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Chastain, Britt big winners Saturday at Lanier National Speedway

BRASELTON, GA (September 22, 2001) - On a night fans, drivers, and crews at Lanier National Speedway paid tribute to those fallen victim to the terrorist acts on September 11, Shane Chastain put a late model championship well within his grasp while Curt Britt showed up in a truck painted with American colors bumper to bumper that drove like an F-16 fighter.

Chastain began the evening by winning the Sunclear Water Fast Qualifier award in the Budweiser Pro Late Model division. Through inversion, he started second alongside Lanier veteran Debris Brown.

Brown led the first five laps but Chastain's black Chevrolet Monte Carlo slipped past the pole-sitter coming off turn two on the sixth lap. Chastain would never relinquish his lead for the remaining portion of the 50-lap event although Mike Love hounded him over the last half of the race.

Love's best opportunity to take the lead came on lap 48 as Chastain navigated lapped traffic. But Love opted not to put a fender on Chastain's No. 3 and knock him out of the racing groove. Chastain was quick to thank Love in victory lane.

"I've got to thank Mike Love. If it had been anybody else I probably wouldn't have won the race. He said earlier in the year he appreciated me running him clean and one day he'd pay me back. And tonight was one of those nights."

Chastain fended off Love, Clay Dale, Jamie Stephens, and Tom Hardy for the win. Chastain appears to be in prime form to claim the track late model title despite double points being on the line next Saturday during the 100-lap Budweiser Pro Late Model portion of the S & R Transmissions Casey Elliott Memorial Superbowl. His closest pursuers are Stephens and Love. Official Lanier National Speedway points will be released Tuesday morning.

Curt Britt honored America by showing up in a red, white, and blue No. 21 truck adorned with bars, stripes, and 50 stars. Written on the side of the truck was "To God be the Glory" and "God Bless America." The only portion of the truck the other 26 competitors in the Akins of Winder Pro Truck race saw Saturday evening was the tailgate as Britt started on the pole and led wire-to-wire in the 30-lap event.

Britt held off Joey Love, Mike Davidson, George Williams Jr, and Roger Adkins to claim the feature win. Points leader Chris Vandergriff suffer an early mechanical failure and finished 22nd.