who had erupted the engine in his primary car in practice, borrowed the car of
Mike Bryant, thanked the Bryant crew for allowing him to borrow the car. "In
practice, the car started blowing water out of the exhaust pipes, which is never a good
sign. Mike let me borrow his car and I want to thank him for that. Rounding out the top 5
was Bill Briggs, J.J.Gertler, and rookie Sean Dawson.
Ted Queen from Manasas Va. took home win number one in 2001 as he took the lead early as
the field battled behind him, and beat point leader Dave Gibbs from Sumerduck Va. to the
stripe in the Gaston Automotive Speedway Sportsman 25 lap feature. Following Gibbs was
James Lucas, followed by Vince Langan, and defending track champ Scott Lunceford.
Kevin Yeatts from Powhatan Va., started from the pole and led every lap in the INEX
Legends 30 lap feature. Yeatts battled Marty Armin Jr. for a good portion of the event
until front end problems ended Armin’s night. Yeatts beat Roger Austin Jr. to the
stripe by 5 car lengths. Finishing third was Nick Carlson, followed by point leader Kyle
Hendershott, Charles Hudson, and Dave Hendershott.
Next Saturday night, the Bailey’s 200 lap feature for the Late Models Stock Cars
heads the schedule. Also on tap will be a 50 lap feature for the Grand Stocks, a 30 lap
feature for the Mini Stocks, a 25 lap feature for the Speedway Sportsman, and also a
special feature race for the Champ Karts and Mini Cups. Lustine Chevrolet Quick Qualifying
begins at 5:15 PM, with racing activities set to get the green at 7:00 PM. The Champ and
Mini Cup races will take the green at a special time of 6:30 PM.
