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US Cellular 250

RADFORD, VA- The New River Valley Speedway was heated up by more than the temperature today. The Toyota Hollywood Stunt Show brought here by 107 PSK, provided fans with stunt displays, done all with Toyota cars, trucks and motorcycles, as well as a small comedy show with the aid of Sparky the clown. One of the most impressive acts during the show was when the drivers put a truck and a car on two wheels and drove them around the track. The finale of the show was the Hollywood Thunder truck. It is a truck equipped with a naval jet engine which drove round the track, spouting flames yards behind it. The heat from the jet engine could be felt to the top of the grandstands.

The US Cellular 250 gave fans the first 200 lap NASCAR Late Model race of the season. In the double-length race the caution flew only three times. The race also saw Phillip Morris (01) pick up his seventh win. After claiming another, Morris started sixth and went on to lead a majority of the laps.

Wade Day (96) got his second third-place finish this week. He steadily and methodically gained positions throughout the night. Day is a track regular, and is teammates with the number 99 of Matt Wolfe. He was happy with his finish, and said, "We're just kind of moving on up. My car was a little loose tonight, we just have to find a happy medium".

Eric Sartin (40) had an upsetting night. Sartin started the race toward the front, then continued to drop back through the field until lap 110, where he began moving foward again. On lap 115 Sartin had made his way all the way back to fourth place where he stayed until he and Wolfe made contact on the backstretch during lap 124. The spin caused Sartin to hit the wall, causing major damage to the car, as well as blow several of his tires, putting him out of the race for the rest of the night.

A return visitor to the track, Wayne Grubb (14), had his best finish here when he grabbed fourth place. He worked his way up from the middle of the starting field, battling drivers such as Wolfe and Day. Grubb grabbed fourth from Mike Looney (94) and was able to keep the position when the checkered flag dropped.

Looney came in fifth place, led by Grubb in fourth, Day in third, and then Chad Harris (02) and Morris, in second and first, respectively.

The H & H Carpet Late Model Trucks ran their 50 lap race tonight. A 15 truck field ran hard and well throughout the night. Michael Leonard (27) found himself with a hard to handle truck tonight. He looped it around twice in the turns, but managed to save it from the wall until lap 46, when he got into the wall in turn two.

Bo Howell (01) was running strong tonight when on lap 37 his truck broke loose and sent him into the turn three wall. His contact with the wall left him out of the race for the rest of the night. Aaron Deplazes (02) finished third tonight, Randy Howard (22) second, and Rick Sigmon (45) took first.

The New River Valley Mall Mini Stocks, and the Blue Ridge Timberwright Pure Stock divisions had the night off. They will return next week for the New River Pontiac/Ginger's Jewelry 200. WWF's Hardcore Holly will be driving in the Late Model division next week. Hermie Sadler will also be at the speedway with Virginia Lottery, who will be giving away free lottery tickets to the first 400 fans, 18 and older through the gates.