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Chastain Pro Late Model Winner at Lanier

Braselton, GA (April 7, 2001) - Ideal weather conditions lured thousands of race fans to historic Lanier National Speedway Saturday night to enjoy the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series. The unique tier-level trackside parking overlooking the speedway's backstretch was packed with racing enthusiasts who tailgated and soaked up the seventy degree temperatures during the evening. The racing on the track wasn't bad either.

A self-proclaimed slow starter who typically struggles early in the season only to come on strong late in the year, Shane Chastain of Gainesville, GA used a heavy foot and well-handling Chevrolet to blast from his fourth starting position and into the lead on lap 29 of the Budweiser Pro Late Model event. Chastain ran the fastest lap in qualifying but was relegated to the outside of row two on the start after rolling a four during the inversion process.

Jamie Stephens, Jr started on the pole and looked like a good bet to win as he was attempting to make it back-to-back victories in the Pro Late Model class at Lanier. But the Chastain express blew by on lap 29 and moments later Stephens, Jr and Tony Bennett made contact while racing for second. Stephens, Jr went into the spin cycle in turn three. His undamaged No. 17 Chevrolet fell to the end of the pack but was able to remain in the event slowed by five cautions. After the incident, NASCAR officials penalized Bennett by sending him to the rear of the field during the caution period.

Moments earlier Chastain had actually ran the left front nose of his No. 3 Chevrolet into the rear of Stephens, Jr's No. 17 while trying to make a pass for the lead. Both cars wiggled somewhat but neither spun. It was a typical short track incident.

According to Chastain, "he was holding me up. A lot of times if someone is holding you up then somebody behind you will get you. So you just got to go when you can because you may not be faster than him in a few laps."

Chastain won for the second time in three weeks in the Pro Late Model division by holding off Richard King of Conyers who was a pleasant surprise as qualified second fastest then ran in the top five the entire evening. He finished eight car lengths behind Chastain to claim the runnerup spot.

A part-time campaigner at Lanier in 2000, King said afterward, "we thought we could run with them. Now we know we can. The car got real tight on me here tonight. We'll come back next week and try it again."

On the last lap King collected the lapped car of Kevin Herbert on the backstretch. Herbert spun as King continued and proceeded to collect his best career finish in a late model.

King said of the incident, "man, I don't race that way. He (Herbert) was in the wrong spot at the wrong time. I had to go. I can't stop and wait on anybody. His spotter should have told him to get down out of the way because I was racing for the win. I hate it for him. I went over and apologized for turning him."

When asked later if there was ever any thought of levying a penalty against King, Lanier competition director Steve Sexton said, "it was not even considered since the caution never flew." As Herbert spun, the checkered flag was already in the process of being displayed to race winner Chastain who was in turn four.

Tom Hardy, Debris Brown, and Stacy Long completed the top five rundown in the Pro Late Model division.

Joey Love returned to Lanier in 2001 in grand style by winning his heat race, sitting on the pole, and leading all 30 laps in the Akins of Winder Pro Truck race. George Williams, Jr started second, but suffered a rare mechanical failure on lap six. Chris Vandergriff, Billy Duncan, David Knight, and Chris Young finished second through fifth.

Kevin Stephens put the Simpson's Trucking and Grading Sportsman field on notice that he is the man to beat in that division. He turned the fastest lap in qualifying but started fourth due to the inversion. He marched to the front and took the lead for good enroute to victory on lap eight after Mike Bruce and Chris Wingo had battled door-to-door for the top spot. Bruce finished second ahead of Wingo, Bill Moran, and Harry Caudell.

Curt Britt took the lead from Thomas Ross on lap 12 and held off Jason Bates for the victory in the Sunoco MiniStock division. Steve Hill was third ahead of Bobby Adams, and Shane Nalley.