Old Dominion Speedway / June 30, 2001

 This time, Mother Nature was not going be the winner at the Old Dominion Speedway. After some cancellations earlier in the season, track promoter Dick Gore said all week that "we are going to get this one in, no matter what." And that is exactly what happened Saturday night as even a late evening shower did not deter the drivers, crews, fans from coming out to the speedway for only the third time in June. The fans were treated to some exciting racing as Dustin Storm from Prince Frederick Md., driving the Team FAXWORLD Chevrolet, picked up win number two in 2001 in the first of the twin 35 lap features for the Bailey’s NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Late Model Stock Cars. Storm was able to hold of defending track champ Mark McFarland in the Popeye’s Pontiac for the popular victory. The victory would have seemed a long shot for Storm earlier in the evening , who had a distributor break during practice. But coming to the rescue was McFarland, who helped out the Storm team for over an hour, getting the unit replaced, and back into working order. Storm would then lead the 21car field in Lustine Chevrolet Quick Qualifying, picking up his 4^th pole of the season. From the drop of the green, it was Mike Colabucci pacing the field in what seemed to be an insurmountable lead. But late in the event, he was tangled up in an accident involving two lapped cars that should have been out of the way. Colabucci suffered front end damage and was unable to continue. This handed the lead to Storm, who was several car lengths back and was able to avoid the melee. Storm then held off McFarland for the win. Rounding out the top 5 were Mike Southard, Ricky Exline, and Danny Fair. After the inversion, Fair found himself starting on the front row for the first time all season in the second of the twin 35 lap events. And the 5 time track champ took advantage of the situation and led flag to flag for his first win of the 2001 season. He was able to hold off the challenges of Earl Case throughout the event. Rounding out the top 5 were Storm, Southard, and Exline. The win for Fair marked the 7^th different driver to win in 2001 in 10 events run thus far. At the conclusion of the evening, it was announced that all remaining twin 35 lap features scheduled for the Late Models will be changed to twin 50 lap events.
Other racing action included twin 25 lap features for the Redman Fleet Service Grand Stocks, with Chris Donnelly from Stafford Va. dominating the first event, holding off Jimmy Hardin from Pomfret Md. For his 3^rd win of the season. Point leader Willard Lawrence from Haymarket Va. took home win number 4 as he held off 2000 Rookie of the Year Jeffy Black from Elkridge Md. in the second feature. Keith Machliet from Fredericksburg Va. too the checkers for the first time this season in the 30 lap D&K Electric / Aldie Construction Mini Stock feature holding off Garry Klaus from Alexandria throughout the event. Ted Queen from Manassas Va. won his second feature in 2001, taking home victory honors in the 25 lap feature for the Gaston Automotive Speedway Sportsman. In the marathon Legends event, Mike Gwaltney from Mechanicsville Va. held off Kevin Yeatts from Powhatan Va. in the 30 lap feature for the motorcycle powered machines. With just 2 laps to go, Yeatts went for the lead and got out of shape in turn 2, allowing Roger Austin Jr. to take over the 2^nd spot. Yeatts held on for third.
Next Saturday night, the Old Dominion Speedway oval will be dark, but drag racing is scheduled for both Friday night, Jult 6^th, and Saturday night, July 7th. BDE Kart and Mini Cup Racing returns to the speedway on Sunday, July 8^th. The NASCAR Weekly Racing Series returns to the 3/8 mile oval on July 14^th with a 30 lap Legends feature, 75 laps for the Late Models, twin 25 lap features for the Grand Stocks, 30 laps for the Mini Stocks, and 25 laps for the Speedway Sportsman. Lustine Chevrolet Quick Qualifying begins at 5:15 PM, with racing action set for 7:00 PM.


   
 


MARF HARD CHARGER AWARD WINNER LES MIRANDA