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Results from The Kickin Asphalt 275

KENLY N.C. _ Jamey Caudill returned to familiar, dominating form at Southern National Speedway on Saturday night. The Four Oaks driver steered his Southern Piping of Wilson Monte Carlo to the checkered flag from the pole in the 100-lap feature during the Kickin' Asphalt 275 auto racing program.

Caudill, a former Southern National champion, triumphed for the second time in seven SNS starts in 2001 and celebrated his third victory of the year.

Caudill was joined in Victory Lane by Brandon Head of Goldsboro in Pro Trucks, Scott Davis of Goldsboro in Stock Look-Alike, Mike Stodder of Raleigh in Four-Cylinder Stock and Kenneth Tripp of Knightdale in Baby Grands.

In Late Model Stock, Caudill constructed a four-second lead and prevailed by a comfortable margin against runner-up Tony Grady of Raleigh in a Monte Carlo. Caudill managed a grin and said he was not overly concerned when Grady shaved some two seconds off his advantage with some 25 laps remaining.

"When you get out to a three- or four-second lead, there is no need to burn your car up," Caudill quietly said. "We were loose but we were good. But I think everybody was loose."

Of his brief surge against Caudill, Grady said, "I didn't know if he was just riding. Then he took off again."

Both Caudill and Grady were encouraged with their performances in relatively new cars.

"It's a different brand," Caudill said, "and it takes a little time to get used to it. It's not often that get the car nice and free to start the race and have it stay that way."

"It's a new car and we just threw it together," Grady said. "We did about the best we could do, especially against that guy (Caudill) up front _ he was dominant."

Points leader Billy Ray Lucas of Wilson finished third in a Monte Carlo. His lead dwindled just two points against runner-up Grady.

"We had about a third-place car," Lucas said, "especially after the lap traffic and all. We are adjusting on the car every week and we're close. Still, we're one of the best cars out here and, right now, we're the best."

Jim Kelley of Newport, in a Monte Carlo, charged to the fourth position from a 10th-place start, while Clayton's Steve Mendenhall, involved in door-to-door racing throughout, held off rookie Stephen Rhodes of Goldsboro for fifth place.