Goody''s Dash Caraway Story

SCOTT WEAVER EARNS SECOND NASCAR WIN

By Bill Desmond

ASHEBORO, N. C. (May 13 2000) - Scott Weaver has waited four years to get back to victory lane and he did just that Saturday night holding off a hard charging Ricky Bryant to win the Goody's Dash Series, NASCAR Touring, Spero Farms 125 at Caraway Speedway. Saturday nights win was especially joyous for the Shelby, N. C. driver who was injured in a series event at Daytona International Speedway in February 1999 and sat out most of the '99 season. His only previous Goody's Dash Series, NASCAR Touring victory came at Southern National Speedway in July 1997. Finishing behind Weaver's Race Cars/Jim Cook Chevrolet Pontiac and Bryant's Washington Apple Pontiac were Cam Strader, Robert Huffman and Edward Howell. "I knew we had a good car right off the trailer," said Weaver in victory lane. "I just about messed up with five to go when the car got loose in turn one and Ricky (Bryant) made his move for the point. Our cars touched when I was trying to get it back in line and he (Bryant) backed off and let me recover. He is a clean driver and I would have done the same thing to him." "It was a real tight race the whole race. We ran third most of the race but I was really have fun out there tonight. That's what racing is all about, good Saturday night short-track racing," continued Weaver. While Scott was accepting his accolades in victory lane a proud father, Floyd, was watching. "You don't know how proud I am of that boy," stated a proud father. "I am probably more proud of him tonight than after he won his first race. You know since we have gone to the V-6 motors in these cars the fields have been really tight and anymore just about anyone can be in victory lane." Huffman secured his second Bud Pole Award in five races when he turned the fast lap of 17.578 Secs. (93.185 mph) with Howell, Justin Hobgood and Weaver rounding out the top four spots. Then by virtue of a series draw Hobgood started on the inside of the front row with Huffman dropping back to third. Howell and Weaver retained their starting spots. Patience was the key to Weaver's win, running in the top five for the entire 125 laps. A mandatory pit stop between laps 50 and 100 saw almost the entire field pit on lap 51 for fuel and this stop changed the complexion of the race. Series points leader Huffman was running second behind race leader Howell with Weaver in third. Huffman's team gave the White House Apple Juice Pontiac a quick turnaround but leaving the pits Huffman ran the stop and go sign at the end of pit road. He was blackflagged for a stop and go penalty but it was costly because the three-time series champion was at the tail end of the lead lap. Joey Miller took the point when others pitted and when the field went back to green flag racing, Howell moved quickly back to the front with B. J. Mackey on his back bumper. Tight racing saw Mackey make several attempts to take the point but each time Howell would hold him off. However on lap 102 the two cars made contact and Howell's machine spun wildly in turn four. Mackey was given the black flag for rough driving and he had to go to the back of the field. Weaver took the point with Bryant, Roger Sawyer, Strader and Jimmy Britts running nose to tail while Huffman had worked his way back to sixth looking for his fourth win in five starts in 2000. Continued tight racing saw drivers challenging each other for position over the final 10 laps with Sawyer losing four spots. The final five laps saw Bryant on Weaver's rear deck trying to make the pass but couldn't make the move on the tight .455 mile oval. "I probably could have turned him when he drifted high in turn one," said a happy Bryant. "But that's not racing. Scott deserved the win tonight because he was strong all night. I want to look at the bigger picture and that is the points championship. But this was our best finish in 2000 so we will take it and go to Charlotte. Rounding out the top ten finishing positions were Britts, Sawyer, Mackey, Keith Roggen and Bobby Dayton with another strong performance after starting 27th in a 28 car field. The next event for the Goody's Dash Series, NASCAR Touring will be the Tom Johnson Camping Center/Easy Care Vehicle Service Contracts 100 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 24.

OFFICIAL FINISH AND LAPS COMPLETED: 1. Scott Weaver, 125; 2. Ricky Bryant, 125; 3. Cam Strader, 125; 4. Robert Huffman, 125; 5. Edward Howell, 125; 6. Jimmy Britts,, 125; 7. Roger Sawyer, 125; 8. B. J. Mackey, 125; 9. Keith Roggen, 125; 10. Bobby Dayton, 125; 11. Ned Combs, 125; 12. Jake Hobgood, 125; 13. Shannon Bryant, 125; 14. Mike Watts, 125; 15. Zach Brewer, 125; 16. Angie Wilson, 124; 17. Steven Barfield, 122; 18. Joey Miller, 119; 19. Mark Keeteman, 117; 20. Greg Goodell, 104; 21. Mickey York, 98; 22. Eric Van Cleef, 78; 23. Randy Humphrey, 62; 24. Ricky Woodward, 53; 25. Bryan Gandy, 48; 26. Danny Bagwell, 45; 27. Justin Hobgood, 25; 28. Johnny Chapman, 22. TIME OF RACE: 53 Mins. 35 Secs. AVERAGE SPEED: 63.666 mph, MARGIN OF VICTORY: .400 Secs. CAUTION PERIODS: Eight Cautions for 42 Laps; LAP LEADERS: Six Lead Changes Among Six Drivers (Justin Hobgood, 1-3, Edward Howell, 4-50, Robert Huffman, 51, Joey Miller, 52-55, Howell, 57-100, B. J. Mackey, 101-102, Scott Weaver, 103-125.

GOODY'S DASH SERIES, TOP TEN IN POINTS: (As Of May 13) ( Unofficial) 1. Robert Huffman, 860; 2. Edward Howell, 765; 3. Ricky Bryant, 734; 4. B. J. Mackey, 732; 5. Roger Sawyer, 716; 6. Ned Combs, 692; 7. Keith Roggen, 670; 8. Johnny Chapman, 650; 9. Scott Weaver, 614; 10. Cam Strader, 613.