Old Dominion Speedway / June 9, 2001
Corbett Holds On To Take Home Win In Baileys 200
All week long, the talk was "Mark vs. Brandon. And as the Baileys
200 lap feature for the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Late Model Stock Cars progressed, it
appeared that would be the case with the young guns running 1-2. But when the dust had
settled, it was Eric Corbett from Hagerstown Md. standing in victory lane. The win was the
first for Corbett in 2001, who broke his winless streak which dated back to September,
1998. "You hear that the winning car is not always the fastest car, and tonight was
the case. My car was not as fast as Mike (Southard) or Danny (Fair), but there was no way
they were getting by me as long as I was out front," said an elated Corbett in front
of a packed house at ODS.
The event started out with the looks of a slugfest, as Lustine Chevrolet Quick Qualifier
Mike Darne from Warrenton, Va. was involved in a first lap crash on lap one, spinning
wildly in front of the entire30 car field on the frontstraight. Several other cars were
involved, but Darne was unable to continue. Dustin Storm took over the top spot for
several laps before Brandon Butler pushed his Baileys sponsored machine to the
point. McFarland, who has started from the third row, weaved his way through traffic, and
found himself in the tire tracks of Butler at the three quarter mark. As the two battled
side by side with just under 30 laps remaining, the two leaders in the NASCAR Atlantic
Seaboard Regional standings touched, sending Butlerss machine into a wild slide in
turn 3. McFarland was able to hold on and keep his Popeyes Pontiac straight, but was
black flagged and sent to the rear of the field. Butler, who had come to a stop in between
turns 3 and four, was slammed by the car driven by last weeks feature winner Mike
Colabucci. Both cars were done for the night. The green waved with just a few laps
remaining, and Corbett had his mirror full of Mike Southard, sporting new colors with his
new sponsor ME Construction. Also in the hunt was 5 time track champ Danny Fair, Earl
Case, and McFarland, who had made up some ground from the rear of the field. McFarland was
able to push Case back a notch, but was unable to progress any further. Southard, Corbett,
and Fair made contact on all of the final 5 laps, but Corbett was able to hold on for the
win. Southard held on for second, as Fair, McFarland, Case, and Ricky Exline rounded out
the top 6.
Other racing action for the evening included a 50 lap feature for the Redman Fleet Sevice
Grand Stocks, which was won by point leader Willard Lawrence over Bryan Short and John
Tolliver. The D&K Electric / Aldie Construction Mini Stock feature was won by
defending track champ Steve Loughman over Keith Machleit and J.J.Gertler. And the Gaston
Automotive Speedway Sportsman feature was won by Dave Gibbs over Ted Queen and James
Lucas.
Next Saturday night, the Late Models compete in a 75 lap feature, along with a 75 lap
feature for the Mini Stocks, a 50 lap feature for the Grand Stocks, and a 25 lap feature
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 Mike Carte