Jeff Shepard was able to hold off hard charging Steve Kinser while working his way through traffic to take the Friday night main event at Volusia Raceway in Baberville, FL. Shepard was in second most of the night when Donny Schatz had engine trouble, costing him the lead and the race as Shepard took over. Rounding out the top-5 were Steve Kinser, Craig Dollansky, Mark Kinser and Danny Lasoski.
Schatz again had the dominate car, apparently continuing his winning ways from last year's season ender in Vegas and this years season opener in Australia, however his luck ran out on lap 18 when he began to slow. Not the only one with problems, Shepard also had engine issues of his own. “We worked on our car all night,” said Shepard, of Upperco, Md. “When they dropped the green in the feature, the motor never really started to run. On about the third lap, we dropped a cylinder because we broke a valve. The throttle stuck open because of the valve and I started catching the leaders. I looked over at my crew chief and he said just keep running it. So we did, and passed all those guys and won the race. I can’t believe it."
There were two early 4-car crashes that both brought out the red flag. Before the first lap could evne be completed, Jeremy Campbell flipped in turn 4 taking Tim Shaffer, Kevin Swindell and Jason Sowold with him. Although there were no injuries, only Sowold was able to return to the track. Then on lap 2, Shane Stewart slid into turn 3 Chad Kemenah had no where to go and hit Stewart, collecting Paul McMahan, Randy Hannagan, and Mike Erdley along the way.
FINISH, START, NUMBER, DRIVER, SPONSOR, CHASSIS, POINTS
1, 3, #12C, Jeff Shepard, Apple Dealerships, Maxim, points: 154
2, 4, #11, Steve Kinser, Quaker State, Maxim, points: 146
3, 6, #7, Craig Dollansky, Karavan/VMAC, Maxim, points: 144
4, 5, #35, Mark Kinser, Steve Mox Trucking, Maxim, points: 142
5, 25, #20, Danny Lasoski, Bass Pro Shops, Eagle, points: 140
6, 8, #14, Jason Meyers, Elite Landscaping, Maxim, points: 138
7, 19, #21, Daryn Pittman, Titan Racing, Maxim, points: 136
8, 10, #11K, Kraig Kinser, Delco-Remy International, Maxim, points: 134
9, 7, #26, Shane Stewart, Rudeen Racing Powered by MIN, Maxim, points: 132
10, 20, #4, Danny Smith, Pence Oldsmobile/GMC, Maxim, points: 130
11, 26, #2, Joey Saldana, Volcano Joe's Coffee, Maxim, points: 128
12, 16, #83, Tim Kaeding, Beef Packers, Maxim, points: 126
13, 21, #5W, Lucas Wolfe, Allebach Racing, Maxim, points: 124
14, 9, #72, Dale Blaney, Maxim Chassis, Maxim, points: 122
15, 13, #1X, Randy Hannagan, Hannagan/BMRS/Sander, Hurricane, points: 120
16, 2, #1Z, Mark Smith, Zemco, ---, points: 118
17, 14, #11H, Paul McMahan, Selma Shell, Maxim, points: 116
18, 24, #R19, Jason Solwold, City Wide Insulation, Schnee, points: 114
19, 1, #15, Donny Schatz, Parker Store, J&J, points: 112
20, 23, #44, Jason Johnson, Amzoil, Eagle, points: 110
21, 18, #6R, Bill Rose, Bayless, ---, points: 108
22, 11, #15K, Chad Kemenah, Underground Utilities, Eagle, points: 106
23, 17, #11E, Mike Erdley, Lisi Racing, ---, points: 104
24, 12, #10C, Jeremy Campbell, G-Force Racing Gear, Maxim, points: 102
25, 15, #83JR, Kevin Swindell, Beefpackers/SW Hide, Maxim, points: 100
26, 22, #6, Tim Shaffer, Casey's General Stores, Maxim, points: 98
Lap leaders: Mark Smith 1-4, Donny Schatz 5-14, Jeff Shepard 15-30
