Walker Arthur of Forest, VA finished the 2008 season as the Victory Lap Late Model Champion he returned for the first time in 2009 and showed everyone why he took home the Championship crown last year with a dominating win.
Starting twelfth Arthur quickly worked his way into contention for the lead by lap 3 as he battled for third. On lap 11 Arthur got inside Anthony Kincaid for second. The two battled side by side for the next few laps both going for the lead on lap 14 three wide into turn 1 with then leader Joey Bounds. When the dust settled in turn 2 Arthur had powered around the outside to take the lead. Kincaid tried several times to get inside Arthur for the lead only to be turned away as Arthur cruised on to the win in his #87 Cecil B Arthur Enterprises sponsored Chevrolet Monte Carlo Rocket.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been back and the competition hasn’t gotten any easier, that was a great race with Kincaid and Bounds. The track was just awesome,” commented Arthur in victory lane.
Rounding out the top five were Anthony Kincaid, Tom Cohick, Tyler Bailey and Scott Adams.
In the Victory Lap Late Model 35 lap feature newly wed Joe Bounds of Partlow, VA and David Steele of Newport News, VA led the field to green with Bounds leading the first lap. On the next circuit the race for second got three wide with Steele, Anthony Kincaid and Brad Rigdon. Steele would hold on for the moment but then give it up to Kincaid on lap 2.
On lap 5 the races first caution came out for the spinning Steele as he battled to hold on to third. On the restart Walker Arthur, who started twelfth, worked to the inside of Rigdon to take third. On lap 11 Walker went to after Kincaid for second as Kincaid was working on Bounds for the lead. Over the next three laps Walker and Kindcaid battled side by side for second. On lap 14 Bounds, Arthur and Kinciad split lap traffic three wide into turn 1 with Arthur using the high side to take over the lead.
On lap 16, caution would come out for Bounds as his car slowed in turn 2 ending his night. On the restart Arthur got a great jump on Kincaid to stretch his lead to two car lengths. On lap 20 the battle for third heated up between Tom Cohick, Tyler Bailey and fourteenth starting Scott Adams just as caution came out for William King and Ed Pope.
On the restart Kincaid stayed right with Arthur nearly clipping him in turn 2. The little bobble by Kincaid allowed Arthur to pull away by five car lengths. Caution would once again come out on lap 26 for Fireball Latham closing the field on Arthur’s bumper.
On the restart Kincaid looked inside Arthur heading into turn 1 but was unable to make the pass for the lead. On lap 27 the caution would come out once again for the spinning Steele in turn 4. On the restart Arthur once again pulled away from Kincaid and the rest of the field.
On lap 30 Adams looked inside Bailey in turn 1 for fourth with Stephen Evans in tow. With the battles behind him Arthur pulled away and picked up his first win of 2009. Following Arthur to the checkers were Tom Cohick, Tyler Bailey and Scott Adams. With the victory Arthur picked up a $50 certificate from Keizer Aluminum Wheels.
A-Main 01— 1. Walker Arthur, Forest; 2. Anthony Kincaid, Hayes; 3. Tom Cohick, Gloucester; 4. Tyler Bailey, Chesterfield; 5. Scott Adams, Chester; 6. Stephen Evans, Tyner, N.C.; 7. Brett Carlton, Mechanicsville; 8. Ben Bowie, Brandywine, Md.; 9. Vaughan Haywood, Deltaville; 10. Davis Lipscombe, Mechanicsville; 11. Ed Pope, Pasadena, Md.; 12. Chris Stacy, Spotsylvania; 13. Brad Rigdon, Chesapeake; 14. Gene Snow Sr., Richmond; 15. David Steele, Newport News; 16. Jim “Fireball” Latham, Chaptico, Md.; 17. William King, Portsmouth; 18. Eddie Groome, Stuarts Draft; 19. Roy Skaggs, Highland Springs; 20. Joe Bounds, Partlow; 21. Larry Bradsher, Saluda; 22. Dave Savage, Mattaponi.
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