Virginia Motor Speedway
Hubbard, 15, picks up $10,000 for title at VMS
From track reports
SALUDA, Va. (Sept. 15) — The race for the Late Model championship at Virginia Motor Speedway couldn’t have been much tighter heading into the last point race of the season as Austin Hubbard of Seaford, Del., and Tom Cohick of Gloucester, Va., went into the night a mere eight points apart. After qualifying Cohick had cut it to six points, but that’s as close as Cohick would get.
Come feature time, Hubbard let it all hang out working his way to the front by lap 16 working inside Mark Parks for the lead on way to his third win of the season and the 2007 title For his efforts Hubbard picked up $10,000 of the $25,000 championship point fund.
“This is the biggest accomplishment of my racing career, I told my crew that if we win the race then we know we win the championship, there was no holding back tonight,” Hubbard said in victory lane. “To win the championship here is unbelievable, these are the best drivers in the country."
Rounding out the top five were Walker Arthur, Stevie Long, Louis Timberlake and Sommey Lacey Jr.
In the 30-lapper, Lacey and Mark Parks led the field to green with Parks taking control and leading the first circuit followed closely by Lacey, Arthur, Matt Morgan, Cohick and Hubbard.
On lap four, Cohick brought out the first caution with a spin in turn four, virtually ending his chances at the championship. On the restart, Parks kept Lacey at bay as Arthur worked Morgan for third. On lap eight, Hubbard worked inside Arthur for fourth only to give it back the next lap. On lap 10, the second caution came up for a spinning Morgan in turn two.
On the restart, Lacey took a peak under Parks but couldn’t make the pass as Hubbard worked inside Stevie Long to take back fourth. On lap 14, Hubbard made the move to take second from Lacey taking it at the line. Caution came out on lap 16 for Scott Tolbert as he came to rest on the backstretch.
On the restart Hubbard drove it hard under Parks into turn one and the two battle side-by-side back to the line with Hubbard taking the lead by inches. On lap 18, the battle for second went three wide with Parks trying to hold off Arthur and Long. Arthur took the position as Parks headed for pit road with a flat left front tire. Caution would come out for contact between Brett Royal and William King in turn three.
On the restart Hubbard pulled away from the field and survived a final caution for the victory.
Virginia Motor Speedway: (1) Austin Hubbard, (2) Walker Arthur, (3) Stevie Long, (4) Louis Timberlake, (5) Sommey Lacey Jr., (6) Jason Cahall, (7) Eddie Groome, (8) Donnie Marshall Jr., (9) Louie Littlepage Jr., (10) Tom Cohick, (11) Billy Hubbard, (12) Anthony Kincaid, (13) Scotty Nelson, (14) Tony Buckler, (15) Chris Stacy, (16) Tyler Bailey, (17) Bert Culpepper III, (18) Wayne Carroll, (19) Mark Parks, (20) Brett Royal, (21) William King, (22) Scotty Tolbert III, (23) Stephen Evans, (24) Brad Rigdon, (25) David Hoffman, (26) Matt Morgan.
