Leraas leads last laps for Virginia Sprint Series win

By Jim Haines  NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (Sept. 24, 2022) – A clear autumn race night had an unexpected rain delay but it didn’t slow Joe Leavell from jetting to the front to take his second Virginia Sprint Series win of the year Saturday at Natural Bridge Speedway. Fan Appreciation Night at Natural Bridge had a fan meet and greet, after which a rain delay had the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars run a feature-only event. Caleb Harris and Bill Rice paced  the field to green. Rice shot out front up high on the start and had Harris and Mike Leraas chasing.  The track surface had changed from warmups after the shower and it was lightning fast as Rice continued to fly out front. Leavell, winner of the May 28 feature at Natural Bridge Speedway, found a groove and was closing in getting to second.  Right before halfway, Leavell was there and not long after into the lead with Rice keeping up with him as they entered traffic in the closing laps. Lerass made it to third and was [Read More]

By Jim Haines HAGERSTOWN, Md. (June 15) – His return visit to Hagerstown Speedway ended with Jerald Harris in victory lane. Eighteenth in the main event at last month’s East Coast Nationals, Harris showed he had a good handle on the setup he needed on a super-fast sticky track as he went up high on the start and streaked to the Saturday IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car win.  David Grube II and Drew Ritchey were second and third, respectively, in the co-sanctioned Laurel Highlands Sprint Series, Pennsylvania Sprint Series and Virginia Sprint Series event.  Erin Statler and Harris paced the field to the initial green with Harris staying high and taking the lead with Statler right on his tail and Grube in tow.  Ken Duke, Zack Newlin and Ritchey worked their way up as Grube got by Statler, but Harris stayed straight smooth and fast as traffic came into play. After a red for a car getting in to the guardrail it was back at it for a run to the checkers. Harris took off and [Read More]

By Jim Haines HAMPTON, Va. (July 1, 2023) – During the Virginia Sprint Series’ annual visit to Langley Speedway leading into the July 4 holiday, the rocket turned out to be on track with Jerald Harris streaking to sweep the night.  Harris and Matthew Leach paced the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car field to green with Harris out first and bringing Billy Hubbard along as Leach and Chris Humblet fought for third. Harris was running hard but trying to save tires as the key to keeping fast on pavement is to keep tire wear to a minimum. A restart at halfway after an accident clean up meant they would all get a crack at Harris but he proved to be up for it ,staying strong out front. Laps clicked off until Billy Hubbard had to retire after breaking a wheel to slow the field, an incident that gave the now second-running Humblet. Harris shot off on the restart with Humblet close behind, but nothing would stop Harris from flashing under the checkered flag and becoming the [Read More]