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Joe Nemechek Wins Emotional BGN Race

Joe Nemechek

Nemechek's victory came at the same track where he lost his younger brother, John, earlier this year in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck race. With tears flowing, Nemechek commented, "Everything was just awesome today. I lost my brother, who was also my best friend, in turn one earlier this year. To come back and win the race, I don't even know what to say. It's unbelievable. I know this one was for him. He was definitely watching over me today."

Nemechek was certainly unstoppable today. He led the most laps (127), including the last 59 on his way to a 0.4 second victory ahead of Busch Grand National Champion, Randy LaJoie. Nemechek started the race from the third spot.

Nemechek has a full time ride with Felix Sabates in NASCAR Winston Cup. He runs a limited Busch Grand National schedule. The win today was his second of the year. Nemechek has won five Busch Grand National races in his young career. His most memorable BGN victory came in 1992 when he beat Dale Earnhardt to the line by inches at Loudon, NH.

Another Winston Cup regular finished third. Mark Martin's Ford was surrounded by Chevrolets all day. He was driving the only Ford in the top ten. Martin was followed across the line by Glen Allen and Jimmy Spencer.

At the conclusion of the race, Randy LaJoie gave the fans a magical performance. LaJoie began "cutting doughnuts" at the start/finish line. He became invisible to the crowd in all the smoke. By the time the smoke cleared, LaJoie was standing on top his car waving to the crowd. It was a classy performance by the two-time Busch Grand National Champion.

The final race of the 1997 BGN season was full of emotion and excitement. A fitting conclusion to another great year of competition and a teasing appetizer for 1998. The Busch Grand National series will lift off again in Central Florida in February at Daytona.

Jiffy Lube 300 final results with finishing position, (starting position), driver, hometown, and car:

1. (3) Joe Nemechek, Lakeland, Fla., Chevrolet 

2. (19) Randy LaJoie, Norwalk, Conn., Chevrolet  

3. (15) Mark Martin, Batesville, Ark., Ford  

4. (26) Glenn Allen, Cincinnati, Chevrolet  

5. (7) Jimmy Spencer, Berwick, Pa., Chevrolet  

6. (22) Matt Kenseth, Cambridge, Wis., Chevrolet  

7. (29) Todd Bodine, Chemung, N.Y., Pontiac . 

8. (17) Kevin Schwantz, Paige, Texas, Chevrolet  

9. (12) Joe Bessey, Scarbourgh, Maine, Chevrolet  

10. (5) Tim Fedewa, Holt, Mich., Chevrolet  

11. (9) Dennis Setzer, Newton, N.C., Chevrolet  

12. (2) Steve Park, East Northport, N.Y., Chevrolet  

13. (14) Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Kannapolis, N.C., Chevrolet  

14. (20) Jeff Fuller, Auburn, Mass., Chevrolet 

15. (6) Elliott Sadler, Emporia, Va., Chevrolet  

16. (37) Dale Jarrett, Hickory, N.C., Ford  

17. (35) Kevin Lepage, Shelburne, Vt., Chevrolet  

18. (40) Mark Green, Owensboro, Ky., Chevrolet  

19. (36) Michael Waltrip, Owensboro, Ky., Chevrolet  

20. (34) Tracy Leslie, Mount Clemens, Mich., Chevrolet  

21. (24) Mike Dillon, Welcome, N.C., Chevrolet  

22. (1) Mike McLaughlin, Waterloo, N.Y., Chevrolet 

23. (41) Hank Parker, Jr., Denver, N.C., Chevrolet 

24. (33) Randy Porter, Greenville, S.C., Ford  

25. (32) Hermie Sadler, Emporia, Va., Chevrolet  

26. (31) Buckshot Jones, Monticello, Ga., Pontiac 

27. (42) Ed Berrier, Winston-Salem, N.C., Ford 

28. (13) Wayne Grubb, Mechanicsville, Va., Chevrolet  

29. (18) Jeff Krogh, Kamiah, Idaho, Chevrolet

30. (30) Phil Parsons, Detroit, Mich., Chevrolet

31. (27) Robert Pressley, Asheville, N.C., Chevrolet

32. (16) Elton Sawyer, Chesapeake, Va., Ford

33. (8) Greg Sacks, Mattituck, N.Y., Chevrolet

34. (38) Ted Christopher, Plainville, Conn., Chevrolet

35. (4) Jason Keller, Greenville, S.C., Chevrolet

36. (10) Scott Lagasse, St. Augustine, Fla., Chevrolet

37. (21) Tony Stewart, Rushville, Ind., Pontiac

38. (23) Jeff Purvis, Clarksville, Tenn., Chevrolet

39. (39) Dale Shaw, Center Conway, N.H., Chevrolet

40. (25) Brad Loney, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 3, Chevrolet

41. (11) Dick Trickle, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., Chevrolet

42. (28) Mark Krogh, Kamiah, Idaho, Chevrolet

Terry Callahan -- The Auto Channel

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