Eastside Speedway
Fitzgerald earns $2,500 in Eastside's 100-lapper
WAYNESBORO, Va. (April 18) — C.S Fitzgerald of Lexington, Va., earned $2,500 for a victory in Eastside Speedway's Spring Late Model Championship on Saturday.
The track's first 100-lapper of the season and was run in two 50-lap segments with a 15-minute break allowing drivers and crews to work on their cars for repairs or improvements. Fitzgerald led a total of only 44 laps, leading the first 30 laps and the final 14 of the 100 total.
Hometown driver Greg Roberson was the runner-up with defending track champion Joe Leavell, also of Waynesboro, third.
After the first 30 laps, Fitzgerald’s car developed a handling problem and he was quickly passed by Waynesboro’s Lewis Hudson. Hudson was in control of the race until four laps passed the halfway break.
During the break, several teams changed tires and made changes to their cars. Kristian Looney’s No. 9Q, which he drove to the fast qualifying time, perhaps got more work than any other after he fell to the rear after 50 laps.
Hudson’s crew didn’t change anything on his car while Fitzgerald was a little worried. “I just developed a bad push and can’t get the car to go straight,” Fitzgerald said. “I guess I’ll spend the rest of the night playing follow the leader.”
It didn't quite work out that way as Leavell passed Hudson on lap 54, and then Fitzgerald passed Leavell for the winning pass on lap 86. Looney rallied in the second half of the race, making his way up to fourth at the finish.
