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PETE SILVA WINS AN EMOTIONAL OPENER AT GREENVILLE PICKENS SPEEDWAY

GREENVILLE, SC (Mar 17, 2001)- On a night when the fans turned out in large numbers to honor fallen NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt, another man in black ended up in victory lane to dedicate the opening night win to the seven time Winston Cup champion. Asheville's Pete Silva survived a lap three melee between turns three and four which sent several cars to the pits, including that of defending track champion and polesitter Gene Morgan. Silva, the 1998 track champion, was closing close behind Morgan as the pair dipped low rounding the third turn.

That's when Morgan's Ford Taurus begin to spin and Silva steered his Chevrolet Monte Carlo to the high side and out of danger. But several drivers from back of the pack were not so fortunate, including Kevin Bishop, John McAbee, Columbia's Dan Shumaker and veteran driver Fred Phillips. On the restart, Silva jumped to a quick lead over Donnie Bishop and Jay White, with David Roberts and Kenneth Headen rounding out the top five.

By lap 23 Silva was in complete control of the top position, with White challenging Bishop for second place. Marshall NC's Stephen Gahagan appeared to have the strong car as the laps were winding down, moving up from back of the field to pass Roberts on lap 18, and picking off Liberty's Kenneth Headen for the fourth place position on lap 25. Bishop eventually shook off the threats from Anderson's Jay White to hang onto the second place position, but could not close the gap with Silva in the remaining circuits. White settled for third, with Gahagan moving up from back of the field to score a strong fourth place showing.

Headen fell to fifth, and Roberts settled for sixth after a lap 17 spin. Greg Nix, Fred Phillips, Jimmy Driver, and Dickie Layton rounded out the seventh through tenth place positions.

"We barely got this thing finished last night, we never tested it until today," a happy Pete Silva said in victory lane. "I just feel real lucky because I think Donnie was coming on strong there in the end. What a thrill for us to win on a Dale Earnhardt evening, I'm as true an Earnhardt fan as you're ever going to see, and this win is for him," said Silva.

In the 15 lap Super Stock event, Greenville's Robby Robbins passed early leader Phillip Lynch and held on to score an opening night win. Lynch settled for second, and last year's Street Stock champion Randy Ballew came from back of the pack to place third. Mountville's Jon Martin and Jayson Brown rounded out the top five.

Daryl Culbertson bested Chris Meinders of Liberty and Michael Bruton to take the 15 lap Street Stock checkers. Kevin Fuller placed fourth, and 2000 Charger champion Travis Allen was fifth.

Lee Bright scored his first career win in the Charger I feature race, after apparent winner Robert Horton failed to pass post-race technical inspection. Greenville's Joel Cox was second, and Michael Pittman was third.

In the Charger II race, Greer's Ted Somero bested Travis Hardin and Robert McCall to get an opening night trip to victory lane.

Point Standings, March 19th

LATE MODEL

1.  Pete Silva                      50
2.  Donnie Bishop                   48
3.  Jay White                       46
4.  Stephen Gahagan             		44  
5.  Kenneth Headen              		42
6.  David Roberts                   40
7.  Greg Nix                        38
8.  Fred Phillips                   36
9.  Jimmy Driver                    34
10. Dickie Layton                   32
11. John McAbee                 		30
12. Blair Addis                     28
13. Brandon McCarson                26
14. T. Bob Mangum                   24
15. Kevin Bishop                    22
16. Gene Morgan                 		20
17. Gray Greenwood, Jr.         		18
18. Dan Shumaker                    16
19. James Young                 		14
20. Gordon Stanley                  12
21. Jerry Willingham                10

SUPER STOCK

1.  Robby Robbins                   50
2.  Phillip Lynch                   48
3.  Randy Ballew                    46
4.  Jon Martin                      44
5.  Jayson Brown                    42
6.  Chris Headen                    40
7.  David Blakenship                38
8.  Greg Dodgens                    36
9.  Steve Hollingsworth             34
10. Jackie Williams                 32
11. Robin Darnell                   30
12. C.M. Knight                     28
13. Scott Mote                      26
14. Michael Cain                    24
15. Tommy Smith                 22

STREET STOCK

1.  Daryl Culbertson                    50
2.  Chris Meinders                  48
3.  Michael Bruton                  46
4.  Kevin Fuller                        44
5.  Travis Allen                        42
6.  Tim Sams                        40
7.  Stanley Pressley                38
8.  Billy Lusk                      36
9.  Woody Rowland                   34
10. Mike Hughes                 32


CHARGER I

1.  Lee Bright                      50                  
2.  Joel Cox                        48                      
3.  Michael Pittman                 46
4.  Kennith Powell                  44  
5.  Jimmy Henson                    42
6.  Pete Porter                     40
7.  James Madden                    38
8.  Rena Tate                       36
9.  Sammy Burgess               34  
10. Steve Brown                 32  
11. Mark Brockman                   30
12. Chuck Kellner                   28
13. Debbie Brannon                  26
14. Tommy Evett                 		24
15. Donnie Henry                    22
16. David Hughes                    20

CHARGER II

1.  Ted Somero                      50
2.  Travis Hardin                   48
3.  Robert McCall                   46
4.  Stephen Horton                  44
5.  Bryan Davis                     42
6.  P.J. Sparks                     40
7.  Donnie Leonard                  38
8.  Ryan Dombrosky              		36
9.  Terry King								34
10. Shane Gentry                    32
11. Christie Kelley                 30
12. Tommy George                    28
13. Chris Black                     26
14. Scott Mann                      24
15. Frank Dean                      22