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ARTHUR, HAMILTON, FOLMAR AND CHILDRESS VISIT VICTORY LANE ON OPENING NIGHT AT VIRGINIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY.
Jamaica, VA – Walker Arthur of Forest, VA finished 2006 as the Victory Lap Late Model Rookie of the Year. After the divisions first race of the season he starts the season as the divisions point leader after taking home a convincing win in the 35 lap feature on WRAR Opening Night.
Arthur set fast time in Hot Lap Time Trials and inverted the top four putting Brian Staton and Tom Cohick leading the field to green. Cohick led the first lap, but only by inches as Staton battled back to the inside to take the lead out of turn 2 followed by Arthur, Kincaid and Long.
Arthur got under Staton in turn 2 on lap six when Staton checked up to gather his car back up. Staton would not give up and continually tried the inside as the two raced side by side for the lead. Staton took the lead on lap 11 only to give it back on lap 12 to Arthur. By lap 30 Arthur had extended his lead to ten car lengths when the races final caution came out for a spin by Tyler bailey in turn 2.
On the restart Staton had one shot to get by Arthur and on the drop of the green flag Staton jumped to the inside of Arthur but couldn’t take the lead and lost second to Brett Royal. Arthur held on to take the victory by 1.711 seconds over Royal.
“Brian Staton is one of the top racers in the area, when I saw him looking to the inside I knew I had to change my line if I wanted to keep the lead,” commented race winner Walker Arthur when asked about his battle with Staton.
Rounding out the top five were Brett Royal, Brian Staton, Jared Powell and Jason Cahall. William King picked up the Thurston Spring Service Rookie of the Race Award with his twelfth place finish.
The Budweiser Modified 25 lap feature came down to the last lap and the last corner to determine a winner. Brent Bordeaux set fast time in Hot lap Qualifying and inverted the top six with the pill draw. That put Brian Dobie and Chuck Marks on the front row. Dobie blasted to the lead with Bret Hamilton, Mark Schools and Bill Roberts in close pursuit. It took 12 laps for Hamilton to finally get to the inside of Dobie for the lead on lap 13.
On lap 18 Tommy Shiflet took second away from Dobie and set out to catch Hamilton. Shiflet worked the inside as Hamilton worked the high side as the two raced side by side for five laps until Shiflet took the top spot on lap 23. Hamilton would not give up and kept pressuring Shiflet on the outside. On the white flag lap the two came up on slower traffic with Shiflet getting pinned behind the slower car allowing Hamilton to briefly take the lead back. Shiflet battled back and pulled inside Hamilton in turn 3 and looked to have the momentum to get the win until his car jumped sideways spinning out of turn with the win going to Hamilton.
“It wasn’t an easy, I finished the car this morning, broke a transmission in hot laps and had to battle with Shiflet to get a win. I saw him coming up through the field on the scoreboard and knew he would be tough, I got a little help from that slower car,” commented race winner Bret Hamilton.
Rounding out the top five were Brent Bordeaux, Bill Roberts, Mark Schools and Page Harrison. Rich Marks picked up the Thurston Spring Service Rookie of the Race Award with his seventh place finish.
In the New Generation Racing Sprint Car 25 lap feature the night belonged to Phillipsburg, PA’s Craig Folmar. In Hot Lap Time Trials Folmar set a new track record with a lap of 17.556 seconds. Folmar drew an eight putting Bobby Mazingo and Daren Bolac leading the field to green. As the field exited turn 2 Scott Davis emerged as the leader, with Bolac and Mozingo in close pursuit.
Folmar worked his way into second on lap 5 and then rocketed to the inside of Davis out of turn 2 to take the lead. Folmar began to put distance on the rest of the field when the races second and final caution came out when Clarence cox blew a motor in turn 3 and then collecting Tim Hamlet.
On the restart Folmar pulled away from Davis and Bolac as they battled for second. With Folmar in control all eyes were on Mary Anne Williams as she worked her way from the rear to take fourth from Mazingo. Folmar pulled and easily cruised to his first VMS victory.
“We just wanted to take out time and stay out of trouble, the track was just beautiful tonight, you guys put on a heck of a race,” commented first time VMS winner Folmar.
Rounding out the top five were Scott Davis, Daren Bolac, Mary Anne Williams and Matt Stambaugh. Daren Bolac picked up the Thurston Spring Service Rookie of the Race Award with his third place finish.
In the All American division 15 lap feature Stephen Childress of St. Stephens church, VA held off Dustin Owens to take home his second career victory. Owens, Kevin Fletcher, Marty Coltrain and William Dunn battled the entire 15 laps for position in a very exciting race. Rounding out the top five were Dustin Owens, Kevin Fletcher, William Dunn and Bobby Shreves.
Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway returns to action Saturday March 24th and will host four divisions of FAST FAMILY FUN. See the Victory Lap Late Models, Truckin Thunder Sportsman, VMS Chargers and the VMS All Americans in action.
Competitor gates for Saturday, March 24th will open at 3pm with spectator gates opening at 4pm. On track activities will begin at 6:15pm with hot laps. Divisions scheduled to race on Saturday March 24th: Victory Lap Late Models (35 Laps); Truckin Thunder Sportsman (30 Laps); VMS Chargers (25 Laps) and the VMS All Americans (15 Laps). Late Model, Sportsman and Chargers divisions will run Hot Lap Time Trials and Features only. Chargers will run heats and features. Adult tickets are just $10, Senior and Military $8, Students 13 –17 yrs old $7, Children 7 – 12 yrs old $4 and Children 6 and under free. The Speedway offers a Family Pack for two adults and two children 12 and under for only $20. Also check our website for discount coupons.
Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway, a ½ mile dirt oval track is located on U.S. Route 17, eight miles north of Saluda, VA and 25 miles south of Tappahannock, VA in Jamaica, VA. The speedway is just a short drive from Richmond, Fredericksburg, Southern Maryland and the Hampton Roads area.
To learn more about Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway and its 2007schedule of events, fans may call the Speedway office at (804) 758-1VMS or visit the track’s web site at www.vamotorspeedway.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: DAVE SEAY (804) 758-1867 OR (804) 357-7223
RACE RESULTS FOR WRAR / WNNT OPENING NIGHT, MARCH 24, 2007:
VICTORY LAP LATE MODEL 35 LAP FEATURE (26 CARS):
1. Walker Arthur, Forest; 2. Brett Royal, Owings, Md.; 3. Brian Staton, Chesapeake; 4. Jared Powell,
Charlottesville; 5. Jason Cahall, Cordova, Md.; 6. Scott Adams, Chester; 7. Tom Cohick, Gloucester; 8. Larry Grimstead, Jr., Virginia Beach; 9. Eddie Groome, Stuarts Draft; 10. Lou Littlepage Jr., Mechanicsville; 11. Scotty Nelson, Leonardtown, Md.; 12. William King, Norfolk; 13. Darin Hoover, Huntingdon, Pa.; 14. Wayne Carroll, Fredericksburg; 15. Andy Gregg, Portsmouth; 16. Stevie Long, Mechanicsville, Md.; 17. Tyler Bailey, Chesterfield; 18. Chris Stacy, Spotsylvania; 19. Louis Timberlake, Mechanicsville; 20. Joe Bounds, Partlow; 21. Anthony Kincaid, Hayes; 22. Donnie Marshall Jr., Gloucester; 23. Austin Hubbard, Seaford, Del.; 24. Tony Wood, New Kent; 25. David Parker, Powhatan; 26. Michael Green, North.
FAST TIME: Walker Arthur – 19.098 seconds, 94.251mph.
BUDWEISER MODIFIED 35 LAP FEATURE (30 CARS):
1. Bret Hamilton, Powhatan; 2. Brent Bordeaux, Fredericksburg; 3. Bill Roberts, Mechanicsville; 4. Mark Schools, Midlothian; 5. Page Harrison, Jetersville; 6. Renee Weeks, Powhatan; 7. Richard Marks, Bryans Road, Md.; 8. Chris Moore, Walkerton; 9. Eric Erwin, Beaver Dam; 10. Kelly Samuels, Richmond; 11. Bill Atkins, Chesterfield; 12. Brandon Cohick, Gloucester; 13. Gene Kierson, Powhatan; 14. Brian Dobie, Partlow; 15. Tommy Shiflet, Richmond; 16. Noel Austin, Petersburg; 17. Lance Grady, Maidens; 18. Brandon Galloway, Gloucester; 19. Brian Maxey, King George; 20. Jacob Helwig, Dunnsville; 21. James Snead, Colonial Beach; 22. Thomas Rose, Onemo; 23. Dan Arnold, Petersburg; 24. Chuck Marks, Bryans Road, Md.; 25. Josh Harris, Gloucester; 26. Gary Conner, Powhatan; 27. Joey Polevoy, Powhatan; 28. Wayne Taylor, Tappahannock; 29. Craig Ramich, Fairfax; 30. Francis Jarrelle III, Powhatan.
FAST TIME: Brent Bordeaux – 20.783 sec, 86.609mph.
NEW GENERATION RACING SPRINT CARS 25 LAP FEATURE (13 CARS):
1. Craig Folmar, Philipsburg, Pa.; 2. Scott Davis, Virginia Beach; 3. Daren Bolac, Moyock, N.C.; 4. Mary Anne Williams, Chester; 5. Matt Stambaugh, Fredericksburg; 6. Michael Tolley, Ashland; 7. Bobby Mazingo, Pasadena, Md.; 8. Eric Keck, Providence Forge; 9. Keith Laird, Warrenton; 10. Clarence Cox Jr., Midlothian; 11. Tim Hamlet, Halifax; 12. Tyler Shipp, Mechanicsville; 13. Charlie Fasano, Ettrick.
FAST TIME: Craig Folmar – 17.558 sec, 102.517mph (New Track Record)
ALL AMERICAN 15 LAP FEATURE (22 CARS):
1. Stephen Childress, St. Stephens Chursch; 2. Dustin Owens, North; 3. Kevin Fletcher, Saluda; 4. William Dunn, Tappahannock; 5. Bobby Shreves, Hayes; 6. Marty Coltrain, Richmond; 7. David Bowler, Gloucester; 8. Johnny Brooks Jr., Mechanicsville; 9. Dave Savage, Mattaponi; 10. Chris Woods, Richmond; 11. Luke Danison, Stafford; 12. George Englehart Jr., Providence Forge; 13. Ashley Meyers, Ark; 14. Lee Overstreet, Midlothian; 15. Tyler LaRoque, Newburg, Md.; 16. Andrew Miller, Bena; 17. Sabrina Harper, Gloucester; 18. Ryan Hutchens, Toano; 19. Brian Maines, Williamsburg; 20. Jon Helwig, Dunnsville; 21. Charles Duke II, Gloucester; 22. Herbert Seay, St. Stephens Church; 23. Brandon Bowler, Gloucester.
FAST TIME: Marty Coltrain – 24.660 sec, 72.993mph (New Track Record)
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