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TRIPLEHEADER SHORT TRACK FIREWORKS AT SOUTH BOSTON

South Boston, VA....It was a hot time in the old town, as promised, for the running of the Liberty 400 presented by Goody's and WSET TV 13. Young fans cooled for the opening of swimming activities in the Turn #1 Club, as Liberty University Chancellor Jerry Falwell met with fans and NASCAR legend Morgan Shepherd joined in the Independence Day commemoration. Winston Cup driver, Stacy Compton, had his family on hand as "America's Hometown Track" welcomed one of its favorite sons with a grandstand dedication and a lifetime season pass for his parents.

Stacy Compton at Rockingham

"Your parents brought you here and exposed you to racing, we are forever in their debt", said Speedway President Joe Mattioli to Compton, "we proudly present them with lifetime passes for every future event here at South Boston."

The scene quickly turned to racing and it didn't take long for the fireworks to start trackside as Brandon Butler (#29 Chesterfield, VA) led the forward charge and then spun in turn two on lap 4. Jim Sink (#94 Chesterfield, VA) inherited the front position, as Scott Worley and H.C. Sellers III (#83 Danville, VA) battled for second. Timothy Peters (#2, Providence, NC) worked up from his sixth starting position to challenge for third at the halfway mark. Four drivers looked to claim the lead as lap traffic became a factor on lap 37. Sink held off Worley, as Sellers and Peters looked for racing room behind the leaders.

With five laps to go, Worley clung to the bumper of Jim Sink while Eddie Johnson (#57 Ashland, VA) made it five deep for the lead. Worley and Sink made contact on lap 47, causing Worley to spin and bring out the caution. With three laps to go, Brandon Butler had powered his way back to fifth and was poised to make the final shootout. Sink pulled the field and blazed ahead for the final 3 laps to post his first ever win at South Boston. H.C. Sellers III took second, followed by Eddie Johnson, Timothy Peters, and a smoking Brandon Butler.

Sink powered out front of 25 other drivers as the second 50 lap event went door to door for the green flag. Making it three wide on the front stretch, Brandon Butler showed the power of his Bailey's machine by muscling past a strong Timothy Peters for second. Worley darted from the twelfth position to claim a place among the top ten. Butler needed only 11 laps to dispose of Sink, while Peters jumped into second on lap 18. Lap traffic factored into the mix with a caution coming for a spin on the backstretch. Butler led the restart, but Tim Pinion (#07 Bedford, VA) started a chain reaction on the backstretch, which involved seven cars.

Brandon Butler

After the meshing of metal was sorted out, 16 cars emerged without the need for pitstops. Side by side and sometimes three wide, three laps were posted before three cars erupted in sparks for another caution. Butler and Peters pulled away from the field, as Sink and Johnson waged war in front of Sellers. After ten laps of dicing and slicing, Sink was cut from the Top Ten after a contact spin with Sellers. With ten to go, Butler led the way home with Peters, Johnson, Sellers, and Matt Carter completing the top five.

The NASCAR Goody's Dash Series brought their four cylinder brand of racing to bear on South Boston's 4/10th mile oval. Winnsboro, S.C. native Jake Hobgood (#64) led the 23 car field to the stripe with a 40 lap green flag short track session. Caution slowed the action on lap 40 for debris, but speed ensued again on lap 47. Third place runner, Jimmy Britts (#92 Jacksonville, FL) went into the pits with a flat tire ending his chances at a win. Justin Hobgood (#65) swapped the front spot with his brother on lap 77. Cautions for smoking, spinning, and spilling kept the speed down, but it didn't slow Mike Conover (#96 Greenville, NC) from blazing a path to victory lane. Conover claimed his first victory in only his third series start.

"I love this place" said an exuberant Conover, "we just came here to make the event, but to win, this is my favorite track and it probably always will be. I won my first (Goody's) Dash race here. What can I say? It's just amazing!"

The Gatorade All Pro Series pulled 29 highly polished machines onto the speedway, with a tight pack of competitors ready to get it on. With a little less than a third of the race completed, three cautions involving nineteen cars marred the heralded return of the late model touring series. Jeff Fultz (#54 Mooresville, NC) led the field throughout the early incidents and was not seriously challenged for the lead until the fieldd was bunched up for another caution on lap 124. Fultz again pulled out front and claimed his second Frontrunner Award of the year. Fultz posted his second pole award and his second consecutive win of the season.

"We love coming here, they've made some great improvements. We're glad to be back", said a triumphant Fultz.

"America's Hometown Track" South Boston Speedway, the home for affordable family entertainment, gets back underway with the Halifax County Cantaloupe Festival on Friday July 13th and hot racing action on Saturday, July 14th. Textilease Late Models compete in a 100 lap double points event, while Limited Sportsman, Super Stocks, Pure Stock 4s, and Vintage Modifieds complete a full night of short track racing excitement.