virginiasprintseries Archives

Worrell wins at Shenandoah Virginia Sprint Series opener

By Jim Haines SHENANDOAH, Va. (April 13) – Opening night for the Virginia Sprint Series was a pavement race at the beautiful Shenandoah Speedway and when it was over Glenn Worrell was first to the finish line. Saturday’s feature-only event for IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars had Bill Rice and Charlie Ware on the point with Rice out first. Jerald Harris, Worrell and Mike Keeton were all together at the front behind Rice. Rice was smooth lap after lap while Harris was under pressure from Worrell as his car was starting to go away. Worrell went low and got by Rice as Harris found himself dealing with Keeton for third. Laps were winding down and Worrell and Keeton kept the pressure on with Worrell the first to get under Rice for the lead as Keeton went to third. Keeton worked on Rice and got by for second but time ran out before he could mount a challenge. On Saturday, April 20 it’s off to Hagerstown, Md., Speedway for a co-sanctioned race with the Laurel Highlands Sprint Series [Read More]

Keeton collects first Virginia Sprint Series win of season

By Jim Haines SHENANDOAH, Va. (July 28) – Mike Keeton showed the way to the front of the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car field at Shenandoah Speedway Saturday night and stayed there for his first Virginia Sprint Series win of the year. Chris Ware and Bill Rice made up the front row for the start with Rice out first and Ware right behind. Tony Harris, Keeton, Jerald Harris and Glenn Worrell were all lined up and working on Ware in order to get a crack at the leader. Tony Harris got by first to chase down Rice. After some shuffling behind the leader, the top four were all together with Harris holding off Worrell as Keeton was working on Rice for the lead. Keeton went to the front with 10 to go as Worrell took over second three laps later. Keeton would not be caught, however, as he flashed under the checkered flag first with Worrell and Tony Harris close behind. Next Friday it’s the final Fast Friday event of the year at Dixieland Speedway in [Read More]

Harris wires the Bridge for Virginia Sprint Series win

By Jim Haines NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (July 14) – After numerous top five finishes this year, Tony Harris got the lead on lap one and wired the Virginia Sprint Series feature at Natural Bridge Speedway for his first win of the season. Bill Rice and Chris Ware paced the Saturday IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car field to green but Harris quickly swept low and to the front. Mike Leraas worked on Rice for second as Harris cruised up front. At halfway, Leraas made it to second but nobody could catch Harris. Rice ended in third. Feature results – 1. Tony Harris; 2. Mike Leraas; 3. Bill Rice; 4. Daren Bolac; 5. Chris Ware; 6. Ben McCall; 7. Tom Humphries.

Worrell sees fireworks early at Langley Speedway

By Jim Haines HAMPTON, Va. (June 30) – The annual July 4th holiday visit to Langley Speedway was early this year and after 30 fast laps, Glenn Worrell saw the fireworks in the form of a checkered flag first. Bill Rice and Worrell paced the field to green with Rice out first as Worrell stayed close; on lap two, Worrell drove hard into turn one and to the front. Tony Harris and Mike Leraas were quickly all over Rice for second, using the high line in their bid to get by. By lap four, Harris and Leraas went by Rice and the top three were soon together and going at it hard lap after lap. Worrell kept his car smooth as Harris was going low or high every lap to get an opening while keeping Leraas in third as well. Mike Keeton battled Rice for fourth as the top three were not letting up. Traffic was coming up as the white flag waved, giving the chase cars one last shot at Worrell but he did not [Read More]

Leraas leads last half for Shenandoah Sprint win

SHENANDOAH, Va. (June 23) – Mike Leraas made the most of his trip north to lead the last half of the race for his second Virginia Sprint Series feature win of the season Saturday at Shenandoah Speedway. Bill Rice and Chris Ware paced the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car field to green. Rice jumped out front with Ware in tow while Leraas and Tony Harris worked on Ware for second. Rice tried to get away as Leraas gained second and Harris took over third. Leraas went low and to the front, leaving Rice to race with Harris, which took five laps until he went to second. Leraas was out front as Harris was trying to chase him down. Glenn Worrell went to third as Rice faded with steering trouble. Harris was trying to close in but it was not to be as Leraas hit the finish line first. Worrell was third. Next it’s the second annual visit to Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va., on Saturday June 30. Feature results – 1. Mike Leraas; 2. Tony Harris; [Read More]

Bolac is the fastest at Dixieland’s Fast Friday

By Jim Haines ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (June 8) – Dixieland Speedway hosted the first Virginia Sprint Series Fast Friday event of the season after an earlier rainout and Daren Bolac was the fastest at his hometown track. Bill Rice and Chris Ware paced to IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car field to green with Ware getting the run off the top and Rice down low. Ware was steady up top but ultimately no match for Bolac, who proved the bottom was fast as well in taking away the lead. Tom Humphries got by Rice and was shadowing Ware lap after lap but their pursuit was changing every corner of every lap as Jerald Harris, C.J. Faison, Tony Harris, Jake McLain, Jeff Taylor and Randy Sterling were all in a pack. Bolac stayed strong up front and Humphries got by Ware, leaving him to deal with Faison. Bolac was just not going to be caught as the checkered flag was waving for a popular win with Humphries second and Faison third. Next it’s a first-time visit to Hagerstown, [Read More]

Keeton flies to first win in Virginia Sprint Series finale

By Jim Haines SHENANDOAH, Va. (Sept. 30) – Mike Keeton was fast at the front and stayed there all the way to his first win Saturday on the final night of the 20th annual Virginia Sprint Series. The IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car checkers came Saturday at Shenandoah Speedway, ahead of Jerald Harris and Anthony Linkenhoker. The feature-only event rolled off with Bill Rice and Keeton on the front row. When the green flew, Keeton stayed high while Rice was on the bottom and hugging the line. Keeton got free on lap two and Harris came with him on the top side and went for the lead lap after lap while leaving Rice to deal with Linkenhoker. Pavement races really fly by and Harris was keeping close but not getting alongside while Linkenhoker made it to third. Keeton stayed smooth and steady up front, made some good moves in traffic in the final laps and raced to the checkered flag first. Feature results – 1. Mike Keeton; 2. Jerald Harris; 3. Anthony Linkenhoker;4. Bill Rice; 5. Chris Ware; [Read More]