Sellers chases down McCaskill, regains point lead at SoBo with sixth Late Model victory of the season

SOUTH BOSTON, VA. — Things couldn't have gone much better for Danville, Va. driver Peyton Sellers Saturday night at South Boston Speedway.

Sellers claimed a victory in the 200-lap race for the Barkhouser Late Model Stock Car Division and regained the point lead in the chase for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series at America's Hometown Track in the process.

The race was the featured attraction of the Bailey's 200, which included events for the Limited Sportsman Division and the Virginia Army National Guard Pure Stock Division and a fireworks extravaganza.

Sellers entered the night trailing three-time winner Drew Herring of Benson, N.C. by eight points. However, Sellers' victory, coupled with an 18th-place finish by Herring who blew a head gasket after 35 laps, vaulted Sellers into first place in the point battle.

Sellers, who has eight overall triumphs this season, may also surge to the top of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Division I standings as well as the national championship standings with the victory.

"It was a good night for us," Sellers said after the race. "I hate that Drew had bad luck, but it was a chance for us and we capitalized on it and that's what you have to do when you're trying to win a championship. I hope this does put us back on top in [the national championship hunt]."

Prior to seeing the checkered flag first, Sellers had his work cut out for him trying to chase down Deac McCaskill of Raleigh, N.C., who wound up with a runner-up performance.

McCaskill started sixth in the 19-car field, but rode the high groove of the track all the way up to second place in 35 laps. McCaskill, who owns one win at the track this season, then worked past Sellers and into first place on lap 51.

Sellers, who began the evening third in the lineup, moved to second place on lap 23 and then into the lead on the 34th circuit.

Sellers and McCaskill battled side-by-side for several circuits in the late stages of the race before Sellers gained the position for good with 13 laps remaining.

Wayne Ramsey of Amherst, Va. finished third and was followed by Owen Miller of Emporia, Va. in fourth and veteran driver Barry Beggarly of Pelham, N.C. in the fifth slot.

David Quackenbush of Lorton, Va. was sixth, while Ryan Rhodes of Sanford, N.C. placed seventh. K.C. Cunningham, who was the final driver on the lead lap, managed an eighth-place finish in his first appearance at the track this season.

Scott Worley of Long Island, Va. spun out late in the race and wound up in the ninth position, one lap down, while Ronald Hill of Rougemont, N.C. rounded out the top 10 drivers. Hill was two laps down at the close of the event.

David Triplett, Jr. of Durham, N.C. won the pole position for the race with a qualifying lap of 15.901 seconds. Triplett, however, was involved in the first of four caution periods for the race on lap 30 when he spun after receiving contact from Jason Dickerson of Ruckersville, Va.

Snow posts 4th straight victory, gains two-point edge in Limited Sportsman title race

Justin Snow of Danville, Va. reeled off his fourth straight victory and seventh overall triumph in the 100-lap Limited Sportsman Division race.

The victory enabled Snow to break a first-place tie with Jonathan Bailey of Keysville, Va. in the season-long battle for the point championship in the division.

A $250 bounty was placed on Snow following his third consecutive victory last weekend. That bounty total will now grow to $500 for the next Limited Sportsman Division event.

Bailey earned the pole position for the race with a qualifying lap of 16.194 seconds. Bailey and Snow waged a side-by-side battle for the lead spot on the track until Snow swiped the position away for good on the sixth circuit.

Tommy Peregoy of Red Oak, Va. was third in the 13-car field. Charles Barnes of Chase City, Va. finished in fourth place as the final driver on the lead lap.

Brian Pembleton of Amelia, Va. was fifth for the night and was one lap down at the end.

The race was slowed by just one caution, which came out on lap 32 when South Boston, Va. driver Bruce Anderson had trouble. The race went green the remainder of the way when the yellow flag was lifted on lap 44.

Baker, Wilson roar from back in the pack to claim top two spots in Pure Stock Division

It ain't where you start that matters, it's where you finish.

Durham, N.C. drivers Brandon Baker and Jeff Wilson proved that in the 50-lap race for the Virginia Army National Guard Pure Stock Division.

Baker started 12th in the 17-car field and claimed a victory for the second straight week, while Wilson roared from the 17th starting spot in the event to secure a runner-up finish.

Baker grabbed the lead on lap 23 when the car of Joey Throckmorton of Scottsburg, Va., who began the race from the pole position, brushed the outside retaining wall. Once in front, Baker was not challenged the rest of the way.

Wilson surged into second place on lap 43 and held on for the runner-up performance.

Courtney Crosby of Scottsburg, Va. was third across the finish line in the event, while Reid Hodnett of Mebane, N.C. and Throckmorton rounded out the top five finishers for the night.