By Gary Daughtrey

Special to the News-Herald

Pro Series points leader Scott Prillaman of Suffolk bolted out front at the drop of the green flag and led all the way to post his third straight win in the 50-lap AmeriGas Top Dog race, the featured event of Saturday’s Arena Racing USA program at the Richmond Coliseum.

The win was Prillaman’s fourth of the young season. Bryan Hager drew the pole for the start of the event, but pulled to the infield during the pace laps, ceding the prime starting spot to John Nickens. Prillaman was the outside pole-sitter, while Casey Sipe and Travis Wall made up the second row.

As the race got going, Prillaman powered ahead of Nickens and hauled the field toward the first turn. Wall tagged along with Prillaman and took over the second spot. Nickens slid back to third, followed by Tripp Thurston and Dystany Spurlock.

The first caution flag appeared on Lap 5 for debris on the backstretch from Thurston’s machine. On the double-file restart, Prillaman cleared Wall off Turn 2 and left the inside lane open for Spurlock, who dueled with Wall for a couple laps before claiming second. The Spurlock/Wall joust allowed Prillaman to pad his lead to half a straightaway.

The second yellow flag flew on Lap 10, when Jason Manes spun off Turn 4, collecting Wesley Givens and Jordan Wallace. On the ensuing restart, Prillaman slipped ahead of the pack, while Wall used the inside lane to regain the runner-up position from Spurlock.

The third caution flag waved on Lap 19, when Francis Jarrelle III spun in Turn 2. Back under green, Prillaman quickly cleared Wall. This time, though, Wall was able to fight off Spurlock and hang onto second place.

As the crossed flags were displayed to mark the halfway point, Prillaman held a two-length margin over Wall, who enjoyed a similar advantage over Spurlock.  By the time the race entered its closing stages, Prillaman’s lead had swelled to better than half a straightaway over Wall.

That edge disappeared, however, when the last of the race’s four yellow flags was unfurled on Lap 39 for debris in Turn 4. On the final restart, at the beginning of lap 45, Prillaman once again flexed his muscle and gained the clear-cut advantage before the field reached Turn 1. Wall fought off Spurlock and maintained second.

At the finish, Prillaman was the winner by three car-lengths. Wall was second, while Spurlock was third. It was the second straight 1-2-3 finish for the trio. Jason Styron was fourth and Jarrelle finished fifth.

With the completion of Saturday’s event, Arena Racing USA heads into its holiday hiatus. Racing resumes at the Richmond Coliseum on Jan. 4.