Jamaica, Va. – Defending Victory Lap Pro Late Model champion Justin Williams of Concord, Virginia held off fast qualifier Ray Love, Jr. LaPlata, MD to score the win on opening night of the 2022 season. Williams’s race began by having to hold off Austin Hubbard over the first 15 laps of the 30 lap feature.
Once in traffic Williams began to pull away from the field as Love made his move to take second from Hubbard. Love would take second on lap 20. The caution would fly on lap 21 to tighten the field on Williams’s bumper for the restart. Williams would get a good restart pulling Love by a couple of car lengths. The distance between them would disappear as Love began to reel in Williams with the laps winding down.
With five to go, Love was looking inside Williams in both corners trying to find an opening. Love would not be able to find one as Williams would hold on for the victory. Rounding out the top five were Hubbard, Nick Love, and Matthew Hildebrand.
In the Budweiser Modified 25-lap feature Jeff Solinger of Bumpass, Virginia led flag-to -lag to pick up the victory. TJ DeHaven of Winchester, Virginia kept Solinger honest by staying within a car length throughout the entire 25-lap distance. Fast Qualifier Ryan Toole would have to pull in early on Lap 11 with mechanical issues after taking the fourth spot. Rounding out the top five were Rick Hulson, Lance Grady, and defending champion Chase Butler.
Tim Shelton of Fredericksburg, Virginia swept the night in Truckin Thunder Sportsman action by setting fast time, and then leading flag to flag to score the victory. Steve Causey of Smithfield, VA would pressure Shelton for the first 21 laps before Shelton pulled away to take the victory by 3.55 second. Rounding out the top five were Matt Meads, Tommy Upshaw, and James Givens.
In what may have been the most exciting race of the evening, Brian Maxey of Fredericksburg, Virginia held off Raymond Harper of Gloucester, Virginia to take home the victory by .205 seconds. Maxey would dart from his fourth-place starting spot to take the lead on the opening lap. On Lap 8 Harper began to apply pressure to Maxey’s back bumper. On lap 13 Harper pulled door to door with Maxey heading into Turn 3. Coming out of Turn 4 Harper would spin doing a 360 and keeping his momentum going forward, but in the process losing ground toe Maxey. A caution would fly and close Harper back on Maxey’s bumper for the restart.
The speedway will return to racing Saturday April 30 to host week 2 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 April 30th will open at 3pm with spectator gates opening at 5pm. On track activities will begin at 5:45pm with hot laps.