PILINKO CONTINUES HOBBY STOCK STREAK
April 8, St. Augustine, FL ­ Following a battle that lasted the entire 125 laps of the Gold Star Dodge Dealers 125 Saturday night, including a furious final fifteen lap fight where the leaders traded places four times, Justin Hobgood emerged victorious, besting two-time champion Robert Huffman and claiming his first ever NASCAR Goody’s Dash victory.

A mesmerized and vocal crowd stood and cheered the tough and ready Hobgood through the final stages of the race as Huffman took the lead on lap 110. Hobgood never relented and passed Huffman on the outside. Huffman battled back and used the outside himself to pass Hobgood in Turn 1 on lap 118. Hobgood returned the favor by charging past the seasoned Huffman coming out of Turn 4 on the same lap, this time using the inside.

With the “two laps to go” sign offered by the flagman, Huffman charged back inside, but met a determined Hobgood in Turn 1 and spun his #37 car into the grass infield, ending his chance for a third consecutive win to start the season.

Local favorite Jimmy Britts, of Orange Park, maintained a top ten run throughout most of the race but faded slightly at the end, finishing the night eleventh. Another crowd favorite, Angie Wilson of Nebo, North Carolina, was tagged in Turn 4 on the race’s first lap and was forced to exit the race with a broken right front wheel.

In local division racing action, Brad Pilinko maintained his torrid season start by claiming his third victory in as many races in the Alpha Communications Hobby Stock feature. Chris Manucy challenged Pilinko throughout the entire race, coming up just short and placing second. Jody Stratton, Brad Paulsen and Shae Clay rounded out the top five.

Jody Miller held off a hard charge from Jake Hartley and Jay Farris in the Old Rooster Mini Stock feature, claiming his first victory of the season. Hartley, who trailed Vern Rozier for second most of the feature until Rozier’s car faltered late in the race, could not hold off Farris, who slipped past him heading into the last lap, taking second place. Hartley finished third. Kevin Burkett, who traded the outside pole for a shot at a $350 8 Ball bonus, finished fourth, while Frank Andrews rounded out the top five. The 8 Ball, awarded to the driver who starts in eighth place and wins the race, is up to a record $500 going into next weekend.

Wade Lynn won his second consecutive Thunder Truck event, beating out Les Burl and Alan Moore, the defending champion making his first event of the 2000 season. Ron Thomas and Jody Turner rounded out the top five.NASCAR Goody’s Dash
Gold Star Dodge Dealers 125


1-Justin Hobgood
2 - Edward Howell
3 - Ricky Bryant
4 - Robert Huffman
5 - Scott Weaver
6 - Roger Sawyer
7 - Johnny Chapman
8 - Ned Combs
9 - Keith Roggen
10 - Bobby Dayton
11 - Jimmy Britts
12 - Randy Humphrey
13 - Ricky Woodward
14 - Eric Van Cleef
15 - Jake Hobgood
16 - Mike Watts
17 - B.J. Mackey
18 - Mike McConnell
19 - Joey Miller
20 - Doug Gainey
21 - Zach Brewer
22 - Cam Strader
23 - Danny Bagwell
24 - Derrick Kelley
25 - George Crenshaw
26 - Tony Hargraves
27 - Angie Wilson
28 - Greg Goodell


Thunder Trucks


1 - Wade Lynn
2 - Les Burl
3 - Alan Moore
4 - Ron Thomas
5 - Jody Turner



Old Rooster Mini Stocks


1 - Jody Miller
2 - Jay Farris
3 - Jake Hartley
4 - Kevin Burkett
5 - Frank Andrews
6 - Jared Cooper
7 - Jimmy Peele
8 - Vern Rozier
9 - Curt Messina
10 - Matt Hartley
11 - Josh Leth
12 - Perry Shoemaker
13 - John Hopke


Alpha Communications Hobby Stocks


1 - Brad Pilinko
2 - Chris Manucy
3 - Jody Stratton
4 - Brad Paulsen
5 - Shea Clay
6 - Randy Wilkes
7 - Rodney Norman
8 - Bucky York
9 - Randy Moody
10 - Charles Danko
11 - Jon Torba
12 - Bart Heck
13 - Kyle Livingwood
14 - L.H. Davis



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