By Gary Daughtrey

Special to the News-Herald

RICHMOND — Jordan Wood snagged the lead on the opening circuit and won the 50-lap Structural Mechanical Top Dog race for Arena Racing Hampton Roads Pro Series Saturday at the Richmond Coliseum. It was Wood’s second feature victory of the season and his first Top Dog win.

Rookie challenger Mike Johnson drew the pole for the race with Wood, a series veteran, lining up to his outside.

The outer groove proved potent for Wood, who pulled ahead as the field streamed off Turn 2 for the first time. Aaron Leach tagged along with Wood, taking over second.

After 10 clean circuits, the yellow flags began flying fast and furious. The event was interrupted at laps 11, 14, 17, 22 and 26.

On each restart, Wood, who bucked the trend and chose the inside lane, cleared the car to his outside. The key seemed to lie with the third-place car, which was lined up on the leader’s bumper. As the field began to come up to speed, the third-place driver (Derek Miller and Scott Prillaman traded the spot throughout the race) rapped Wood’s bumper and propelled him out front. Call it the Arena Racing version of a “bump-draft.”

At the finish, Wood was the winner by two lengths over Prillaman. Derek Miller was third, followed by Josh Ayer and Charlie Green.

Suffolk’s Scott Prillaman took the lead for good on lap 5 and sailed to his first feature victory of the season in the 50-lap A Main.

Prillaman took third-place on the green flag, with Travis Wall leading and Charlie Green in second.

On lap 3, Prillaman ducked under Wall off Turn 2 and powered into the lead off the fourth corner. Wall rallied in the upper groove to lead lap 4, only to see Prillaman nose back ahead on the next circuit.

Prillaman steadily added to his lead. By the finish, he had stretched his winning margin to a full straightaway.

Michael Weddell continued his early-season roll in the 50-lap B Main. He took the lead for good on lap 43 and strolled to his fourth win.

Matthew Leach took the lead on lap 42 and drove on to his first victory of the season in a hard-hitting 50-lap C Main.

It took some effort, but Connor Hall kept his undefeated streak alive in a caution-filled 30-lapper for the Youth Series. He took the lead on lap 27 and held on for his 11th win in 11 career starts.

Cameron Lopresti was the pole-sitter and showed the way for the first 26 laps.

The Arena Racing Hampton Roads Pro Series continues Saturday at the Hampton Coliseum. Proceeds from the event will go to the American Diabetes Association. Doors open at 6 p.m. with racing beginning at 7 p.m.