Charlotte race report

HUFFMAN TWO FOR TWO ON SUPERSPEEDWAYS IN 2000
by Bill Desmond

CHARLOTTE, N. C. (May 25 2000) -- Robert Huffman added another jewel to his crown Wednesday night winning the Goody's Dash Series, NASCAR Touring Tom Johnson Camping Center/Easy Care Vehicle Service Contracts 100 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. There was little doubt that Huffman was in charge of the 67-lap event as the three-time series champion led twice for 64 laps during the night. His win boosts his series points lead to 156 points over Ricky Bryant who moved into the runner-up position with a sixth place finish. Huffman's win gives him back-to-back victories at the popular 1.5-mile speed plant and wins in 2000 in both superspeedway events for the series. Huffman also won at Daytona International Speedway in February. "What can I say about this White House Apple Juice team," said Huffman. "Week after week they give me a car that is capable of winning every time we take a green flag. When we pitted for fuel they got me out in excellent time and these Goodyear tires worked to perfection. I could put the car anywhere I wanted on the track." A wild late race incident changed the complexion of the finish when the cars of Danny Bagwell and Christian Elder exchanged paint between turns three and four on lap 65. Bagwell was making a charge for a solid top five run taking his machine to the lowside of the racing surface from his fourth position. His car moved around that of David Hutto for third and was moving up on Elder's Pontiac, in second, when Elder's car appeared to turn down to block Bagwell's Mercury. The two cars touched with Elder's machine sliding up the track and Bagwell moving to second. Then the cars of Hutto and Jake Hobbled, running fourth and fifth, spun to avoid contact with Elder's car. That incident opened the door for the cars of Scott Weaver, Cam Strader and Brandon Ward to finish in the top five with Elder, Hutto and Hobgood dropping to 17th, 18th and 19th positions. Justin Hobgood earned his first career Bud Pole Award in qualifying when his Wynn's/Precision Engine Service Pontiac turned the fast lap of 35.268 Secs (153.113 mph). However a broken drive shaft in the final practice session sent his car careening into the turn four wall. The car sustained heavy damage. His crew led by his father, Will, went to work with about two and one-half hours before race time and had the second generation driver in the number one starting spot when the cars rolled from pit road. However Hobgood elected to drop to the rear of the field, for the start, since the car had not been tested since repairs were made. This moved his brother Jake up to the inside of the front row for the start with Huffman starting outside front row. The race produced four caution periods for 19 laps with the first caution waving on lap 16 when the car of Ernest Winslow got crossed up entering turn three. When he tried to correct the car it tapped the machine of Roger Sawyer. That exchange produced the worst incident of the night when B. J. Mackey's car went to the apron in turns three and four only to hit water barrels at the entrance to pit road on the low side of the track in turn four. The cars of Angie Wilson, Edward Howell, Joey Miller and Roger Moser were also involved ending the night for Howell, Mackey, Moser and Wilson. That early race incident dropped Howell from second to fourth in the points standing. Rounding out the top ten finishing positions were Bryant, Mark Keeteman, making only his second series start in the ETS Payphones/BCI Communications Pontiac, two-time series champion Larry Caudill making his first start with the series in 2000 and who started last in the 42 car field, Doc Brewer in his second start of the year and series regular Mike Watts. The next event for the Goody's Dash Series will be the Orange County Speedway 125 on June 3 in Rougemont, N. C.

OFFICIAL FINISH AND LAPS COMPLETED: 1. Robert Huffman, 67; 2. Danny Bagwell, 67; 3. Scott Weaver, 67; 4. Cam Strader, 67; 5. Brandon Ward, 67; 6. Ricky Bryant, 67; 7. Mark Keeteman, 67; 8. Larry Caudill, 67; 9. Doc Brewer, 67; 10. Mike Watts, 67; 11. Brent Moore, 67; 12. Scott Redmon, 67; 13. Zach Brewer, 67; 14. Keith Roggen; 67; 15. Bobby Dayton, 67; 16. John Michalowski, 67; 17. Christian Elder, 66, Accident; 18. David Hutto, 66, Accident; 19. Jake Hobgood, 66; 20. Johnny Chapman, 66; 21. Roger Sawyer, 66; 22. Perry Whisnant, 66; 23. Eric Van Cleef, 66; 24. Ned Combs, 66; 25. Wally Leatherwood, 65; 26. Dan Shaver, 65; 27. Greg Goodell, 65; 28. Jimmy Britts, 64; 29. Ernest Winslow, 63; 30. Eddie Kelley, 62, Out of Gas; 31. Justin Hobgood, 62; 32. Doug Gainey, 58; 33. Barry Fitzgerald, 58; 34. Dave Heitzhaus, 47, Engine; 35. Scott Krehling, 42, Engine; 36. Randy Humphrey, 25, Handling; 37. Joey Miller, 25, Accident; 38. Ricky Woodward, 18, Engine; 39. B. J. Mackey, 14, Accident; 40. Edward Howell, 14, Accident; 41. Angie Wilson, 14, Accident; 42. Roger Moser, 14, Accident. TIME OF RACE: 55 Mins. 42 Secs. AVERAGE SPEED: 108.259 MPH MARGIN OF VICTORY: 1.134 Secs. CAUTION PERIODS: Four Cautions for 19 Laps; LAP LEADERS: Three Lead Changes Among Three Drivers (Jake Hobbled 1; Robert Huffman, 2-43; Cam Strader, 44-45; Huffman, 46-67.

GOODY'S DASH SERIES TOP TEN IN POINTS (As Of May 24 2000) (Unofficial) 1. Robert Huffman,1040; 2. Ricky Bryant, 884; 3. Roger Sawyer, 816; 4. Edward Howell, 808; 5. Keith Roggen, 791; 6. Ned Combs, 783; 7. Scott Weaver, 779; 8. B. J. Mackey, 778; 9. Cam Strader, 773; 10. Johnny Chapman, 753.