Saturday night’s Victory Lap Late Model feature at Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway began with a lot of promise as Maryland racers Stevie Long and David Williams began a side-by-side battle for the lead that had the crowd on its feet. But good things sometimes come to an end way too soon.

Long held an early lead, with Williams pulling ahead on lap 3. Long would battle back on the outside, taking the lead back by inches on the next circuit. The two raced side-by-side over the next three laps before the only caution flag of the night for a two-car spin in turn 2. While under caution, Long’s car came to a stop in turn 4, needing assistance getting to pit road. Long’s promising night came to an end as he was unable to get back on the track.

On the restart, Williams pulled away from Davis Lipscombe and the rest of the field, cruising to the win in convincing fashion.

"I hated to see Stevie (Long) fall out of the race, it was a blast racing him for the lead and I think the fans would have seen a lot more of the same side-by-side racing if he would have not broke," commented Williams in victory lane, following the 35-lap race.

In other action Tony Wood of New Kent, held off Roger Jamerson of Mechanicsville, on the final lap to pick up his first win of 2010 in the Truckin’ Thunder Sportsman division. In the Budweiser Modifieds, Dan Arnold of Petersburg, would hold off Brian Maxey of King George for the win and in the Collision One Limited Stock division, James Givens of New Kent, picked up the victory.

Among local racers, John Ferguson, Josh Harris and Brandon Galloway, all of Gloucester, finished fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, in the Budweiser Modified 25-lap feature.

The Middlesex County track will host National Guard, NAPA of King William and Tappahannock Night at the Races on Saturday, with Late Model, Sportsman, Modified and Limited Stock Cars in action.

Spectator gates open at 6 p.m. On-track activities start at 6:30 with hot laps. The dirt track is located eight miles north of Saluda on Route 17. For more information, call the speedway office at 758-1VMS or visit the track online at www.vamotorspeedway.com.

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