Arena Racing has Halloween havoc
Published 8:44 pm Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Spencer Saunders nosed out front on lap 45 and held off Scott Prillaman over the closing circuits to snag his first win in the 50-lap Top Dog race, the featured event of Saturday’s Arena Racing Hampton Roads program at the Hampton Coliseum.
Jordan Wood drew the pole and took the lead on the start. Prillaman, who started third, slipped by Robbie Davis for second place.
The first caution flag flew on lap 3 when Curtis Hughes and Cody Turbitt tangled in Turn 4. Back under green, Wood pulled ahead, while Prillaman managed to fight off Davis to hang onto second. With the second spot securely in his grasp, Prillaman quickly closed in on Wood and nabbed the lead on lap 6.
The fourth caution flag of the event waved on lap 26 when Sparky West and Chris Raiford tangled, sending Raiford for a whirl at the flagstand.
On the restart, Prillaman quickly cleared Wood, who suddenly found Saunders to his inside. Saunders picked up the second spot off Turn 2 on lap 27.
The sixth and final yellow flag was displayed on lap 38. By this time, officials were scoring the caution laps. Forty-three laps were on the board when the green flag waved for the last time.
On the final restart, Saunders mustered a strong run and kept his machine alongside Prillaman. He nosed out front for the first time on lap 45 and cleared Prillaman on lap 49.
Prillaman tried to rally on the white-flag circuit, but his charge came up half a car-length short as Saunders held on for the win. Jordan Wood was third to the line, followed by Derek Miller and Charlie Green.
Scott Prillaman led all 50 circuits from the pole and breezed to his first victory of the new season in the A Main.
Prillaman shared the front row with Robbie Davis and those two drivers emerged from the opening shuffle in the top two spots, followed by Jordan Wood, Patrick Morgan and Michael Weddell.
Under green for the final time after a caution on lap 29, Prillaman quickly established a two-length edge over Davis. With Morgan pressuring Davis for second, Prillaman extended his advantage over the remaining circuits and won by half a straightaway.
Charlie Green started on the pole, jumped into the lead on lap 1 and roared to his first win of the season in the 50-lap B Main.
Cody Turbitt took the lead on the opening circuit and sailed to his second straight victory in the 50-lap C Main.