9/8/2019
Eric Erwin makes Thrilling Last Lap Pass to Score the Pro Late Model Victory at Virginia Motor Speedway; $50,000 to Win FASTRAK World Championship Up
Jamaica, VA – Russell Erwin of Beaverdam, VA made a last-lap pass on race leader Walker Arthur of Forest, VA to score his career first Pro Late Model victory on Collision One Championship Night at Virginia Motor Speedway. During the race Erwin fell back to seventh before making his way back to the front. On lap 24 Erwin got by Corey Almond for third and then second on lap 31. Erwin then made the exciting high side pass on the race's final lap to score the win.
“At first I didn’t know if I wanted to do any Pro (Crate) Late Model racing as we do so much Limited Late and Super Late model racing. But with the $50,000 to win race that you guys are running next week, we thought we would give it a try,” commented Erwin in WhosYourDriver.org victory lane. Erwin continued, “This gives us momentum and a good feeling heading into that race, and I think I am starting to like this crate racing.”
Rounding out the top five were Walker Arthur, Justin Williams, Corey Almond, and David Watts. With his third-place finish Justin Williams of Concord, VA held off Corey Almond of Appomattox, VA by four points for the 2019 Victory Lap Pro Late Model championship.
In other action Brett Adkins of Gloucester, VA would pick up his second Truckin Thunder Sportsman win of the season as Joe Weiss of Elizabeth City, NC held defending champion Tim Shelton of Fredericksburg, VA of to score the Division Championship. Hunter McClendon of Williamsburg, VA capped off his second consecutive Budweiser Modified Championship in style by also taking home the win’ and in the Collision One Limited Stock Car division James Givens of Henrico, VA scored the win and took home his third consecutive and fourth overall championship. In the Sportsman Mechanic’s race Pat Gonzales drove his son’s car to victory.
Walker Arthur and Trevor Collins led the 27 car field to green in the Victory Lap Pro Late Model 35 lap feature with Collins taking the lead out of turn 2. Collins would pace the field until Arthur would get inside the leader in turn 3 to take the lead on lap 6. Justin Williams would grab second from Collins on lap seven and set out to reel in Arthur. On lap 13 the leaders began racing in heavy traffic with Williams closing on Arthur as they weaved their way through traffic. The races first caution would fly on lap 18 with a car slowing on the backstretch.
Things picked up on lap 24 win Eric Erwin got past Corey Almond for third. Once in third Erwin set out to catch Williams in second. On lap 29 Erwin began looking inside Williams for second place. On lap 31 Erwin decided to take the high side in turn 1, taking the position. Erwin would then catch Arthur on lap 33. With the white flag in the air, Erwin swept around Arthur’s outside to take the lead with the race ending in cautions and checkers. Rounding out the top five were Walker Arthur, Justin Williams, Corey Almond, and David Watts.
In the caution filled Budweiser Modiifed 30 lap feature Hunter McClendon grab the lead on lap 15 and drive to the win and his second consecutive Championship in the division. Brandon Galloway and Francis Jarrelle led the field to green with Jarrelle leading the first circuit. Jarelle would pace the field for the next five laps before getting caught up in
In the Truckin Thunder Sportsman 30 lap feature, Brett Adkins took the lead on the drop of the green flag. Adkins would have to fend off fast qualifier Mark Gonzales over the first eleven laps before pulling away from the field to score the win. Rounding out the top 10 were Mark Gonzales, Steve Causey, Tyler Shipp, and Tim Shelton. Joe Weiss would finish sixth and claim the Championship.
The best battle on the track ended up being the one between point leader Joe Weiss and defending Champion Tim Shelton. In qualifying, Shelton closed the point battle to seven and started in front of Weiss on the starting grid. On the first lap Shelton would spin and have to go to the rear of the field. Shelton would work his way back to Weiss’s bumper by lap 17. On lap 19 Shelton got outside Weiss in turn 1 with the two making contact and allowing Shelton to take the spot. It was not enough as Weiss would claim his first Truckin Thunder Sportsman Championship.
The Collision One Limited Stock Car division has been competitive, but if you looked at the results it might look like James Givens dominated the entire season. That was not the case as the division had multiple winners and lots of action upfront each week. On this night Givens would take the lead from Trent Clemans with an outside pass out of turn 2 to take the lead on lap 6. With Clemans and Cory Bradley battling for second, Givens was able to pull away on drive on to the win. Rounding out the top five were Cory Bradley, Trent Clemans, Randy Hutchens, and Carl Hazelwood. James Givens also picked up his third Championship in a row and fourth overall.
The speedway will now get set to host the richest Pro Late Model race in history, with the running of the $50,000 to win FASTRAK World Championship presented by James River Equipment on Friday and Saturday, September 13-14, 2019. The World Championship will not only pay $50,000 to the winner but will pay $2050 to start the 75 lap feature. Joining the FASTRAK Pro Late Model competitors will be the Dirt Cup Challenge UMP Modifieds for a $6000 to win and $600 to start 40 lap feature.
Friday, September 13th will be preliminary night for both divisions and will include practice and two sets of heat races. The top 16 in points will be locked into the $50,000 feature. Saturday, September 14th will see both divisions run B Mains and their respective features. There will also be several non-qualifier races for the FASTRAK Pro Late Model competitors.
The speedway will be parking haulers on Thursday, September 12th. Competitor gates for Friday, September 13th will open at 8 am with registration and inspection for the FASTRAK competitors at 10 am. Spectator gates will open at 5 pm, with hot laps beginning at 5 pm. Competitor gates for Saturday, September 14th will open at 8 am with spectator gates opening at 4 pm. On track activities will begin at 7 pm.
Two-day tickets are currently on sale with adult tickets $45; seniors (60+) $40; military $35; students 13 – 17 years old $20; and children 12 and under free. Pit passes, regardless of age, will be $50 and get you a seat in the grandstands.
Friday only tickets are adults $25; seniors (60+)/military $20; students 13 – 17 years old $10; and children 12 and under free. Friday only pit passes, regardless of age, will be $50.
Saturday only tickets are adult $35; seniors (60+) $30; military $25; students 13 – 17 years old $15; and children 12 and under free. Saturday only pit passes, regardless of age, will be $50.
Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway is a ½ mile dirt oval track 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. Also, 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