PABST BLUE RIBBON 150: Barker Wins SBS Late Model Stock Car Division Title

SOUTH BOSTON, VA. - Adam Barker of Hurt, Va. entered Saturday night's Pabst Blue Ribbon 150 racing program needing only to finish next-to-last in a 24 car field to clinch the championship in the Barkhouser Late Model Stock Car Division.

Barker played the situation close to the vest, took a conservative approach and, with a 15th-place finish, clinched his first career NASCAR track championship.

Barker opted to start at the rear of the 24-car field and competed at a minimal speed. He ran six laps, ducked into the pits, and, after about a half a dozen cars dropped out of the race a few laps later, returned to the track to run a handful of laps before finally calling it quits after completing 17 circuits.

Wayne Ramsey of Amherst, Va., also did what he needed to do to have one last shot at the title and that was win the 150-lap race that was the feature event of the Pabst Blue Ribbon 150 racing program.

The win, Ramsey's fourth in a row and his fifth victory of the season here, came by a margin of 1.731 second over Eddie Johnson of Midlothian, Va. The runner-up finish was Johnson's second straight runner-up finish.

C.E. Falk of Virginia Beach, Va. finished third with Rodney Cook of Reidsville, N.C. and last year's NASCAR national champion, Philip Morris of Ruckersville, Va. rounding out the top five finishers.

Jonathan Bailey of Keysville, Va., Jerame Donley of Winston-Salem, N.C., Owen Miller of Emporia, Va., Jason Mitchum of Blacksburg, Va., and former track champion, Wayne Patterson of Chesterfield, Va., rounded out the top ten finishers.

Ramsey started on the pole and led the first 54 laps before Morris muscled his way past Ramsey on lap 55. Morris led 10 laps before Ramsey regained the lead for the final time on lap 66.

With the last 48 laps run under the green flag, Ramsey gradually inched away from the field, leaving Johnson about a half a straightaway behind at the end.

Ramsey averaged 80.707 mph in the race that was slowed by two caution periods.

Anderson Claims Limited Sportsman Division Title

South Boston, Va. resident Bruce Anderson entered the 50-lap Limited Sportsman Division race with a second straight championship already in hand. Nevertheless, he made a strong bid for the win only to fall a car length shy to first-year competitor Lee Pulliam of Semora, N.C.

The win was Pulliam's second of the season and came by a scant.101-second over Anderson. Pole winner Tommy Peregoy of Red Oak, Va. finished third, Timmy Langford of Amelia, Va. finished fourth and Brian Pembleton of Amelia, Va. rounded out the top five finishers.

Pulliam and Peregoy battled early before Pulliam took the lead for good on the fourth lap. While he led the race the rest of the way, he had to fight off challenges from Anderson who pulled alongside of Pulliam at least twice.

Watkins Wins Second Straight Pure Stock Title

Chuck Watkins of Stem, N.C. won his second straight championship in the Budweiser Pure Stock Division with an eighth-place finish in the 30-lap race for that division.

Joey Conner of Scottsburg, Va. scored his first win of the season, edging Justin Tucker of Elon, N.C. by a car length at the finish. Mark Francisco of Halifax, Va., Watkins' chief challenger for the division championship, needed to finish 11 positions ahead of Watkins to win the championship but his third-place finish was only five spots better, thus giving Watkins the division title.

Joey Throckmorton of Scottsburg, Va. finished fourth and Courtney Crosby of Scottsburg, Va. rounded out the top five finishers.

Yeatts Wins INEX Legends Cars Race

Keven Yeatts of Powhatan, Va. started on the pole and led all the way in winning the 10-lap race for the INEX Legends Cars Series.

Chris Davis, Gene Cannon and Jaime Laine of Scottsburg, Va. rounded out the top four finishers.

Smith Wins Title In Southern Vintage Modified Division

Randy Smith of Bassett, Va. secured the track championship in the Southern Vintage Modified Division with a third-place finish in Saturday night's 25-lap race for that division.

Darryl Lacks of Lynchburg, Va. won the pole and led the entire race to pick up his first win of the season here in the division. Donnie Lacks of Lynchburg, Va. finished second a  couple of car lengths behind Darryl Lacks.

Larry Glessner finished fourth in the race and Bill Lacks of Lynchburg, Va. rounded out the top five finishers.