South Boston, VA– A sun splashed day greeted fans for the season opening race at South Boston Speedway on Saturday afternoon March 21st. The first race of the year was delayed one week because of rain at the historic NASCAR sanctioned asphalt oval.

Deac McCaskill took the pole position in qualifying by turning a 15.505 second lap. He was followed in the top five by Philip Morris, C. E. Falk, Dustin Storm and Lee Pulliam. Pulliam is racing his first full season in Late Model Stock Cars after capturing the Limited Sportsman title at South Boston in 2008.

McCaskill and Morris lead the twenty-four car field to the green flag with McCaskill taking the lead. The tight confines of South Boston always lead to great racing. Today was the norm as battles shaped up all around the track during the early laps.

The first caution of the day took place on lap five when Bruce Anderson looped his car in turn two after contact from the 05 car of Doug Godsey. Both cars continued on the lead lap.

The green flag was waved on lap eight and the race settled in. McCaskil lead Morris, Falk, Storm, Nick Smith, Justin Johnson, Jonathan Bailey, Godsey, Jonathan Cash and David Quackenbush in the top ten.

Caution slowed the race again on lap 38 as the engine expired on the number 83 driven by Eric Winslow. Morris was staying very close to McCaskill during this thirty lap green flag run. Rodney Cook had moved up four spots from fifteenth to eleventh during this time.

The field went back to green flag racing at lap 47. Morris showed his strength by hounding McCaskill for the lead. Morris made the pass for the top spot on lap 56. The 08 car of McCaskill had a right front tire going flat but luck would be on his side as the yellow rag flew again the very next lap when Ronald Hill, Lee Pulliam and Eddie Johnson made contact in turn two.

McCaskill went to the pits to change his flat tire during the caution period. Hill was done for the day and Pulliam spent several laps in the pits for repairs.

The race restarted on lap 66 and Morris started to show his dominance. Falk and Storm stayed close early in the run, but Morris would stretch his lead after a handful of laps were completed under speed. The top ten at halfway were Morris, Falk, Storm, Smith, Justin Johnson, Bailey, Godsey, Cash, Dane Rudolph and Scott Marshall.

Yellow fever hit again on lap 84 when Scott Marshall and Kenny Forbes made hard contact with the backstretch wall. Both drivers made it to the pits under their own power, but were out for the race.

Restart at lap 94 and going down the front stretch Godsey loses a motor. No yellow is displayed and all eyes are on McCaskill as he has come back to eighth in the running order.

Debris brings out the yellow again on lap 106. Morris still leads with Falk, Storm, Smith and Justin Johnson rounding out the top five.

The race restarted on lap 109 and would run caution free to the finish. Morris kept a nice five to eight car length cushion on the field as he picked up his first victory of 2009. Falk held off a hard charging Storm for second. Nick Smith and Justin Johnson finished fourth and fifth respectively. Bailey, Cash, McCaskill, Quackenbush and Cook were sixth through tenth in the unofficial finishing order.

Philip Morris showed today that he is raring to go for his third NASCAR Whelen All American Series National Championship. The king of the mountain will have everyone gunning for him every time he straps in to his race car this season.

Official Race Results:
1. 26 Philip Morris
2. 40 C.E. Falk III
3. 16 Dustin Storm
4. 88 Nick Smith
5. 6 Justin Johnson
6. 89 Jonathan Bailey
7. 90 Jonathan Cash
8. 08 Deac McCaskill
9. 91 David Quackenbush
10. 14 Rodney Cook
11. 57 Eddie Johnson
12. 18 Dane Rudolph
13. 7 Dude Gibbs
14. 9 Bruce Anderson
15. 24 Tim George, Jr.
16. 22 Laura Hayes
17. 64 Rick Gdovic
18. 05 Doug Godsey
19. 03 Kenny Forbes
20. 11 Scott Marshall
21. 1 Joey Mahanes
22. 3 Lee Pulliam
23. 74 Ronald Hill
24. 83 Eric Winslow