LateModelStock.com - News

Double Points Night

September 22, 2001 
Diane Brinkley 
NRVS Writer 

RADFORD, VA- It was double track points night for the New River Valley Speedway on its last night of regular division racing for the 2001 season. At the start of the NASCAR Late Model Stock Car race, first and third in the point standings were separated by just 28 points, with Phillip Morris in first, and Wade Day in third. Chad Harris trailed Morris by four points in second place.

The Late Model field was the season's smallest, many of the regulars taking the week off to prepare their cars for the East Coast Late Model division race in Martinsville next week, just 17 cars started the race. The field, small, but highly competitive for the double points had only 11 cars actually finish the race.

Morris dominated and won the race, securing the track championship. Morris was elated, especially since last week saw him winning the Blue Ridge Region championship as well.

"Its been a banner year," said Morris.

Day challenged Morris for the top spot during the entire 100 laps, but was never able to quite catch him. Even though Harris finished the race three laps down, in seventh, Day's second place finish was just four points shy of moving him up into second in the standings. Day is hopeful about next year, however.

Day said, "Every week we got closer and closer, this is a great team, and I couldn't have done it without them."

Rodney Cundiff rounded out the top three. Cundiff, who used to race at New River full time had been an off and on visitor to the speedway this season, and this was his highest finish in 2001.

Cundiff said, "We just like this place, a bunch of nice fans, and a bunch of nice racers, I wish we could race here more often."

The H&H Carpet Late Model Trucks ran their 50 laps in good style, nearly giving the fans a photo finish on the last lap. The first three finishers battled hard for their spots all the way to the finish line, after many laps of trading each other for the spots. The fans were on their feet as the trucks crossed the line. In first was Tim Arrington, followed by Bo Howell, and then Jason Lawrence for third.