Lavender Wins BFGoodrich Tires 250

USAR ProCup, Paul Warner (May 6, 2005)     (Click Here for Original Article)

Jody Lavender salutes the fans at Ace Speedway after winning the BFGoodrich Tires 250. Kathy Bond Photo

Altamahaw, NC—It was a barnburner at Ace Speedway on Friday night. And when the smoke, literally, cleared, Jody Lavender drove to victory lane in the BFGoodrich Tires 250 presented by Hess Race Cars, Inc.   Lavender, driver of the No. 84 H&R Block Ford, and Jay Fogleman, driver of the No. 4 Lucas Oil Ford, waged a spirited battle for the lead over the final 50 laps of the 250-lap event.

With five to go, Fogleman tucked underneath Lavender, and the duo raced side-by-side, trading paint for the remainder of the event. Coming to take the checkered flag, the intertwined twosome swapped sheet metal for the final time.

The contact sent Lavender spinning into the inside retaining wall, but the Hartsville, S.C., driver was .091 sec. ahead of Fogleman at the stripe, giving Lavender his first Pro Cup win and leaving him in a state of disbelief.

"When we came across the line, I thought, nah, this can’t be happening," said Lavender. "Those last few laps were just so exciting. I was hanging on, and he was hanging on. We were both were in the same boat, trying to win the race without wrecking each other.

"Jay’s just a great racecar driver. When you race against professionals like we have in this series, you can race hard and put on a show for the fans. That’s the most fun I’ve had since I’ve been racing."

Despite not winning, Fogleman’s smile was nearly as wide as Lavender’s at the conclusion of the race.

"I’m happy for them. They’re a great bunch of guys," said Fogleman. "I ran him just as hard as I could run him. I got a good run on him late in the event. I got under him, but I was just a tick tight. I couldn’t get the run to clear him."

Fogleman was able to lead Lap 246, 247 and 248 using the inside line, but Lavender held strong on the outside and led the final two laps.

"When I got in the middle of Turn 3 [on last lap], I just held it to the mat and hoped for the best," said Lavender. "I was either going to win the race or wreck. Luckily, I won before I wrecked."

Had the contact erupted before the start/finish line, Mark McFarland, driver of the No. 32 WINFUEL Chevy, was in the catbird seat.

McFarland, who led the first 88 laps after winning the his third Advance Auto Parts Pole Award of the season, pitted out-of-sequence with the leaders and worked his way back to fourth by Lap 181. The long haul back to the front took its toll on McFarland’s car, and he was unable to pressure the leaders down the stretch. McFarland crossed the finish line .288 sec. behind Lavender.

"We had the best car for a while tonight," said McFarland. "We just had to use it up too much getting back through traffic. We just weren’t expecting those guys to pit that early. I was kind of surprised. We had planned on being the first car to pit. We got behind those guys, and it was so hard to pass."

The tight confines of Ace Speedway made for some interesting pit strategies during the BFGoodrich Tires 250.

On Lap 82, Clay Rogers, running third at the time, led a group of lead-lap cars to pit road. Mark McFarland and Bobby Gill, running first and second, respectively, stayed on the track as 10 cars behind the came in for service.

McFarland pitted under the next caution on Lap 95, but Gill, who led 26 laps, waited until Lap 113 to pit. And Gill’s decision to pit late came back to haunt him on Lap 130.

The three-time champion restarted 16th in heavy traffic. While trying work his way back to the front, Gill tagged the spinning car of Jason Sarvis, suffered severe damage to the No. 06 USG Sheetrock Brand Ford and finished the night in 15th.

"I had already committed to the high line, so there was nothing I could do," Gill said of the incident. "Our problems really started when we didn’t pit early. There were only three cars a lap down, but it happens like that sometimes."

Michael Ritch, driver of the No. 28 Jackaroo Ford, inherited the lead after Gill pitted and led for 18 laps. Ritch picked up $1,000 for being the Lucas Oil Products Halfway leader before Shane Huffman, driver of the No. 81 Knight’s Companies Ford, took the lead on Lap 133.

Huffman led for 27 laps until Lavender, who started 19th, completed his run to the front on Lap 160.

Lavender checked out briefly over the next 20 laps, but a caution on Lap 187 brought Fogleman back to his bumper. And Fogleman stayed there the remainder of the evening.

Like McFarland and Fogleman, Mike Garvey, driver of the No. 17 Jani-King Ford, also pitted on Lap 95 and was able to make his way back to fourth at the finish.

Chase Pistone, driver of the No. 40 Metrolina Expo Trade Center Ford, picked up $1,000 for being the Miller Lite Rookie of the Race after he finish fifth.

Lavender and McFarland both led 88 laps and spilt the Greased Lighting "Blast the Pack" Award for leading the most laps. Lavender also took home $500 for winning the Mr. Gasket Hard Charger Award for advancing a race-high 18 positions.

The BFGoodrich Tires 250 was slowed 15 times for 85 laps of caution and featured seven lead changes among six drivers.
 

PHOTOS by Kathy Bond, USAR ProCup

Jody Lavender celebrates his first Hooters Pro Cup win with a burnout underneath the flag stand at Ace Speedway after winning the BFGoodrich Tires 250.

Jody Lavender hoists the BFGoodrich Tires 250 trophy over his head after picking up his first Pro Cup win at Ace Speedway.

Jody Lavender and his father, Joe, celebrate in LK Designs Victory Lane after Jody picked up his first Pro Cup win in the BFGoodrich Tires 250 at Ace Speedway.

Jody Lavender kneels beside his No. 84 H&R Block Ford after winning the BFGoodrich Tires 250 at Ace Speedway

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