OLD DOMINION SPEEDWAY / MAY 1, 1999

FROM LAST TO FIRST – MCFARLAND MAKES IT FOUR STRAIGHT . . . . . . . . .

SEE MARK RACE, SEE MARK WIN, again, and again, and again. Mark McFarland proved tonight that team chemistry is key to a winning season. After experiencing a failed motor in practice, the Beaty Construction team went back to the trailer, pulled the engine out of the back up car, and replaced it in the primary car. The exchange was completed just before the start of the racing activities. After a few adjustments, he was allowed a few practice laps to make any last minute adjustments. Then the team waited for every one of the twenty-six NASCAR Winston Racing Series Late Model Stock Cars to line up for the start of the Manassas Chrysler Plymouth 200. Then they found their place in line, way back in position twenty-seven. Surely the "streak", as it were, three straight wins, would be in jeopardy on this night. In jeopardy in the minds of many, but not in the minds of Team Beaty. And after the night was over, it was McFarland who stood tall in victory lane once again as he dominated the second half of the 200 lapper after taking the lead just at the midway point.
The streak that was broken, however, was the Lustine Quick Qualifier award. McFarland had three straight poles to his credit so far, but with his car in the pit area, qualifying had a whole new look a s Dale DeLozier from Alexandria Va. picked up his first pole of the season with a 15.65 lap in his Texaco Express Lube Chevy. Mike Colabucci from Waldorf Md. was just a scant slower, registering a 15.66 lap in his Lustine Chevy, while Dion Ciccarelli from Severn Md. was third fastest with a 15.69 lap in his Sabre Construction Pontiac. Rounding out the top six was Dustin Storm (15.78), Mike Southard (15.80), and Ricky Exline (15.80). While all eyes were on McFarland, the front of the pack saw a furious battle for the lead from the start as Exline, Ciccarelli, Storm, and Southard were banging fenders for the top spot. Contact was made between DeLozier and Ciccarelli in turn one, sending Ciccarelli hard into the fence in turn one, resulting in a mangled machine for Ciccarelli. Also caught up in the mix was Eric Corbett, the 1998 Rookie Of The Year. Corbett was able to continue, but was not a factor from that point. The green waved once again, with Exline on top, followed by Storm. Storm took over the top spot, but was passed by Colabucci about a fourth of way through the event. As all this was going on, like a shark in the ocean, McFarland was inching his way to the front. A caution period slowed the field, and at that point, the two top dogs thus far this season, Colabucci and McFarland, were one – two. The green waved, and the battle began. Colabucci was holding his Chevy on the bottom of the racetrack, protecting the low side. McFarland followed, and made his move to the outside. His car stuck like glue as it has all season long, and made the pass on the outside heading down the backstraight. Once the pass was complete, it was only a matter of running the final 100 laps as he stretched his lead on each circuit. A late race caution period bunched the field up, and when the green waved with two laps to go, Colabucci made a valiant attempt to pass on the inside, but was held off once again. Crossing the stripe behind the top two finishers were Nick Pappas, Jimmy Hardin, and Danny Fair.
Mike Darne from Manassas Va. made it yet another new face in victory lane in the Snap-On Tools Grand Stock 50 lap feature, as he took advantage of the woes of early leader Mark Cropp, and dominated the event. Cropp had held the lead from the outset, but under a caution period, broke a distributor gear, thus ending his night. This gave the lead to Darne, the current Grand Stock track record holder, a lead he would never relinquish. Tom Dyson, the defending track champ, would be able to close up the distance, but would never mount a serious challenge, and had to settle for second. Rounding out the top five was Jeff Callihan, Dennis Werner, and last week’s feature winner Stan Owens.
In other racing action, Mike Bryant from Midland Va. picked up win number four, as he came from the sixth starting spot, and dominated the 30 lapper for the Kay Jennings Springfield Toyota Mini Stocks. Finishing second was Jason Lineweaver, followed by Doug Freeman, defending track champ Rick Bowman, and Garry Klaus. Jim Todd Jr. took home win number three as he dominated the 25 lap Redman Fleet Service / Gaston Motorsports Speedway Sportsman feature. Jeff Sisak finished second, followed by Mark Pollard, Roy Eckert, and John Knight.
Next Saturday night the Snap – On Tools Grand Stocks will compete in Twin 50 lap features. The Late Models will race for 75 laps, while the Mini Stocks will go 30 laps, and the Speedway Sportsman will compete for 25 laps. Lustine Quick Qualifying begins at 5:15 PM, with racing action set for 7:00 PM.

OLD DOMINION SPEEDWAY / APRIL 24, 1999

MCFARLAND MAKES IT THREE STRAIGHT . . . . . . . .

MARK MCFARLAND FROM WINCHESTER VA. continued his dominance at the Old Dominion Speedway Saturday night as he picked up his third straight feature win in the 75 lap feature for the Winston Series Late Model Stock Cars. After picking his way through from his sixth starting position, McFarland took over the top spot on lap 42 of the 75 lap event. So far this season, no one has been able to keep up with the former Busch Series driver He set the modern day track record once again in Lustine Chevrolet Quick Qualifying.
Twenty one Late Models took the green with Ricky Exline on the pole along side of Dion Ciccarelli on the front row. Exline led the charge for the first half of the event as McFarland clawed his way to the front. Ciccarelli gave Exline a few taps from behind, but was never able to gain the top spot. McFarland, however, picked off the spots one by one, and took the lead on lap 42. Each and every lap he extended his lead, and had it not been for some late race cautions, his lead would have been at least a half a lap. Exline developed problems after being passed by McFarland, and slowly dropped back through the field, eventually finishing sixth. About the only driver thus far this season who has been close to McFarland has been Mike Colabucci, but his bid for the win came up short once again as he settled for second. Finishing third was Ciccarelli, followed by defending track champ Dale DeLozier, and five time track champ Danny Fair.
Other winners for the evening included Stan Owens in the 50 Snap On Tools Grand Stock feature, his first ever feature win, Jeff Sisak in the 50 lap Redman Fleet Service Speedway Sportsman event, Mike Bryant in the 75 lap Kay Jennings Springfield Toyota Mini Stock feature. Darrell Hatcher picked up the feature win for the Legends Cars as apparent winner Rick Utzman was disqualified for an illegal tie rod end.
Next Saturday night the Late Models compete in the first 200 lap event of the season. The Grand Stocks will go 50 laps, while the Minis Stocks compete for 30 laps and the Speedway Sportsman compete for 25 laps. Lustine Chevrolet Quick Qualifying begins at 5:15 pm, with racing action set for 7:00 pm.

OLD DOMINION SPEEDWAY / APRIL 17, 1999

 MCFARLAND MAKES IT TWO FOR TWO . . . . . . . . . .

Mark McFarland from Winchester Va. made it two for two Saturday night at the Old Dominion Speedway as he picked up feature win number two in the Hooters Of Manassas 75 lap feature for the Winston Series Late Model Stock Cars. After starting sixth in the 25 car field, McFarland methodically picked his way to the front, and took over the top spot just at the halfway point.
In Lustine Quick Qualifying, McFarland once again was the fastest, circling the 3/8 mile high banked oval in 15.51 seconds, good enough for the modern era track record ( the official track record is 15.32 set by Al Dailey ). Mike Colabucci set the mark earlier in qualifying with a 15.58 lap, only to be set back a notch by McFarland. Dion Ciccarelli lapped the oval in 15.63 seconds, while 1998 track champ Dale DeLozier (15.70) while Tom Raley and Jimmy Hardin (15.73) rounded out the top six.
Ciccarelli and Hardin led the charge into turn one, turning lap after lap side by side. Ciccarelli finally grabbed the top spot hands down on lap 3, and appeared to have the strongest car in the field. But one by one, McFarland set back the top drivers, and was on Ciccarelli’s back bumper before the halfway point. Several times McFarland made the inside move entering turn one, and finally was able to wedge his way under Ciccarelli entering the turn. From that point on, and with the help of a few caution periods, Ciccarelli made a few valiant attempts to make up the distance, but McFarland’s Pontiac was just too strong. Ciccarelli crossed the stripe 2 car lengths in arrears at the end, followed by Colabucci, DeLozier, Eric Corbett, and Dustin Storm.
Other racing action for the evening included the ABC Truck Repair 110 lap feature for the Snap-On tools Grand Stocks, and defending track champ Tom Dyson picked up his first feature win in 1999 in dominating fashion. Dyson took over the lead early, and held off Jeff Callihan, last week’s feature winner for the victory. Finishing third was Stan Owens, followed by Mark Miller, and Mark Winstead.
Mike Bryant also made it two for two, taking home the checkers in the 30 lap feature for the Kay Jennings Springfield Toyota Mini Stocks, while Jim Todd Jr. was yet another repeat winner as he won the 25 lap feature for the Redman Fleet Service / Gaston Motorsports Speedway Sportsman.
Next Saturday night, the Legends Cars return to the Old Dominion Speedway, as they compete in a 35 lap feature. Also on tap is a 75 lap event for the Late Models, 50 laps for the Grand Stocks, 75 laps for the Mini Stocks, and 50 laps for the Speedway Sportsman. Lustine Quick Qualifying begins at 5:15, with racing action set for 7:00 PM.

OLD DOMINION SPEEDWAY / APRIL 10, 1999

MARK MCFARLAND TAKES OPENING NIGHT CHECKERS AT OLD DOMINION SPEEDWAY

Mark McFarland from Winchester Va. returned to the Old Dominion Speedway with a new ride and picked up the feature win Saturday night in the ColorCraft Of Va. 100 lap feature for the Winston Series Late Model Stock Cars. McFarland took over the lead late in the event from early leader Eric Corbett from Hagerstown Md. to secure the win.
McFarland was quickest in Lustine Chevrolet Qualifying, circling the 3/8 mile oval in 15.61 seconds, a fast lap that was surprising to many with the cool temperatures. That lap was good enough to beat defending track champ Dale DeLozier from Alexandria, who posted a 15.68 second lap. Third starting spot went to Dustin Storm, as the youngster from Prince Frederick Md. posted a 15.70 lap. With the top six spots being inverted, Corbett wound up on the pole, with Ricky Exline on the outside of row one. Row two consisted of Mike Colabucci, and Storm, while McFarland and DeLozier made up row three.
Twenty five Late Models took the green, with Colabucci and Corbett battling up front. McFarland battled his way to the point after disposing of the competition one by one, exchanging some paint on the way. With only a hand ful of laps remaining, McFarland dove underneath Corbett, taking the top spot and the feature win. Corbett held on for second, while Colabucci, Exline, DeLozier, and Art Colbert rounded out the top six.
Jeff Callihan from Fredericksburg Va. picked up where he left off last season and notched another win in the Snap-On Tools Grand Stock 50 lap feature. Callihan grabbed the lead early from polesitter Randy Bragg, and held off Mike Darne for the win. Finishing third was defending track champ Tom Dyson, followed by Bragg, and Mark Winstead.
In other racing action, Mike Bryant notched yet another win in the Kay Jennings Springfield Toyota Mini Stock division feature, while Jim Todd Jr. breezed home to the win in the 25 lap Redman Fleet Service / Gaston Motorsports Speedway Sportsman feature.
Next Saturday night will feature the ABC Truck Repair 100 lap feature for the Grand Stocks. The Late Models will compete in a 75 lap feature, while the Mini Stocks will go 30 laps, and the Speedway Sportsman will compete for 25 laps. Lustine Chevrolet Quick Qualifying gets underway at 5:15 pm, with racing action set for 7:00 pm.