Green takes checkered flag

Published 3:35 pm Monday, February 8, 2010

While his pursuers scuffled behind him, Charlie Green pulled away in the closing circuits to score the win in the 50-lap Top Dog race, the featured event of the Saturday evening’s Kees Vacations 200 presented by USA Discounters for the Arena Racing Hampton Roads Pro Series at the Hampton Coliseum. The victory was Green’s third of the season and his first in Top Dog competition.

Suffolk’s Landon Florian, a rookie this Arena Racing season, led the first four laps. Shortly after a restart on lap 4 though, Green slipped by Florian as they headed into Turn 1 to begin lap 5. Derek Miller tagged along with Green and moved into second.

There were six caution flags in all. On the last restart, with 10 laps remaining, Green easily cleared Miller, who was challenged by Landon’s older brother Adam Florian.

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The side-by-side battle between Miller and Florian, which lasted all the way to the checkers, worked in Green’s favor as he pulled away to win by half a straightaway. Miller was second, trimming Florian by half a length at the stripe. Travis Wall was fourth, followed by Jordan Wood.

Defending series champ Adam Florian led from pole to checkers for his fifth win of the season in the 50-lap A Main.

Florian jumped out front as the initial green flag went in the air, pulling ahead of front-row mate Chris Raiford. Jordan Wood made his way from fifth to second place in the early going.

At the halfway mark, Florian had extended his lead over Wood to more than half a straightaway. That lead vanished on lap 28, however, with a yellow flag.

On the restart, Florian gained a slim edge over Wood, who was occupied with a challenge from third-place Derek Miller.

At the finish, Florian was the winner by nearly half a straightaway. Wood was the runner-up, followed by Miller, Travis Wall, Matt Leach and Cody Turbitt.

Scott Prillaman, of Suffolk, started shotgun in the 10-car lineup, took the lead on lap 40 and showed the way to his third win of the season in the B Main.

Jason Styron started on the pole, but ceded the point to rookie contender Josh Ayer on the opening lap.

On lap 10, Prillaman slipped by Charlie Green for third. He continued his march to the front on lap 19, swiping second from Landon Florian. While Prillaman and Florian dueled for second, Ayer lengthened his lead to half a straightaway.

A caution on lap 30 brought Prillaman close to Ayer. Prillaman followed in Ayer’s tire tracks until lap 39 when he ducked under Ayer off Turn 2. He nosed ahead at the end of lap 40, then cleared Ayer, leaving the lane open for Green, who took over second.

The race came down to a green-white-checkered finish. On the final restart, Prillaman quickly gained a one-length edge over Green and maintained that margin to the checkered flag.

Denver Alvis grabbed the lead on the first circuit and held on for his first victory of the season in the 50-lap C Main.

At the finish, Alvis was the winner by a car-length over Nelson Moody. Brittany Bangas was third.

Connor Hall moved out front on lap 5 and cruised to his third straight win in the third Youth Series event of the season, a 30-lapper.

Cullen Roberts started on the pole and took the lead on the opening circuit. With Hall in tow, he showed the way for the first four laps.

Hall ducked underneath Roberts off Turn 4 and pulled ahead as the leaders reached Turn 1 to begin lap 5.

Gummy Cook was third in her first series start, while Patrick Groff, also making his first start, was an early retiree and credited with fourth.