Kelley wins ARA Southern Thunder race at Peach State

For Immediate Release

JEFFERSON, GA (Sept. 22, 2001) - Paul Kelley of Snellville, GA, took
advantage of lapped traffic and made a timely pass of Michel Lance of
Dacula, GA, to win the American Racing Association (ARA) Southern Thunder
Series race at Peach State Speedway.

Kelley, 20, made his daring pass on lap 120 of the 125-lap feature, going on
the low side of Turn 4 as Lance got caught up in traffic and had to visibly
slow.  Kelley then weaved his #24 Kelley Motorsports Chevrolet through
traffic and post a half-second victory over Lance's #04 Lance Used Auto
Parts Chevrolet.

Marc Breener of Birmingham, AL, was third in his Walker's Game Ear
Chevrolet, and 14-year-old Stephen Leicht of Asheville, NC, was fourth in
his #99 Action Racing Collectibles Chevrolet.

Lance was the fastest qualifier, and earned the brand new $100 Olympic Power
Pole Award with a lap of 18.342 seconds in Chevrolet. He elected to invert,
and that aided Russell Fleeman to jump into the lead in the first turn and
lead the race's first 67 laps. Lance, who started seventh with the invert,
powered his way to the lead on lap 68, and seemingly was on his way to a
well-deserved victory before slower cars simply got in his way.

"If it wasn't for the lapped traffic, I wouldn't have had a chance," Kelley
said.  "But I got a break and I was able to take advantage of it.  Sometimes
you're lucky, and that's all you need to win.  I pulled this one out."

The victory helped Kelley stay ahead of Leicht in the Southern Thunder
championship standings heading into the next  race on Saturday, Oct. 6, at
Newport (TN) Speedway.

JEFFERSON, GA - Results of Saturday night's American Racing Association
(ARA) Southern Thunder series race at Peach State Speedway, with driver,
hometown, make of car and laps completed:

1. Paul Kelley, Snellville, GA, Chevrolet, 125.
2. Michael Lance, Dacula, GA, Chevrolet, 125.
3. Marc Brenner, Birmingham, AL, Chevrolet, 125.
4. Stephen Leicht, Asheville, NC, Chevrolet, 125.
5. Royce Bray, Hull, GA, Chevrolet, 125.
6. Russell Fleeman, Dacula, GA, Chevrolet, 125.
7. Rodney Landrum, Jonesboro, GA, Chevrolet, 125.
8. Casey Green, Bishop, GA, Chevrolet, 125.
9. Jimmy Garmon, Lawrenceville, GA, Ford, 125.
10. Chris Greene, Allenton, PA, Chevrolet, 124.
11. Mickey Cain, Gainesville, GA, Ford, 124.
12. Puddy Bullard, Covington, GA, Chevrolet, 124.
13. Kevin Perry, Jefferson, GA, Chevrolet, 123.
14. Ricky Moore, Gainesville, GA, Chevrolet, 122.
15. Joey Perry, Winder, GA, Pontiac, 122.
16. Justin Smith, Gainesville, GA, Chevrolet, 121.
17. John Lovett, McDonough, GA, Dodge, 82.
18. Mathew Rouse, Braselton, GA, Chevrolet, 79.
19. David Wragg, Gainesville, GA, Chevrolet, 48.
20. Chad Atha, Monroe, GA, Chevrolet, 36.
21. Jeremy Broome, Chattanooga, TN, Chevrolet, 32.
22. Dwayne Buggay, Marietta, GA, Ford, 25.
23. Jimmy Feltman, Westminster, SC, Dodge, 22.
24. Chris Pell, Covington, GA, Ford, 21.
25. Bo Johnson,  Dearing, GA, Pontiac, 2.
#30#

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