Lawrence and Arnold win at ODS

Ed Turner For the News & Messenger
Published: July 20, 2008

It was a hot night at Old Dominion Speedway, and the heat about matched the excitement on the track.

Willard Lawrence and Michael Arnold grabbed victories in twin 35-lap Late Model races.  It was Lawrence's sixth win of the year and Arnold's first in the division.

In the first twin, Willard, who notched his sixth pole of the season in the 14-car field, started third and took the lead from Arnold in turn one of lap seven.

Three laps earlier, Arnold had grabbed the lead from Les Miranda.

Lawrence then cruised to victory lane in his backup number 7 car after having rear end problems with his Sam Beaty car. 

"Winning means a lot after last week," said Lawrence, who finished 15th the previous week after a radiator leak ended his night.  "Getting back in this old girl and winning means a lot, too."

Ray Terczak, who qualified second, took second from Arnold in lap 19 and began closing on Lawrence. It was Terczak's fifth top five in a row and seventh of the year.

Arnold, who qualified third, finished third.  Mike Southard moved into third in points with his fourth place finish.  Robert Bruce was fifth. And Adam Brenner was sixth after getting together with Les Miranda at the halfway mark.

In the second twin, Arnold took the lead off the pole and led every lap.  Lawrence started sixth and moved into second after passing Southard in lap 25 and then began reeling in Arnold, whose car became looser as the race wound down.  But Arnold held on as Lawrence battled to get around him in the closing laps. 

"If it had lasted another lap, I probably would've been doomed," said Arnold, who moved to fifth in points.  "The car just kept getting looser and looser at the end.  I definitely needed this win.  I was starting to get a little frustrated out there."

With his second place finish, Lawrence picked up his 11th top two of the season.  Terczak was third, Southard fourth and Brenner fifth.

"I was like a hungry lion looking at his prey out there," Lawrence said.  "I wish we'd had five more laps."

In Legends, Roger Austin, Jr. took home his fourth win of the year.  Austin is now 31 points behind David Polenz. Austin started fifth and got around John Jansen, Jr. and Roger Austin, Sr. in a three-wide move for first in lap nine. Austin Sr. had taken the lead from Kristin Keyes in lap three and led till his son got around him.

Jansen was second, Polenz third, Matt Cannon fourth and Austin, Sr. fifth.

In U-Cars, Jeff Beamer, who won the pole, notched his first win in the division. Beamer started sixth and took the lead from James Beavers by lap three.

"It was great to win," said Beamer, who celebrated his birthday with the win.  "I've got to thank Billy Ingle and my crew chief Randy Jesse."

Ingle was second, Bryan Fox third, Albert Anderson fourth and Greg Sites fifth. 

In Mini Stocks, Davey Callihan came back to the track for his third win of the season.  Callihan, who won the pole, started sixth and grabbed the lead from Bobby Able in the backstretch in lap 12.  With two to go, Able came back and ran side-by-side with the leader before Callihan pulled away for good.

"I got loose there the last lap," Callihan said.  "But I held onto it.  I want to thank my grandfather."

Able was second and is 16 points ahead of Mike Carte. 

"It was a great night," Able said.  "The best thing I had in the race was running strong in turns one and two.  I wasn't as good in three and four.  But we still raced hard."

Late Model results:

Willard Lawrence

Ray Terczak

Mike Arnold

Mike Southard

Robert Bruce

Adam Brenner

Kevin Hall

Les Miranda

Bob Harman

Rob Rillon

Race two

Mike Arnold

Willard Lawrence

Ray Terczak

Mike Southard

Adam Brenner

Robert Bruce

Les Miranda

Kevin Hall

Rob Rillon

Bob Harman