5/30/2019
Justin Williams Takes Pro Late Model Checkers at Virginia Motor Speedway;
Jamaica, VA – If tonight is any indication on what is to come the Victory Lap Pro Late Model competitors may be in for a long year. Justin Williams of Concord, VA looked like the Justin Williams of old, taking the lead from Davis Lipscombe of Mechanicsville, VA on lap 13 and then putting some distance on himself and the rest of the field. A caution with two to go saw Corey Almond of Appomattox, VA take over second but fall short of catching Williams on the final lap.
“I can’t thank David and Corey Almond for helping me put this deal together, this new Barry Wright ICON is now two for four and we couldn’t be happier”, commented Williams in WhosYourDriver.org Victory Lane.
Rounding out the top five were Corey Almond, Davis Lipscombe, Matt Glanden and Kyle Lear
In other action Tyler Shipp of Mechanicsville, VA made it two in a row in the Truckin Thunder Sportsman division; Chris Arnold of Matoaca, VA grabbed the lead from Rick Hulson of Glen Burnie, MD on lap 13 and drive to the Budweiser Modified feature and in the Collision One Limited Stock feature Brandon Bowler of Gloucester, VA made a last lap, last corner pass to grab his career first victory.
Matt Glanden and Davis Lipscombe led the 25 car field to green with Lipscombe grabbing the lead out of turn 4 followed by Justin Williams. On the next lap Glanden got by Williams for second only to have Williams take back second on the next lap in turn 3. On lap 12 Williams began his assault on Lipscombe for the lead. On lap 13 Williams got inside Lipscombe for the lead. Once out from Williams looked like his old self pulling away from field. On lap 24 with Williams pulling away from the field, everything almost went up in smoke when Williams went to the outside of a lapped car into turn 1 touching and sending his car up in the cushion. Williams would make the save and continue on with the lead. A Caution with two to go would close the field on the leader’s bumper. On the restart Williams got a good jump on the field and Corey Almond got inside Lipscombe in turn 2 to take over second. Williams would go on to an almost 2 second win with Corey Almond, Davis Lipscombe, Matt Glanden and Kyle Lear rounding out the top five.
In the Budweiser Modified 30 lap feature two newcomers, Ray Kable and Rick Hulson, led the field to green with Hulson grabbing the lead on the opening lap. Week one winner Francis Jarrell would quickly jump to second followed by Chris Arnold. The top three began working traffic on lap 6 with Hulson holding on to the lead. On lap 7 Arnold would drive under Jarrelle in turn 3 to take over second. Arnold then set out to reel in Hulson. On lap 11 Arnold began looking for a way around the leader. On lap 13 Arnold found the opening, working inside of Hulson in turn 3 and completing a slide job in turn 4 to take over the lead. Once out front Arnold held a car-length advantage over week 1 winner Hunter MCClendon. Over the remaining fifteen laps McClendon would stay close but Arnold would have enough to hold on for the win. Hunter McClendon, Joey Polevoy, Ray Kable and Lance Grady rounded out the top five.
In the Truckin Thunder Sportsman 30 lap feature Steve Causey and Tyler Shipp led the field to green with Shipp grabbing the lead on the first circuit followed by fast qualifier and sixth starting Joe Weiss. By lap 10 Shipp had stretched the lead out to about five car lengths as the two began working lapped traffic. Caution would come out on lap 17 when Tommy Upshaw pulled his car to pit road with the motor on fire. On the restart Weiss worked the inside of Shipp in turn 3 and looked to maybe have a run only to be turned away in turn 1. With five laps remaining Weiss and Tim Shelton battled for second as Shipp pulled away. Shipp would go on to score a full straight win over Joe Weiss and Tim Shelton. Brett Adkins and Steve Causey rounded out the top five.
In the Collision One Limited Stock 25 lap feature Raymond Harper and Marty Coltrain led the field to green. The battle for the lead went three-wide really quick as Cory Bradley jumped to their outside. Bradley would come out with the lead followed by Harper and Chad Champion. The races first caution would fly when Harper would spin in turn 4. On the restart James Givens got by Champion for second. On lap 16 Bradley got back inside the leader with Givens holding on to the lead. On lap 18 Bradley got back inside Givens in turn 3 and grabbing the lead out of turn 4. Givens would get back outside of Bradley in turn 1 with the two getting together in turn 3 bringing out the checkers handing the lead to Champion. On the restart Champion held off Trent Clemans heading into turn 1. On the next lap Brandon Bowler got by Clemans for second. Bowler would reel in Champion as the laps with the laps winding down. On the final lap Champion had Bowler on his bumper, as the two entered turn 4 Bowler made his move and would take the win at the line by .240 seconds. Chad Champion, Trent Clemans, Marty Coltrain and Joe Francher rounder out the top five.
The speedway will return to racing next Saturday June 1st to host S.T.A.R. Kids Night and week 4 of Dirt Series Championship weekly racing action featuring the Victory Lap Pro Late Models, Budweiser Modifieds, Truckin Thunder Sportsman and Collision One Limited Stock Cars in action.
Competitor gates for Saturday June 1st will open at 3pm with spectator gates opening at 5pm. On track activities will begin at 6:30pm with hot laps.
Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway is 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.
Race fans can go to www.vamotorspeedway.com to view the complete schedule Virginia Motor Speedway’s 2019 season, find detailed event information, get the latest news, and get complete ticket and camping information. In addition, fans can get social with Virginia Motor Speedway by following @vamotorspeedway on Twitter, clicking "Like" at www.facebook.com/VaMotorSpeedway and on www.youtube.com/VaMotorSpeedway.
Article Credit: Dave Seay