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SECOND SEASON WIN AFTER BISHOP DISQUALIFICATION

GREENVILLE, SC (July 7, 2001)- Almost four months after Pete Silva's opening night Late Model victory, he rolled his Monte Carlo into Greenville Pickens Speedway victory lane for a second time in a most unconventional way. Silva started the 35 lap feature on the outside of turn one, with 10 time winner and points leader Donnie Bishop on the pole.

Bishop secured the lead by turn two on the first lap, and continued to build on that lead as the laps clicked off. As the checkered flag fell on Bishop, most fans had already exited the speedway believing that Bishop had secured his 11th season win, sit firmly atop the Late Model points chase, was in total control of NASCAR's Weekly Racing Series Blue Ridge region, and was a top contender for the national championship as well.

After Bishop's victory lane appearance, the cars headed to the technical inspection area, where Silva's team lodged an official protest of the Bishop Chevrolet's engine height and weight. When Bishop refused technical inspection, Silva was declared the winner.

The protest came on True Value double points night, so Silva vaulted into the track points lead by picking up 100 points on Bishop. More importantly, the loss for Bishop removes him for now from the top regional spot and may have national championship title implications as well.

"Donnie did not want them to look at the car, so I had no choice but to disqualify Donnie," head technical inspector Gene Harris said.

Liberty's Kenneth Headen equaled his best season showing by placing second, with Marietta's Marty Ward placing third. Defending track champion Gene Morgan was fourth, with Irmo's R.A. Brown in fifth. Central's Jay White, Simpsonville's David Roberts, Belton's Ron Hall, and Greenville's Blair Addis and Brandon McCarson rounded out the sixth through tenth place positions.

Ken Guthrie of Greenville passed points leader Robby Robbins midway through the 15 lap Super Stock event, and held him off in the final circuits to secure his first win of the season. Michael Cain of Easley was third, and Greenville's Phillip Lynch placed fourth. Josh Bradley of Fountain Inn placed fifth.

Liberty's Chris Meinders made a daring white flag lap pass of race long leader Greg Jarrett and won his third consecutive B.F. Goodrich Street Stock race. Jarrett settled for second, with Easley's Billy Lusk placing third. Travis Allen of Greenville was fourth, and Travelers Rest's Stanley Pressley rounded out the top five.

Scott Mann held off Ryan Dombrosky and Brain Davis to win the first Charger race. Greenville's Pete Porter lead from flag to flag and held off a fast charging Kennith Powell in the final laps to win the Charger II race. Greenville's Shane Gentry was third.

GREENVILLE PICKENS SPEEDWAY
OFFICIAL RESULTS
July 7, 2001

LATE MODEL

1.  Pete Silva          Leicester, NC
2.  Kenneth Headen  Liberty
3.  Marty Ward          Marietta
4.  Gene Morgan     Travelers Rest
5.  R.A. Brown          Irmo
6.  Jay White           Central
7.  David Roberts       Simpsonville
8.  Ron Hall            Belton
9.  Blair Addis         Greenville
10. Brandon McCarson    Greenville
11. Gordon Stanley      Greenville
12. Jimmy Driver        Williamston
13. Benny Youngblood    Arden
14. Andy Driver         Anderson
15. Bobby Capps     Piedmont
16. Daryl Burris            Alexander
17. Stephen Gahagan Hot Springs, NC
18. Bobby Adams     Travelers Rest
19. Greg Wallace        Mooresville, NC
20. Greg Nix            Travelers Rest
21. James Young     Fairview, NC
22. Bruce Fender        Canton, NC
23. Mike Clardy         Greenville
24. J.R. Robbs          Gaffney
25. Tyler Bob Mangum    Powdersville