(Lake City, FL; 9/23/2000) Using a freshly rebuilt car, veteran Eddie Gainey took the lead from Al Beckleheimer, Jr. on lap 15 and went on to win the 8th annual Gaylon Roberts Memorial 50 for Late Model Stocks Saturday night at Columbia Motorsports Park.

Roberts, the popular race director at the banked half-mile oval, passed away in 1992 following a heart attack. Gainey wasted little time in running down Beckleheimer, who set the pace from his front row starting position and the lead swapped on lap 15. John Crawford gave chase and caught Gainey but could not pass and settled for runner-up honors ahead of Don Hale, Jr., Nelson Sweeny, and Jay Middleton.

Not much suspense in the 20-lap Florida modified run as former track champion J.F. McClellan got the jump at the start and paced every lap for the victory. Trailing at the stripe were Shannon Smith, Rick McManaway, Robert Fraley, and J.W. McNeal.

The best feature of the evening saw the Street Stocks hook up in furious battle as Oral Tanner took the lead on lap eight from Brad Fiene. Tanner and Tim Conrad fought lap after lap, playing cat and mouse before Conrad's mount failed in the closing laps, as Tanner went on to top the 16-car field. Charles Seroki checkered second over Jeff Prescott, Debbie Shepard, and Gale Grayer.

Pure Stock action found points leader William Jerkins on top when the checkers flew as he outsped Danny Coleman, Pam McRae, John Ray McNeal, and Mike Cantella in the 15-lap event.

-Marty Little-

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