Harris saves best for last at Natural Bridge

By Jim Haines  SHENANDOAH, Va. (Sept. 17, 2022) – Jerald Harris made it two Virginia Sprint Series feature wins in a row Saturday night, following his run to the checkers at Natural Bridge Speedway with the Saturday checkers at Shenandoah Speedway. The feature-only event had Caleb Harris and Bill Rice leading the field to green, with Rice out first and Harris closing in a couple laps while bringing Billy Hubbard along with him.  Rice had a good line and kept them off until lap eight when Jerald Harris went high and made the pass stick. Hubbard kept working on Rice to make sure Harris didn’t get away and got a big run to second as quickly as he could. Harris and Hubbard were going after the top spot lap after lap but at the cost of tire smoke. Harris used a higher line and Hubbard was trying a low line but with a few laps to go, Hubbard coasted to the infield, done for the night leaving Harris out front and nursing his tires to [Read More]

By Jim Haines NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (July 14) – After numerous top five finishes this year, Tony Harris got the lead on lap one and wired the Virginia Sprint Series feature at Natural Bridge Speedway for his first win of the season. Bill Rice and Chris Ware paced the Saturday IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car field to green but Harris quickly swept low and to the front. Mike Leraas worked on Rice for second as Harris cruised up front. At halfway, Leraas made it to second but nobody could catch Harris. Rice ended in third. Feature results – 1. Tony Harris; 2. Mike Leraas; 3. Bill Rice; 4. Daren Bolac; 5. Chris Ware; 6. Ben McCall; 7. Tom Humphries.

By Jim Haines  NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. (May 28, 2022) – The second trip for the Virginia Sprint Series to Natural Bridge Speedway on a perfect day had a first-time winner as local favorite Joe Leavell was first to the checkers. Bill Rice and Caleb Harris paced the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car feature with Rice like a bullet out first leading but soon to be joined up front by Jerald Harris and Leavell not letting.  Harris and Leavell were closing in, leaving Rice no room for error as the three were all under a blanket with Leavell low and Harris up high.  With the end coming quick Leavell made his move low on Rice while Harris made a move high, slipped and brushed the wall. Leavell came out with the lead but Harris regrouped and challenged for the front spot. Harris edged closer with traffic everywhere as the lead group made its way through but ran out of time to catch up and deny Leavell the career-first win. Rice took third. The series takes a few [Read More]