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Stephens Jr bests Late Model Field of Champions

Braselton, GA (Mar 31, 2001) - The NASCAR Weekly Racing Series awards points based on criteria such as victories and car count. It is unfortunate someone in NASCAR's Daytona Beach office doesn't add "strength of field based on past championships" into the equation. Pro Late Model winners at Lanier would benefit greatly from such a change.

Jamie Stephens, Jr took his No. 17 Williams Bros Lumber Chevrolet to victory lane Saturday night at Lanier in the Budweiser Pro Late Model race and in the process led a parade of former Lanier or regional NASCAR champions to the checkered flag. Stephens, a 1992 champion himself, outraced second place finisher Clay Dale, the 1998 Lanier track champion and NASCAR Sunbelt Region winner, third place Tom Hardy, the 1999 Lanier track champion, and fourth place Tony Bennett, the 2000 Lanier track champion.

That is impressive but throw in fifth place Shane Chastain, an up-and-coming driver that is a former winner of the Casey Elliott Memorial at Lanier, sixth place finisher Mike Love, a multiple champion at Lanier and former Lanier champ Debris Brown and it's clear that Stephens beat a stout field Saturday night. It's also an indicator that the Budweiser Pro Late Model class at Lanier is going to be very competitive in 2001.

"It's great to finish ahead of some of the more recent champions here. I won a championship in 1992," said Stephens in victory lane. Stephens was adamant in thanking long-time sponsor Williams Bros Lumber in victory lane for making the win possible saying, "Williams Bros has hung in there with us even when we weren't winning."

Hardy turned the fastest lap in qualifying but rolled a three during prerace ceremonies which meant he started third. That put Stephens on the pole. Leader Stephens had a close call on lap 24 while racing Chastain and Bennett. He tangled with the No. 43 of David Watters while trying to put him a lap down.

The caution flew as Stephens suffered damage to the nose and hood of his No. 17. But it turned out to be more cosmetic in nature as the bump did not hamper the ability of his Chevrolet to stay in the lead.

A turning point in the 50 lap Budweiser Pro Late Model race came on lap 30 as Bennett, while trying to grab the lead away from Stephens, momentarily lost control in turn two and went from second to fifth. As Bennett's Pontiac started a spin which he quickly corrected, it was the opening Dale needed as he never lifted and blasted past Hardy and Bennett and into third.

Moments later Dale worked underneath Chastain and it looked like the driver from Jefferson, GA had regained his winning touch from 1998. Despite two late cautions, including a spectacular fire from Jonathan Davenport's No. 49, Dale was never able to mount a serious challenge on Stephens in the closing laps.

In the Akins of Winder Pro Truck event George Williams, Jr of Bethlehem, GA put the field on notice that his No. 56 Ford is back and stronger than ever. Williams, Jr set fast time in qualifying and sat on the pole - after rolling a one in the inversion process - then led wire-to-wire in the 30 lapper. Vince Whitmire, Ronnie Milford, Mark Caudell, and Chris Vandergriff could only follow Williams across the finish line as they plot their strategy to outrun him in the future.

In Simpson's Trucking and Grading Sportsman action Kevin Stephens blasted past pole sitter Chris Wingo on the start from his outside front row position and led all 30 laps. Tim Stephens, Jackie Daniel, and Mike Bruce finished third through fifth.

Curt Britt had a topsy-turvy evening at Lanier in the Sunoco MiniStock division. He sat on the pole then went into turn one of the first lap too hot and nearly spun his No. 38 sliding from the lead to fourth. Five cautions later he ran down leader Thomas Ross and went by with three laps remaining to an apparent victory. In postrace tech it was determined his No. 38 contained an illegal part and his win was disallowed meaning Ross was awarded the win. Chad Hoopaugh was second followed by Shane Nalley, Jason Huff, and Brian Huff.

Notes - Simpson's Trucking and Grading of Gainesville, GA became the new title sponsor of the sportsman division Friday...Legends racing returns to Lanier on Friday April 6th...The trophy dashes were a hit Saturday night with Williams, Jr winning the truck portion and Stephens earning the victory in Pro Late Model. Each race was an eight lap dash for the six fastest qualifiers. The trophy dash will be a regular part of the 2001 schedule at Lanier...Saturday night marked the beginning of the points season for 2001 at Lanier...Call 770-967-8600 or visit www.lanierspeedway.com for more information on Lanier National Speedway.