JAMAICA, Va. – After battling for the lead for the first 30 laps of the Victory Lap Pro Late Model feature at Virginia Motor Speedway, Corey Almond finally got by race leader Jared Powell on lap 31 to score the victory.
On a lap 30 restart Almond jumped inside Powell as they barreled into turn one getting door to door as they raced out of turn two. It took two more turns before Almond would complete the pass but once out front never looked back to go on to take the opening night victory.
“I have to thank Jared (Powell) for racing me clean, he was better in lapped traffic than I was so when that last caution came out I knew I had to make my move; thankfully it paid off and we came away with the win,” said Almond.
Rounding out the top five were Jared Powell, Matt Glanden, Davis Lipscombe and Billy Hubbard.
In other action, Francis Jarrelle scored his first Budweiser Modified victory, Tyler Shipp led all 30 laps to score the victory in the Truckin Thunder Sportsman class and Corey Bradley won the Collision One Limited Stock Car feature.
In the Victory Lap Pro Late Model 35-lap, feature Same Archer and Jared Powell led the 28 car field to green with Powell taking the lead out of turn two. By lap eight Powell and Almond began to pull away from the rest of the field. By lap 19 the two were working lapped traffic with Powell holding Almond at bay.
On lap 21 Almond began looking inside Powell but each time Powell would hold to his lead. On lap 29 caution came out closing the field on Powell’s bumper. On the restart Almond jumped inside Powell heading into turn one with the two coming out of turn two side by side for the lead. Almond would finally grab the lead as the two headed out of turn four. Once out front Almond would never look back and go onto the win over Powell, Matt Glanden, Davis Lipscombe and Billy Hubbard.
In the Budweiser Modified feature, Lance Grady and Ryan Toole led the 17 car field to green with Toole grabbing the lead out of turn two. Toole’s lead wouldn’t last long as Francis Jarrelle grabbed the lead with a pass out of turn four.
Once out front Jarrelle began to pull away from the battle for second between Toole, Hunter McClendon, Lance Grady, Andy Boahn and Chase Butler. On lap 13 McClendon would get inside Toole for second and set out to catch the leader. On lap 19 McClendon would get inside Jarrelle heading into turn one only to see Jarrelle power back around in turn two.
On the next lap McClendon would spin in turn two to bring out the caution. Over the final 10 laps no one had anything for Jarrelle as he cruised to his career first victory over Chase Butler, Andy Boahn, Lance Grady and Hunter McClendon.
In the Truckin Thunder Sportsman Josh Burnham and Tyler Shipp led the 17 car field to green with Tyler Shipp taking command on the opening circuit. On lap three Tim Shelton went outside of Burnham in turn two to take second.
Shelton closed up on Shipp and on lap eight was looking outside Shipp for the lead only to have Shipp pull away again. On lap 17 the two leaders began to work lapped cars allowing Shelton to get to Shipp’s bumper. That was as close as Shelton would get the rest of the race as Shipp pulled away to take the win over Shelton, Brett Adkins, Joe Weiss and Chase Butler.
In the Collision One Limited Stock Car 25-lap feature Chad Champion and Corey Bradley led the 18 car field to green with Bradley grabbing the lead at the line. On the next circuit James Givens got by Champion for second and set out for Bradley. On lap four Givens began working the back bumper of Bradley taking the lead on lap five.
Bradley would shadow Givens over the next 10 laps taking the lead back on lap 16. Over the final nine laps Bradley was able to hold off Givens who battled Trent Clemans for second to the final corner where Clemans spun coming to the checkers with Bradley taking the win over Givens, Jay Seward, Raymond Harper and Ryan Hutchens.