McFarland Reigns Supreme Again………………………..May 24, 2003
Mark McFarland from Winchester Va. won for the third time in
three tries Saturday night, taking home the checkers in the 75 lap feature for the NASCAR
Dodge Weekly Series Late Model Stock Cars. Staring from the pole once again, he led every
lap in the feature event, holding off Stan Owens for most of the race to take home win
number 3. In three events thus far, McFarland has started from the pole position in each
event due to the new modified inversion rule, and has led every lap in 2003. Qualifying
was led by Andreas Kestermann, who circled the 3/8 mile oval in 15.737 seconds on the
cold, damp evening. David Quackenbush was second quickest with a 15.744 lap, and Matt
Bucher qualified third with a lap of 15.783. Rounding out the top five qualifiers were
Brian Jenkins (15.792), and McFarland (15.793), who only was allowed one lap in qualifying
due to missing 3 laps of the mandatory scuff in prior to qualifying. Former track champ
Dustin Storm was forced to miss qualifying due to a brake caliper problem. He would have
to start from the rear of the 23 car field. After the inversion, the field lined up with
McFarland on the pole, with Jenkins on the outside of row one. Matt Bucher lined up third,
while Quackenbush and Kestermann rounded out the top 5. The green dropped and McFarland
wasted no time in taking the top spot, leading the field into turn one. He held on to that
spot for the remainder of the event, holding off challenges from Jenkins and Owens for
most of the 75 laps. Dustin Storm, battle his way through the field, and wound up 6th.
Jerry Black was at the right place at the right time, taking home the win in the 50 lap
Redman Fleet Service Grand Stock event. Black, who was running 3rd with a lap to go, took
advantage of an altercation between leader Willard Lawrence and second place driver Chris
Donnelly and took home the win after dodging the wreck. Also missing the melee was Dave
Zech, who wound up 2nd, followed by Tom Rice. Donnelly limped home in 4th,
followed by Mark Miller, and Lawrence. With the win, the Grand Stock division has had 3
different winners in 3 events thus far.
Colt White also was able to avoid a last lap crash between the early leaders, and take
home his 2nd feature win of the 2003 season in the 30 lap Mini Stock event.
Vince Langan and Johnny Lowery had battled through most of the latter stages of the 30
lapper, but on the last lap, they touched on the back straight, sending both cars hard
into the fence. White was able to avoid the spinning cars, and take the checkers. Sean
Ballentine came home in the 2nd spot, while Bill Briggs finished third. Tom
Beckman, who was the point leader coming in to the night’s events, had mechanical
problems early in the event. He finished in the 11th spot, dropping him from
the point lead to 5th in the standings.
James Lucas led from flag to flag, holding off Jamie DeMattio in the 25 lap Speedway
Sportsman feature. Lucas started on the pole, but had a rear view mirror full of DeMattio
throughout the entire 25 lap event. DeMattio did manage on a couple of occasions to get
alongside of Lucas, but Lucas’s car was too strong coming out of the corners.
DeMattio settled for 2nd, while point leader Les Miranda, who battled an ill
handling car, finished 3rd.
The INEX Legends cars made their 2nd appearance at ODS in 2003, and Roger
Austin Jr. led flag to flag in the 30 lap event. Starting on the pole, Austin held onto
the lead from the start, and dodged the numerous spins for the win.
In a special “Non- Winners Event”, Richard Boswell II picked up the win in the
25 lap event. The event, for drivers who had not won a Late Model feature, was contested
between 9 drivers after the Late Model feature. Mark Jenkins from Catlett Va. led the
first 23 laps after polesitter David Quackenbush was clipped from behind on the initial
start and spun on the front straight. Jenkins was able to hold off Boswell, but with just
a lap and a half to go, Boswell was able to nudge himself to the inside of Jenkins, and
made the successful pass. Jenkins held off Jimmy Hardin for the final circuit and finished
2nd. Hardin ended up 3rd, while Dave Moon and Tom Hall rounded out
the top 5.
Next Saturday night, the Late Models will compete in a 200 lap feature. Also on the
schedule is a 50 lap feature for the Grand Stocks, 30 laps for the Mini Stocks, and 25
laps for the Speedway Sportsman. Qualifying begins at 5:15 PM, with racing action set for
7:00 PM.
Feature Winners From May 24, 2003:
Mark McFarland - LMSC
Richard Boswell II - Special Event Winner
Jerry Black - Grand Stock
Roger Austin Jr. - Legends
Colt White - Mini Stock
James Lucas - Speedway Sportsman