July 31^st, 2004

Deanna Landis

(Radford,VA) With a strong 2^nd place finish at Motor Mile Speedway last weekend, the JR Motorsports late model team had high hopes going into this weekend’s race activities. The $5,000 bounty on Frank Deiny, Jr. attracted many competitive drivers from other tracks, such as Denny Hamlin, Woody Howard and Timothy Peters. South Boston Speedway took the weekend off so these SOBO regulars made the trip to Motor Mile Speedway expecting to take home the bonus.

Twenty-one cars qualified for the Dr Pepper 100 with the #8, Tam Topham, setting the pole position with a 16.31 second lap. TJ Majors qualified in the 11^th position, slightly off from last week’s third place start. Frank Deiny Jr, with engine troubles, qualified in the 16^th position, giving competitors hope that the $5,000 bonus will be claimed for the win against Deiny.

The green flag waived and the Dr Pepper 100 was underway as Topham and Hamlin set the pace. An early spin in turn 4 was the only caution of the night. Headed back to the green flag, the #17 received front end damage as the cars in front of Majors slowed down. Later in the race, Majors complained of a tight racecar and held on to a 10^th place finish. Topham claimed the $5,000 bonus, followed by Hamlin, Peters, Howard and Deiny.

TJ Majors and the JR Motorsports late model team will head back to Motor Mile Speedway, Saturday, August 7^th to compete in the PMI/Castrol Oil Products 200 lap late model race.