By Gary Daughtrey
Special to the News-Herald

Defending Pro Series champ Jordan Wood grabbed the lead from pole-sitter Megan Creech on the opening circuit and sailed to his third victory of the season in the 50-lap Machinery Movers and Erectors Top Dog race, the featured event of Arena Racing USA at the Richmond Coliseum on March 9.

The win, Wood’s second in Top Dog competition, was his first since Nov. 26 and allowed him to close in on series points leader Travis Wall, who didn’t make it to the evening’s final event.

Creech, the B Main winner, and Wood shared the front row for the start of the race and went door-to-door on lap 1. Coming around to complete the first lap, Wood surged ahead off the top side to take the lead. Cody Carlton and Tyler Hughes tagged along with Wood, pushing Creech to the outside lane.

Creech’s night came to a sudden end on lap 3 when she smacked the frontstretch wall and collected Cayton Hornberger, bringing out the race’s only caution flag. While Hornberger was able to continue, Creech headed to the infield, joined by Scott Allen.

On the double-file restart, Wood motored ahead of Carlton, who quickly found Hughes to his inside. Hughes snagged the second spot from Carlton on lap 4. By then, however, Wood had extended his advantage to half a straightaway.

With five laps to go, slower traffic came into play, and Carlton drew to within three lengths of Wood’s rear bumper. That was as close as he would get, though.

At the checkers, Wood was the winner by three lengths over Carlton. Hughes notched his second third-place Top Dog run, while Weddell and Doggett completed the top five.

 

***

Mike Weddell started on the pole and led all the way to post his third win of the season in the 50-lap Insurance Doctor A Main. The victory was his first since a B Main triumph on Jan. 14.

Cole Amsden shared the front row with Weddell, but gave way to Jordan Wood and Cody Carlton as the race got under way, slipping to fourth. By lap 11, the front three had pulled away by half a straightaway.

Deeper in the field, title contenders Travis Wall and Scott Prillaman were on the move, closing in on the top five. On lap 19, Matt Midgett bypassed Amsden for fourth and brought Wall and Prillaman along with him. Five laps later, Wall and Prillaman dispensed with Midgett.

Passing the halfway mark, Carlton ducked underneath Wood in a bid for second. While they battled, Weddell padded his lead, widening the advantage to a full straightaway.

The last of the race’s three caution flags appeared on lap 47 when Prillaman got turned into the outside wall just past the flagstand, collecting Tommy Jackson Jr. and Midgett in the process. Prillaman and Jackson were eliminated from the contest, while Midgett retreated to the rear of the field. A video review showed that Wall was also involved, and he joined Midgett at the back of the pack.

At the finish, Weddell held off Wood by a car-length to collect the win. Carlton was third, followed by Styron and Hughes. Robbie Davis rallied from a lap down in the early going to take sixth, while Midgett and Amsden grabbed the final two Top Dog transfer spots.