Greenville-Pickens race report 2002-08-03

Ward boosts his bid for a Greenville Pickens track title.

Marty Ward, the points leader in the Late Model Stock division, found the quick way to pad his lead Saturday night at Greenville Pickens Speedway.

Ward won both ends of the twin main events, and Gene Morgan had some mechanical problems.

Ward passed Toby Porter to take the lead in the first of twin 25-lap main events as Morgan, second in the points standings, settled for third.

Porter had been the top qualifier, driving Jack Ingram's Chevrolet, but just after the halfway point, he slipped in the corner and Ward drove by.

"Toby was a little loose in that corner, and my car was handling better, so I managed to get by. My car was awfully good in the first race. That first win takes a load off in the point standings," Ward said. "If we run good, the points take care of themselves."

Tyler Bob Mangum was the fourth-place finisher in the first race, with Richie Croley taking fifth.

After the win, Ward drew to invert the top three cars for the second main event, putting Morgan out front, Porter in second and Ward in third. The other cars started in the order of finish in the first race.

In the second main event, Morgan was seemingly out front to stay until he clipped the inside wall and cut down his left front tire with only five laps remaining. Morgan finished eight, and Ward grabbed the victory.

"I come close to that wall a couple of times myself," Ward said. "I may have clipped it, but I was fortunate enough not to cut down a tire like Gene did. That was a bad deal for him. My car was running good, and while I may have been able to catch Morgan, I wouldn't have been able to pass him. His misfortune gave me a little more cushion in the points standings."

Mangum finished second, followed by Porter, David Roberts and Brandon McCarson.

In the Super Stock main, Robby Robbins got past Anthony Anders just after the halfway point and went on to win, moving four points closer to points leader Greg Dodgens, who finished third. Dodgens was running fourth, with two laps remaining, but on a restart after a caution, C.M. Knight went into the first turn too fast and lost third to Dodgens.

William "Red" Ables worked his way up from the fifth starting position to win the Street Stock main. In that race, Chris Meinders survived a first-lap accident that sent him to the rear of the field, then worked his way back to second place.

In the first Charger race, Shane Gentry came from the fourth starting position to the front, finishing ahead of Nathan Bagwell, who had started sixth.

Eddie "The Camel" Trammell was the winner in the second Charger race, passing and holding off Frank Dean. Terry King was third, and Brian Davis took fourth.

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