ARCA Rookie Looks Like Old Pro at South Boston

SOUTH BOSTON, VA (July 3, 2002) - ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Chase Montgomery hasn't had much luck on short tracks this season. That is, up until the Big Daddy's Liberty 200 at the Big Daddy's South Boston Speedway on Wednesday night.

The 18-year-old rookie of the year contender looked like an old pro on the .4-mile paved oval. Like most of his other RE/MAX contenders, Montgomery got his first laps around the shortest track on the ARCA circuit only a few hours before the race.

Montgomery turned in his second best starting position of the season. In a night plagued with several cautions, the #27 had it' fare share of damage due to an incident toward the beginning of the race.

After being hit by another car, causing a spin on the backstretch during a multi-car accident, the Montgomery Motorsports Chevy suffered front-end damage.

"We had a good run," Montgomery said. "We had a little contact toward the beginning, but we were able to keep going."

For the third time this season, Montgomery earned the RE/MAX Highest Finishing Rookie honors. He remains in the fifth spot in the overall driver points and is second in the rookie of the year honors.

"We just stayed patient and put together a string of good runs," Montgomery said. "After a tough night of short track racing, we just hung in there for a good finish."

Montgomery will travel to Sparta, KY, next to compete in the Blue Grass Quality Meats 200 under the lights on Friday beginning at 8:00 p.m.

-30-