Morris Comes Up Big Again
Follows up Martinsville win by edging Pulliam for SoBo victory
South Boston, VA — Philip Morris continued his postseason roll Saturday.
The three-time NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion fended off Lee Pulliam in a two-lap dash to the finish to win the Late Model 300 Presented By Danville Toyota at South Boston Speedway.
It is the second big race win for Morris following the conclusion of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season. Morris, who finished seventh in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Top 500 standings, won the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
It was Morris’ second win of the season at South Boston and put Morris on top in career Late Model Stock Car Division race wins at the .400-mile track.
The win was Morris’ 35th career win at South Boston, breaking a tie he held with Barry Beggarly and David Blankenship.
Morris, of Ruckersville, Va., took the lead from pole winner Pulliam on lap 40 and held it for the next 253 laps. Two late caution periods, though, set up a dramatic battle for the win.
The first came with 13 laps to go when Morris and Brandon Dean made contact as Morris was attempting lap Dean. Dean’s car spun and crashed into the second turn wall. Dean was the 2010 track champion at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va., breaking Morris’ seven-year run.
The caution allowed Pulliam to start beside Miller on the outside on the ensuing double-file restart with seven laps to go.
Pulliam grabbed the lead with six laps to go as the pair raced side-by-side, only to have Morris surge past him just before a spin by Natalie Sather brought out the caution flag with six laps to go.
Another double-file restart with two laps to go set the stage for a dramatic finish, which saw Pulliam inch in front with one lap to go. Morris made another surge on the final lap and grabbed the lead in the wake of contact between the two cars.
Morris edged Pulliam at the line by .090 second.
Eddie Johnson, last year’s race winner, almost pulled off another miracle, driving from his 28th starting position to finish third. Stacy Puryear and David Latour rounded out the top five finishers.
Mark Wertz, Dennis Holdren, Sather, Tommy Lemons, and Michael Hardin rounded out the top 10finishers.
Morris led three times for a total of 259 laps. Pulliam led three times for 41 laps.
Former national champion Mark McFarland and Bruce Anderson won the two 25-lap qualifying heat races that preceded the day’s 300-lap feature race.
Morris averaged 52.154 mph in the race that was slowed by seven caution flags and two red flags.
Morris Comes Up Big Again
Follows up Martinsville win by edging Pulliam for SoBo victory Track Release
October 16, 2010 – 9:04pm
SOUTH BOSTON, Va. — Philip Morris continued his postseason roll Saturday.
The three-time NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion fended off Lee Pulliam in a two-lap dash to the finish to win the Late Model 300 Presented By Danville Toyota at South Boston Speedway.
It is the second big race win for Morris following the conclusion of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season. Morris, who finished seventh in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Top 500 standings, won the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
It was Morris’ second win of the season at South Boston and put Morris on top in career Late Model Stock Car Division race wins at the .400-mile track.
The win was Morris’ 35th career win at South Boston, breaking a tie he held with Barry Beggarly and David Blankenship.
Morris, of Ruckersville, Va., took the lead from pole winner Pulliam on lap 40 and held it for the next 253 laps. Two late caution periods, though, set up a dramatic battle for the win.
The first came with 13 laps to go when Morris and Brandon Dean made contact as Morris was attempting lap Dean. Dean’s car spun and crashed into the second turn wall. Dean was the 2010 track champion at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Va., breaking Morris’ seven-year run.
The caution allowed Pulliam to start beside Miller on the outside on the ensuing double-file restart with seven laps to go.
Pulliam grabbed the lead with six laps to go as the pair raced side-by-side, only to have Morris surge past him just before a spin by Natalie Sather brought out the caution flag with six laps to go.
Another double-file restart with two laps to go set the stage for a dramatic finish, which saw Pulliam inch in front with one lap to go. Morris made another surge on the final lap and grabbed the lead in the wake of contact between the two cars.
Morris edged Pulliam at the line by .090 second.
Eddie Johnson, last year’s race winner, almost pulled off another miracle, driving from his 28th starting position to finish third. Stacy Puryear and David Latour rounded out the top five finishers.
Mark Wertz, Dennis Holdren, Sather, Tommy Lemons, and Michael Hardin rounded out the top 10finishers.
Morris led three times for a total of 259 laps. Pulliam led three times for 41 laps.
Former national champion Mark McFarland and Bruce Anderson won the two 25-lap qualifying heat races that preceded the day’s 300-lap feature race.
Morris averaged 52.154 mph in the race that was slowed by seven caution flags and two red flags.
Sources: South Boston Speedway PR