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KILBY WINS IN ARA TWINS

JEFFERSON, GA - Scott Kilby earned the maximum points possible in winning the U.S. Auto Sales Twin 125 at Peach State Speedway Sunday evening.

Scott Kilby

The 36-year-old late model veteran from Statesville, N.C., was the fastest qualifier for the American Racing Association (ARA) Kool Seal Challenge All-Stars race, but elected to invert and start sixth. Kilby quickly made his way towards the front in his #30 A & H Windows Chevrolet Monte Carlo, and began challenging teenage sensation Stephen Leicht of Asheville, NC, for the lead. Leicht, who qualified sixth, started on the pole and led the first 84 laps.

With a slick move on the high side in turn four of the half-mile oval, Kilby took over the lead on lap 85 and was never headed in the 125-lap feature. He earned five bonus points for setting fast time, and 10 more bonus points for passing five cars that started in front of him.

Greg Marlowe of Troutman, NC (#07 Southern Price Chevrolet) finished second, Keith Bamgarner of Conover, NC (#95 Country Chair Ford) was third, Jay Godley of Charlotte, NC (#25 Godley Auction Company Ford) was fourth, and Leicht was fifth in his #99 Action Racing Collectibles Ford.

"To tell the truth, I didn't have anything for Stephen (Leicht) early in the race, but my spotter told me to try the high side and that made all the difference," Kilby said. "My car was perfect on the high side.

"I didn't have much choice but to invert the start, because Keith (Bumgarner) usually does, and passes cars to get his bonus points. It's a gamble, but it paid off as much as it possibly could tonight. This sets up nicely for Hickory."

The ARA Kool Seal Challenge Series runs Saturday, Aug. 18th, at Hickory (NC) Motor Speedway in the Bobby Isaac Memorial 200.

Peach State Results - Aug. 12, 2001

Scott Kilby
Greg Marlowe
Keith Bumgarner
Jay Godley
Stephen Leicht
Frampton Ferguson
Danny O'Quinn Jr
Jimmy Doyle
Westley Huffman
Marty Ward
Bob Saville
Keith Stiltner
Keith Rankin
Road Ammons

TEENAGER CRUISES TO ANOTHER ARA WIN

JEFFERSON, GA - Teenager Stephen Leicht of Asheville, NC, cruised to victory in the U.S. Auto Sales Twin 125 American Racing Association (ARA) Southern Thunder late model victory Sunday night at Peach State Speedway.

After leading the first 84 laps and winding up fifth in the opening Kool Seal Challenge Series race, Leicht led Mickey Cain of Gainesville, GA lead the Southern Thunder race's first 33 laps before moving to the front in his #99 Action Racing Collectibles Chevrolet on lap 34. He led rest of the 125-lap race around the half-mile oval to claim his fourth ARA Southern Thunder victory of the season.

Dwayne Buggay of Marietta, GA (#15 Atlanta Auto Brokers Ford) was second, with Paul Kelley of Snellville, GA (#24 Kelley Motorsports Chevrolet) third and Jeff Gore of Powder Springs, GA (#5 Gorman Excavating Chevrolet) fourth.

Leicht, 14, was the only driver to compete in both events, dominated the Southern Thunder race. He had to endure three restarts following cautions in the final 25 laps, but was always able to pull away. His margin of victory over Buggay was about three seconds.

"The car was perfect," Leicht said. " I could run it anywhere I wanted, and I was down on the apron in a lot of the turns. I got good acceleration out of the corners, and I had great restarts."

That made up for the disappointment of a shock absorber problem that dropped Leicht out of the lead in the Kool Seal Challenge race earlier in the evening.

The ARA returns to Peach State Speedway for a another doubleheader on Sunday, Sept. 2.

Results - Peach State, Aug. 12, 2001

Stephen Leicht 
Dwayne Buggay
Paul Kelley
Jeff Gore
Mike Love
Casey Green
Jeremy Broome
John Lovett
Michael Lance
Kevin Perry
Marc Brenner
Keith Barrett
Tom Stokes
Russell Fleeman
Michael Hillman
Bryan Manning
Mickey Cain
Puddy Bullard
Ricky Moore
Royce Bray
David Wragg