By Gary Daughtrey
Special to the News-Herald

HAMPTON — Anthony Kincaid and Shawn Balluzzo shared the limelight, splitting the Colonial Kitchens Twin 25s for the KeesVacations.com Modifieds, the featured events of Saturday evening’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at Langley Speedway.

Mike Rudy was the top qualifier in time trials, at 85.053 mph. Rudy and Kincaid started the opening 25-lap race on the front row.

The opening event got off to a rocky start. Twice, Kincaid shot ahead of Rudy to take the lead. Before a lap could be recorded, however, caution flags flew for multi-car incidents. Kincaid jumped ahead of Rudy on the third try at the start with Cameron Patrick coming along as well.

On lap 13, Balluzzo swiped third and set off after Patrick, overtaking him on lap 14. The exchange allowed Kincaid to pad his lead to nearly half a straightaway.

Little by little, Balluzzo chipped away at Kincaid’s margin. By lap 19, he had drawn to within three car-lengths.

Kincaid held on, by about five lengths, for his first win. Balluzzo was second, followed by Patrick, who held off Robbie Babb for third.

The lineup for the nightcap was determined by the finishing order of the opener. As the race got under way, Kincaid leaped ahead of Balluzzo.

The first caution flag appeared on lap 4 when officials spotted a fuel leak from Kincaid’s car. While he reported to the pits, the lead passed to Balluzzo.

The fifth, and final, caution flag came out on lap 22. Under green for a sprint to the finish, Balluzzo eked out a slim margin over Todd VanGuilder.

At the checkers, Balluzzo was the winner by 0.331-second — about two lengths — over VanGuilder.

In the evening’s other featured events:

Mark Claar took the lead on lap 37, then survived a “green-white-checkered” finish to nail down his third win of the season in the 40-lap Pepsi Grand Stock race.

Woody Howard started on the pole and led all the way to post his first win in the 25-lap Cycle City Corp. INEX Legends race.

Starting from the pole, Bill Dailey wired the field for his first win of the year in a 20-lapper for the Rhonnda Claiborne, Realtor HRKC Pro Winged Champ Karts.

In the 20-lap CBX Modular Homes INEX Bandoleros feature, Macy Causey overwhelmed the field to become the division’s first two-time winner.

Starting 11th in the 12-car field, Mike Ganoe took the lead on lap 19 and rolled to his third win of the season in the evening’s final race, a 50-lap Enduro.