By Gary Daughtrey
Special to the News-Herald

RICHMOND — Pro Series points leader Jordan Wood took another step toward the 2010-11 Arena Racing USA championship as he wired the field to win the 50-lap Structural Mechanical Top Dog race, the featured event Saturday at the Richmond Coliseum.

Jimmy Greybeck was slated to start from the pole. After finishing third in a rough-and-tumble C Main, though, he was unable to answer the Top Dog bell. The pole position passed to Wood.

As the race got under way, Wood cleared his front-row mate, Josh Ayer, to take the lead through Turns 1 and 2. Nelson Moody came along with Wood to nab second.

As the event passed the halfway mark, Wood held Spencer Saunders at bay. On a restart with nine laps remaining, Adam Florian went by Saunders on the inside lane.

The fifth yellow flag of the race flew on lap 49 for debris, setting up a “green-white-checkered” dash to the finish.

Saunders sought to return the favor, driving underneath Florian in a bid for position. With the second- and third-place runners going door-to-door behind him, Wood cruised to the checkered flag, winning by two lengths. Saunders was second, coming out on top of a fender-banging duel with Florian. Scott Prillaman and Matthew Leach completed the top five.

The win was Wood’s series-leading seventh in Top Dog competition and his ninth overall.

Prillaman, of Suffolk, started on the pole, took control on the second circuit and led the way to his fourth win of the season in the 50-lap KeesVacations.com A Main.

Derek Miller shared the front row with Prillaman and nosed out front to lead the opening lap. On lap 2, though, Prillaman battled back and pushed his machine to the point for good.

By lap 8, Prillaman had opened a three-length advantage, while Miller and Travis Wall tussled for the runner-up spot. As the second-place battle raged, Prillaman extended his lead.

The race’s only caution flag appeared on lap 41. As the green flag flew, Wall failed to come up to speed, hampered by tire problems. Prillaman, Miller and Saunders bolted ahead of the pack.

At the checkers, Prillaman was the winner by two lengths over Miller.

Josh Ayer assumed the lead five laps from the finish and drove on to his fifth feature win of the season in the 50-lap Quaker Steak & Lube B Main.

Jason Styron took the lead on lap 20 and showed the way to his second feature victory in the 50-lap C Main. Both of Styron’s wins have come on the Richmond oval.

Connor Hall started on the pole and led all 30 laps, sailing to his eighth victory of the season in the Youth Series A Main.

Tripp Thurston assumed the lead on lap 9 and led the rest of the way for his third win of the season in the 30-lap Youth Series B Main.