Manassas Dodge Twin 50 Lap Late Model Feature Winners:
Danny Fair and Earl Case
Old Dominion Speedway / August 24, 2002
First Time Winners In 2002 Highlight Twin 50 Lappers at ODS
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Saturday night at the Old Dominion Speedway
featured two first time winners in 2002. In the first event, Earl Case from Fairfax
Station Va. in the Idylwood Exxon Shop Chevy led flag to flag to capture the first
Manassas Dodge 50 lap event for the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Presented by Dodge Late
Model Stock Cars. And in the second event for the Late Models, 5-time track champ Danny
Fair from Manassas Va. broke his winless streak and took home the checkers for his first
trip to victory lane this season.
Case, who started on the front row following the inversion process, jumped out into the
lead from the outset, and was able to hold off the challenges Brian Jenkins throughout the
event for his first win since the final event of 2001. Jenkins maintained the pace set by
Case for the entire 50 lap distance, but was never able to mount a serious challenge. The
battle for the third spot was a good one, as Mike Southard, Mark McFarland, and Mike Darne
battled for 30 laps, with McFarland finally able to take over the third spot late in the
event. The top five finishers were Case, Jenkins, McFarland, Darne, and Southard.
The second event was much like the first event, as Fair jumped out in front from his front
row starting position, and held off Darne late in the going. Fair had a 10 car length lead
early, but was chased down by Darne once he worked his way through traffic. Darne was able
to get close, but was unable to make the pass. I think Darne was actually faster
than me, but track position means everything here. I think had things been reversed, I
would have never got around him Fair said in victory lane. The top five finishers
were Fair, Darne, McFarland, Case, and Brian Jenkins.
Another first time winner emerged Saturday night in the Redman Fleet Service Grand Stock
division. Mark Miller from Manassas Va. picked up his first ever Grand Stock win in the 50
lap event. Miller started on the front row, and led just about every lap to secure the
win. He had to work hard for the win as he and point leader Jimmy Hardin battled side by
side for the final dozen laps, with Miller emerging as the victor by less than two feet.
Finishing third was Jim Todd Jr., followed by Marty Armin Jr., and Chris Donnelly.
Keith Machliet from Fredericksburg Va. picked up win number 5 on the season, as he held
off point leader Sean Dawson for the win in the 30 lap Mini Stock feature. Machliet took
over the lead early from Tom Beckman, and took home the checkers. Finishing third behind
Machliet and Dawson was Johnny Lowery, followed by Beckman, and Scott Quesenbery. Les
Miranda made it two wins in a row by taking home the win in the 25 lap Gaston Automotive
Speedway Sportsman division. Miranda took the lead from early leader Jeff Pearson, and
breezed to his third win in 2002. Finishing second was point leader Jeff Sisak, followed
by Pearson, Jeff Kauffman, and James Lucas.
Next Saturday night features another set of twin 50 lap Late Model events. The
Popeyes twin 50s will be the featured events, along with a 30 lap feature for
the Legends, 50 laps for the Grand Stocks, 30 laps for the Mini Stocks, and 25 laps for
the Speedway Sportsman. Qualifying gets underway at 5:15 PM, with racing action set for
7:00 PM.
Feature Winners - Clockwise From Left:
Keith Machliet -Mini Stock
Les Miranda - Gaston Automotive Speedway Sportsman
Mark Miller - Redman Fleet Service Grand Stock