TRACKS: Clay Campbell Grabs First Limited Late Model Win At Caraway
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
May 1, 2001
MARTINSVILLE, VA – Clay Campbell started second, took the lead on the fifth lap and then held off the field for his first career Limited Late Model victory at Caraway Speedway Saturday night.
The win highlighted what has been a strong season for Campbell, the president of Martinsville Speedway. In five starts, he has not finished out of the top five and with Saturday’s win, he moved into the Limited Late Model points lead at the 3/8ths-mile oval.
Even though he bolted to the front in Saturday night’s 30-lap race, it wasn ’t an easy win for Campbell in the Taylor Motorsports Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
“They were latched on to me,” said Campbell. “The guy (Brandon Hire of Lexington, NC) was right on my tail. We had a caution with three laps to go and on the restart you never know what’s going to happen. You’ve got to get back through the gears and you don’t know if the tires are going to stick.”
Everything worked perfectly on that last restart, though, and he beat Hire to the line for the win.
“I knew with the consistency we’ve been having, a win couldn’t be too far off,” said Campbell. “In racing though, you never know. Everyone at Taylor Motorsports has been really encouraging to me and to finally get that first win for them feels really good.
“Also, to get Hayes Jewelers in victory lane is really special. We’ve got a great team from owner George Taylor all the way through, and I know this won ’t be the last time we get to celebrate.”
James Boling of Randleman, NC, who came into the race as the points leader, crashed and wound up 13th. Campbell’s victory combined with Boling’s poor finish pushed Campbell into the points lead.
Text provided by Steve Sheppard
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