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Case Wins Season Finale; Track Champions Crowned

It was a night of firsts Saturday night at the Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas, Va. Earl Case from Fairfax Station Va., driving the Idylwood Exxon Shop Chevy, picked up his first ever Bailey's Late Model Stock Car feature in the 100 lap event. In addition, track champions were officially crowned, with drivers from 3 of the 4 weekly divisions collecting their first ever track championships.

Dustin Storm from Prince Frederick Md , driving the team FAXWORLD Chevy, had already clinched the Bailey's Late Model championship last week, edging defending track champ Mark McFarland. It was Storms first track championship at ODS. Jimmy Hardin from Pomfret Md., a veteran at ODS for many years in the Late Model division, hooked up with Ronnie Wolfe in the Redman Fleet Service Grand Stock division this season, and won his first ever track championship in the division.

Hardin picked up 7 feature wins and 6 Lustine Chevrolet Quick Qualifier awards enroute to the championship. Rookie driver at ODS Sean Dawson from Stephen's City Va., took home the track title in the D & K Electric / Aldie Construction Mini Stock division. The youngster collected 4 feature wins on the way to the title. Interestingly enough, Dawson never led the points chase until the final tally at season's end. Dave Gibbs, the veteran driver who migrated from Vermont after many successful years of racing there, took home track title number 2 in the Gaston Automotive Speedway Sportsman division. Gibbs picked up 7 feature wins on his way to his second title.

The Late Model Stock Car division title had been wrapped up last week, and many drivers such as Mike Colabucci, Stan Owens, and track champ Dustin Storm opted not to compete this week. This left a 19 car field with just 4 former Late model race winners included. When the green waved, polesitter Clarke Simpson, driving the Dave Moon entry after teammate Mark McFarland had problems with his engine in practice, battled outside polesitter James Ramsey for the top spot. Ramsey beat Simpson to turn one, and led the first several laps before be overtaken by Lustine Chevrolet Quick Qualifier Case. Case then had his hands full with defending track champ Mark McFarland and 5 time track champ Danny Fair. The three veterans battled throughout the event before a cut tire sent Fair into the fence in turn three with just a few laps remaining. McFarland tried desperately to get around Case, but Case was just too strong, and beat McFarland to the stripe by less than a car length. Rounding out the top five were James Penny, Mike Southard, and Ramsey. That concluded the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series portion of the schedule at ODS. However, kart racing and SBRA Drag Racing continues throughout October and into November. In addition, the Legends division has a special 50 lap, $1000.00 to win event on Saturday night, October 13th. This event will determine the Legends track champion for 2001. Kevin Yeatts currently leads that division. Check back frequently to the Old Dominion Speedway website for upcoming events.