Morris Wins SBS Opener

SOUTH BOSTON, VA. - Defending NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Champion Philip Morris got his 2009 season off to a solid start by winning the Whelen 150 NASCAR Late Model Stock Car Division race Saturday afternoon at South Boston Speedway.

Morris took the lead on lap 54 when race leader Deac McCaskill slid up out of the groove and opened the door for Morris to charge past. McCaskill, who had a front tire going flat, pitted when a caution flag was waved two laps later for a mishap. McCaskill rallied from the rear of the field to finish eighth.

With McCaskill out of the mix, Morris key challenger was C.E. Falk III of Virginia Beach, Va. Falk was able to stay within hailing distance of Morris but never posed a serious threat during the races 41-lap green-flag sprint to the finish.

Dustin Storm of Huntingtown, Md. finished third with Nick Smith of Hampton, Va. and Justin Johnson of Durham, N.C. rounding out the top five finishers.

Jonathan Bailey of Buffalo Junction, Va., Jonathan Cash of Oxford, N.C., McCaskill, David Quackenbush of Lorton, Va. and Rodney Cook of Reidsville, N.C. completed the top ten finishers.

Twenty-four cars took the green flag for the race.

Pembelton Wins Limited Sportsman Race

Brian Pembelton of Amelia, Va. had come close but had never won a race at South Boston Speedway. That changed Saturday when Pembelton won the 50-lap Limited Sportsman Division race.

Pembelton led the entire race, but had Tommy Peregoy of Red Oak, Va. on his heels throughout the race. At the end, Pembelton edged Peregoy by about three car lengths or .50 second on the stopwatch.

Peregoy was later disqualified after his car failed to pass a post-race inspection by NASCAR track officials.

That elevated Jeb Burton of Halifax, Va., the 16-year-old son of former Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton, to second place. Brian Cole of Roxboro, N.C., Mike Jones of South Boston, Va. and Jan Valez of Quaynabo, Puerto Rico completed the official top five finishers.

Brandon Gdovic of Yorktown, Va., Charles Barnes of Chase City, Va,, George Spencer of Halifax, Va., driving a car out of the Halifax County Motorsports Academy stable, and Richard Storm of Partlow, Va. and Danny Willis Jr. of Cluster Springs, Va. rounded out the top ten finishers.

Cassidy, Milam Split Twin Pure Stock Races

Mickey Cassidy of Danville, Va. and Jarrett Milam of Ringgold, Va. split wins in the days pair of 30-lap races for the Budweiser Pure Stock Division.

Cassidy took the lead from Courtney Crosby of Scottsburg, Va. with 11 laps to go and edged Crosby to win the first race. Quain Moore of Callands, Va., Chris Crosby of Raleigh, N.C., and Justin Tucker of Elon, N.C. completed the top five finishers.

In the second race, Milam took the lead from Tucker on the 16th lap and held on the rest of the way to win the days second 30-lap Pure Stock race.

Cassidy finished second with Chris Crosby, Courtney Crosby and Moore rounding out the top five finishers.

Blair Wins Legendary Flatheads Race

Bill Blair won the 20-lap race for the competitors of the Legendary Ford Flatheads Racing Association. Garland Ricketts of Clover, Va., who finished third in the race, took top honors in the Sportsman Division of that series.