Monday, April 2, 2007

Waller Honored At Track Dedication

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
Two-time Olympian and Halifax County native Tisha Waller pointed to the old high jump pit at Tuck Dillard Stadium where her dreams of success took root as a high school track competitor, noting the progress the program has made the past two decades.
“This is more than a little girl growing up in South Boston and Halifax County could dream of,” said Waller of the track and field facility dedicated in her honor.
“Growing up in such a small town teaches you a lot about family, and your presence here shows your dedication.”
“I had no spikes, so I learned to jump wearing only tennis shoes but I still soared and sailed despite the track we had,” said Waller.
“Now that you have a new facility and new uniforms, I expect great things from you.”
Waller more than compensated for a lack of equipment and facilities to participate in the high jump in both the 1996 and 2004 Olympic Games.
She is a five-time USA outdoor and indoor champion, a 1991 World University Games and 1999 World Indoor Championships Bronze Medalist, and a 1998 Goodwill Games champion.
Waller’s accomplishments were born of a desire to succeed despite the lack of track shoes, developing a work ethic instilled early on by family and friends, according to Larry D. Clark, Deputy Superintendent of Halifax County Public Schools.
Clark, Waller’s high school principal, said that three things stand out when one looks at Waller’s resume.
“I think that it says a great deal about her that in 1996, with everything else that she does, she was named Teacher of the Year [DeKalb County, Ga.],” he began.
“She could have done a lot of other things besides teach school, but she did, and did it well. So well that she was recognized by her peers as Teacher of the Year, and that’s extremely significant.
“It says a great deal about her family and what it instilled in her, that in 2003 she was recipient of the USA Track & Field Humanitarian Award.
“It means she cares about her fellow man...its shows in her professional career, her personal life and in her athletic career.”
Halifax County High School has a track facility that, like Waller is top notch, said Steve Anderson, School Board Vice-Chair, who thanked board members and others who made construction of the new facility possible.
“Prior to this, we had a track team without a home. We had the team, coaches and athletes who worked hard in practice, but could never have a home meet, because the facilities that we had here were not adequate for what they needed to host a meet,” said Anderson.
“Not only is it great that we have this track facility, but that we can recognize someone who is a top notch person to dedicate this track to.”
Anderson added that Waller was a perfect example of someone who, if they have dreams, have hopes, work hard and do things the right way, can achieve anything they want to achieve.
Waller is one of several notables who have put South Boston on the map, including NASCAR drivers Ward and Jeff Burton, former professional football player Donald Testerman and recent high school graduate Jeremy Jeffress, now a pitcher in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, said South Boston Mayor Carroll Thackston.
She not only set a standard for herself when she was here, but she set a standard for future generations of young people,” said HCPS Superintendent Paul Stapleton.
“So many people in life do not take their God-given talent and waste it away. This is a person who realized she had talent and knew she could do things with it.
“She decided what she would do with her life, and she became very successful, because she believed in herself.
“Her family taught her to believe in yourself and do the right thing,” continued Stapleton, who said, despite all the honors she has thus far received, Waller remains a home-town hero.
“You’ve gotten honors all over the world...but there’s no honor as special as the honor you get at home and the way people at home feel about you.
“The other people will honor you for what you do,the people at home love you and honor you for what you are,” noted Stapleton.
Waller, currently an educational consultant with Harcourt School Publishers, said after the dedication ceremony that future competition was not out of the picture.
“I had surgery on my achilles, I’ve healed and have been training. Everything is going well,” said Waller, adding she was appreciative of the support given her by her family and friends.
“I just started back training and won’t know about a comeback until next year. I do miss it, but I turn 37 this year, so it depends on how I feel.”
Despite her athletic accomplishments, education is still the key to success, Waller noted.
“As an educational consultant, I go around making presentations about the product,” continued Waller, who visited with students at South of Dan Elementary School during the school’s career day on Friday.
“I talked to them about my upbringing, my track career and my career as a teacher, assistant principal and consultant.
“Education is the key, I work moreso with teachers but my position give me a way to give back to teachers and students.”
Waller has some simple advice for those dreaming of success in track or in life.
“Never give up. We all have trials and tribulations that come your way, but never give up. It’s about being yourself, accepting who you are and excelling with what God has given you.
“A prime example - I didn’t make the Olympic team in 2000, but came back and made it four years later. Eight years is a long time in track, but you can’t just give up.
“When they called and told me that the track was going to be dedicated to me, I was just really excited and said that you don’t have to do that.
“It’s really okay, I’m very humble about this and it’s absolutely wonderful. It’s more than an honor, and I share it with South Boston and Halifax County.”

Bowman, Edmunds To Seek Another Term

District Four Supervisor Doug Bowman and District Five Supervisor James Edmunds II have both announced that they will seek re-election in the November general election.
Bowman is finishing his first four-year term on the Board and serves as chairman of the Finance Committee.
Edmunds has served two terms on the Board and will be seeking his third.
Both representatives said it has been an honor representing their respective constituents.
“I am proud to have been a part of putting into motion some significant county accomplishments these last few years,” Bowman said. “The current county supervisors have mutual respect for each other and, while we are not expected to agree on all issues, we do communicate well about the important county matters that come before us.
“It has been a true privilege and a learning experience for me during this first term. If the constituents of District Four trust me to continue to serve, I shall be pleased to do so,” Bowman said.
“It has been my pleasure and privilege to serve the citizens of Halifax County and the Fifth District during the past eight years,” Edmunds said. “I would like to continue to help move Halifax County forward during the next four years.
“I have been very blessed to have served in the past and I will use my experience to help lead Halifax into the future,” Edmunds added. “Personally, I am very excited about the future of Halifax County and I do believe that the best is yet to come.”

Supervisors Expected To Select Transfer Station Site

Draper-Aden Associates is recommending the county select a site on Fan Park Drive off of Greens Folly Road for a solid waste transfer station.
A decision is expected during the supervisors meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the public meeting room of the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
In a letter from Draper Aden Project Manager Michael Cavell to County Administrator Bryan Foster, Cavell writes, “Site Three (Fan Park Drive) appears to be the most favorable of the three sites.
“The overall size, shape, and topography are appropriate for locating a transfer station,” Cavell wrote. “No issues of concern other than the possible wetland area were noted during the walkover. The primary disadvantage appears to be that it is the farthest distance from the intended landfill disposal site.”
The other two sites under consideration are located at the former Georgia-Pacific site on Plywood Trail.
A site in the northeast corner of the G-P complex has “pieces of concrete, asphalt, scrap metal, plastic sheeting, rags and tires” on the surface of the area, Cavell wrote.”
“The possible dump site appears to cover most of the central portion of the site and may be structurally unfit for construction without excavation of unsuitable materials,” Cavell wrote Foster.
The second site is in the north/northeast area of the complex.
“Traffic flow around the site, especially the movement and parking of empty and full transfer trailers, may be problematic and further study would be required in order to determine if the building space is adequate for the proposed development,” Cavell wrote.
Supervisors also agreed to examine the Quick Way Recycling site on U.S. 58 for the proposed site, but the facility is located in a 100-year flood plain, which would make permitting the site virtually impossible, according to Cavell.
“The location of the site within the 100-year flood plain makes the site unsuitable as the location for a permitted solid waster transfer station,” Cavell wrote. “We therefore recommend that the option of using the site for the new transfer station not be pursued.”
Also on the agenda tonight are three public hearings.
The Planning Commission recommended denying a conditional use permit request by John Henry to operate a dance hall at 2115 Mt. Laurel Road.
The Commission voted to recommend approval of two other requests, one for a mud bog facility on Route 756 requested by Robert H. Carter Jr., and a request by South Boston Speedway for a dirt go-kart track east of the main track.
Foster is expected to request that the Board issue an architectural and engineering RFP for the demolition of the old jail in Halifax.
Under committee reports, the War Memorial Advisory Committee is seeking authorization to add up to 15 names to the memorial.
The Board is also expected to consider a request to rename the new county animal shelter in honor of Merle Terry.
Two citizens have requested to address the Board.
Dr. Elizabeth Candler and Matt Gray are both expected to speak about the proposed solid waste transfer station.

Obituaries

Marian Conner Gordon

Graveside services for Mrs. Marian Conner Gordon, of Blane Road in Alton, were held Sunday, April 1, at the Alton Baptist Church Cemetery.
The Rev. Dennis Ball officiated.
Mrs. Gordon, 88, died Friday, March 30, at the Berry Hill Nursing Home.
She was born in Halifax County on May 27, 1918, the daughter of the late Lemmie Conner and the late Ruby Wilborn Conner. Mrs. Gordon was married to the late Calvin P. Gordon. She was a member of the Alton Baptist Church and was a homemaker.
Survivors include two sons; Mitchell R. Gordon and wife Melody of Alton and Donald B. Gordon of Alton; two sisters, Jean Pool of Goldsboro, N.C. and Artie C. Schweickert of Richmond; one brother, Glen Conner of Biloxi, Miss.; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Gordon was preceded in death by one son, Tony Gordon.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@earthlink.net.

Gerald Lee Martin

Mr. Gerald Lee Martin, of Crystal Hill Road in Crystal Hill, died Thursday, March 29, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was born in Halifax County on June 26, 1931, the son of the late Fitzhugh Lee Martin and the late Evelyn Brown Martin and was married to Esther Hamlett Martin. He was 75 years old.
Mr. Martin was a member of the Crystal Hill Southern Baptist Church, was a U.S. Army veteran and served in the Korean conflict.
Survivors include his wife, Esther Hamlett Martin of Crystal Hill; one son, Kenneth Martin and wife Becky of Crystal Hill; one daughter, Bonnie M. Francis and husband Keith of Nathalie; one brother, Carlyle Martin and wife Maxine of Crystal Hill; one sister, Linda Piechota and husband Fran of Whispering Pines, N.C.; four grandchildren, Mandi Martin, Katherine Francis, Dustin Francis and Sandi Francis; and many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Martin was preceded in death by two brothers, Garnett and Davis Martin.
Funeral services for Mr. Martin were held Saturday, March 31, at the Crystal Hill Southern Baptist Church with the Revs. Ed Griffin and Robert Hurd officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Mattie Lucille Hammock Moore

A graveside service for Mattie Lucille Hammock Moore of Union Church Road will be held Tuesday, April 3, at 11 a.m. at Halifax Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Richard Saunders officiating.
Mrs. Moore, 74, died Saturday, March 31, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
She was born in Halifax County on May 2, 1932, a daughter of the late Charlie Q. Hammock and Rose Davis Hammock, and was married to the late Ellis Linwood Moore Sr.
Mrs. Moore was a member of Union United Methodist Church.
She is survived by two daughters: Debbie Hall Newton of Danville and Jackie Moore Jones and husband Michael of Keeling; three sons: Ronald Thomas Hall and wife Ann of Charlottesville, Glenn L. Hall and wife Barbara of Vernon Hill and Ellis L. Moore Jr. and wife Linda of Halifax; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Moore was preceded in death by one son, Michael E. Hall.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home today, April 2, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. and at other times at the home of Glenn Hall, 11243 Mountain Road, Vernon Hill.
For memorials, please consider the Halifax County Humane Society, P.O. Box 969, South Boston, Va. 24592.

Selma Robertson Terry

Funeral services for Mrs. Selma Robertson Terry of South Boston will be held today, April 2, at 1 p.m. at White Oak Fork Baptist Church with the Rev. Glen Faulkner officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Mrs. Terry, 80, died March 30 at Halifax Regional Hospital. She was born in Halifax County on February 2, 1927, a daughter of the late Ernest Robertson and Mattie Downey Robertson, and was married to the late Harold Nepoleon Terry.
She was a member of White Oak Fork Baptist Church.
Mrs. Terry is survived by three daughters: Gwendolyn Leigh of Halifax, Pastor Bessie Watkins of Henderson, N.C., and Sandra Palmer of Clover; five sons: Sherman Terry of South Boston, Harold Terry of Roxboro, James Terry of Danville, Lenzy Terry and George Terry, both of Halifax; one sister, Ruby Coleman of Halifax; one brother, Robert Robertson of New York; three sons-in-law, Leon Leigh of Halifax, James Watkins of Henderson, N.C. and Burrous Palmer of Clover; five daughters-in-law: Vera Terry of South Boston, Patsy Terry of Roxboro, Lois Terry of Danville, Glennyleen Terry and Patsy Terry, both of Halifax; and a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mary Tuck Hite

Funeral services for Mary Tuck Hite, 86, will be held at 3 p.m. today, April 2, in the chapel at Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home in Clarksville with the Rev. Rodney Barwick officiating. Interment will follow in Gravel Hill Cemetery.
Mrs. Hite died Friday, March 30, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
She was the daughter of Willie Edwin and Hettie Redd Tuck and was married to the late Harrison Hite.
She worked at Burlington Industries 35 years before retiring.
Mrs. Hite was a member of Gravel Hill Baptist Church.
She is survived by one daughter, Rebecca Bass, and son-in-law Sammie Bass of Nelson, and two grandchildren, Canadas Bass of Winston-Salem, N.C., and Christopher Bass of Dumfries.
Also surviving are two sisters, Virginia T. Yancey of South Boston and Margaret T. Thompson of Richmond.
She was predeceased by one sister, Pearl T. Morris, and brothers Willie E. Tuck Jr. and Herbert H. Tuck.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Gravel Hill Cemetery Fund.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.wclfh.com

Geneva Yvonne Fowlkes

Graveside services for Ms. Geneva Yvonne Fowlkes will be held Tuesday, April 3, at 2:30 p.m. at the Coleman Family Cemetery on Highway 96 in Virgilina.
The family will receive friends at the gravesite on Tuesday.
Ms. Fowlkes of Baltimore, died on March 25, at Sinai Hospital at the age of 84.
She was born in McDowell County, West Virginia, on July 17, 1922, the daughter of the late Matthew H. Fowlkes and Lena Owens Fowlkes.
Ms. Fowlkes is survived by a sister, Idella Stanton of Baltimore; an aunt, Helen Goode of New Jersey; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Comets Get Fourth Win

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
Jacob Vest pitched a complete game and Justin Bagbey went four-for-four at the plate, including a two-run homer, as the Comets varsity baseball team defeated Dan River 8-6 here Friday.
The see-saw contest saw Halifax take a 1-0 lead after one inning, Dan River rally for a 3-1 advantage after two, and the Comets retaking the lead with a three-run third inning.
The Wildcats scored twice in the top of fourth inning for a 5-4 lead, but the Comets rallied for one run in the bottom of the fourth and one in the fifth.
Dan River scored its last run in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at 6-6, but Halifax added two runs in the bottom of the inning to take the win.
Vest allowed seven hits in seven innings, finishing the game with eight strikeouts, while walking only two batters.
Bagbey finished with a home run, three singles and two RBI’s, while Billy Joe Garrett had two doubles , Tony Barbour a double, single and RBI, and Allen Stephens two base hits.
Eric Brandon added a double and Patrick Currie a base hit for Halifax, now 4-2 on the season.
Comets coach Kelvin Davis noted the strong performance by Vest and the hot bats of both Bagbey and Garrett in the win.
“My hat goes off to Jacob, and I thought he did a heck of a job on the mound,” said Davis.
“He told me that he really wanted this ball game and he went out there and did what he needed to do, throw strikes.
“Seventy-five to eighty percent of his pitches were strikes, that’s the main thing we wanted him to do, and it’s what we wanted to see from him.”
Davis also noted the continued offensive production of Bagbey and Garrett.
“Bagbey has been so good at the plate, I mean he’s tearing the ball up,” noted Davis.
“It’s amazing how he’s hitting right now, and he’s at the top of his game. We just hope he continues to play like that and doesn’t settle for where he’s at.
“It’s a big thing with he and Garrett, they’re doing a tremendous job at the plate for us.”
Halifax won the game despite base-running miscues that cost them a pair or runs, the first one coming in the bottom of the first.
Barbour singled and advanced on a fielder’s choice out by Garrett, before scoring on Bagbey’s single. Stephens singled and stole second, but a run scored by a sacrifice fly by Justin Jacobs was nullified when a Comets base runner left base too early.
Dan River took a 3-1 lead in the top of the second on two base hits and a three-run homer by Travis Bowman, but Halifax regained it in the bottom of the third on a walk to Currie, Garrett’s double and Bagbey’s home run.
Three singles, a walk and a Comets error led to a pair of Dan River runs in the top of the fourth, but Vest got out of a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout.
Halifax tied the score in the bottom of the inning on a Brandon double, sacrifice by Joey Rogers, Dan River error and Barbour double, one run taken off the board on a failed tag of third base.
A double by Garrett and singles by Bagbey and Stephens gave the Comets a run in the fifth to make it 6-5, but a one-out triple helped Dan River tie the score in the top of the sixth.
The Comets scored two runs on two hits for the final margin in the bottom of the sixth inning, Currie hitting a one-out single and stealing second. Barbour walked and stole second, Garrett hit a sacrifice fly and Bagbey singled, as Halifax claimed a 8-6 lead.
Dan River was retired in order the top of the seventh with two Vest strikeouts ending the game.
“We go over those situations, and we’ll talk about it, but it’s still early in the season and those things are going to happen,” said Davis concerning the base running mistakes.
“Everyone knew what happened out there.”
The Comets have additional chances to prepare for the upcoming Western Valley District campaign with games this week against Garden City (N.J.) on Tuesday and Baldwin (Pa.) on Thursday, and those games are paramount right now, noted Davis.
“Both of them are quality ball clubs, and hopefully we can be at the top of our game. We know it’ll be tough, but our main concern right now is playing quality teams and get that experience before we get into the districts.”

SBS To Host NASCAR Busch East Race June 2

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
South Boston Speedway’s 50th anniversary season will feature several special events including the track’s first ever NASCAR Grand National Division, Busch East Series race.
The inaugural race at South Boston Speedway will be held on Saturday, June 2 and will go for 150 laps.
SBS’s race will be the fourth race on the series’ 14-race schedule.
“South Boston Speedway has a long-standing with the NASCAR Busch Series,” said track General Manager Cathy Rice.
“It is an honor to be able to host our first-ever NASCAR Grand National Division Busch East Series in this, our 50th anniversary season. We look forward to hosting the NASCAR Busch East Series teams and drivers. We feel this will be an exciting event for our fans.”
Rice was at Martinsville Speedway Friday to join five of the top NASCAR Busch East Series drivers in promoting the series which kicks off Saturday, April 28, with an event at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in Greenville, S.C.
Drivers participating in Friday’s press conference included 2001 and 2006 Busch East Series champion Mike Olson, 2006 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown winner Matt Kobyluck, and 21-year-old Sean Caisse who won the 2005 Busch East Series Rookie of the Year title and finished second to Olson in the series points standings last season.
Also participating in the press conference were Joey Lagano, a 16-year-old driver who is a development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing and Jesus Hernandez, a member of the 2007 Drive For Diversity class and a development driver for Ginn Racing.
The series has undergone some changes since last season, among the more notable of which is the lowering of the minimum age requirement to 16-years-old.
“What’s definitely going to be different in our series is the influx of youth coming into the series,” said Olson.
“The biggest thing for me to adjust to is that I’m going to be the oldest guy out there. But. I’m looking forward to racing them. They’re all very talented, otherwise, they wouldn’t be in our series.
“Sean was the youngster the last two seasons with us,” added Olson.
“The more the merrier, as far as I’m concerned.
Kobyluck said he is looking forward to facing a lot of good competition in the Busch East Series this season.
“Obviously, these guys have a lot of talent or they wouldn’t be here today with the opportunities they have been given,” Kobyluck said of the young drivers that will be coming into the series this season.
“It does a lot for our series and enhances the competition within our series.”
South Boston Speedway is one of five new venues that the series will visit this season and is the only track in Virginia that will host a NASCAR Busch East Series race,
“We look forward to going to all of the new tracks,” Kobyluck said.
“It’s going to be a lot of new things for us.”
Caisse also said he welcomes the influx of young talent into the series.
“I’m pretty excited to have some of these young kids come in,” Caisse said.
“I’ve always been the new kid on the block in the series and you have a lot of attention and a lot of eyes on you. The more compettiion that gets into our series and the more young drivers, the better it is for everyone.”
The NASCAR Grand National Division Busch East Series schedule features 13 races at 12 tracks and includes companion races with the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series at New Hampshire International Speedway and Dover International Speedway.
This will be the first full season for the series to use NASCAR’s new spec engines and composite bodies, optional components designed to provide cost-effective alternatives for teams.
Cars in this series, powered by 350 to 358 cubic-inch V-8 engines, are similar in appearance to those used in the NASCAR Busch Series.
There are currently nine drivers with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup developmental ties in the Busch East Series this year with teams from Joe Gibbs Racing, Rusty Wallace, Inc., Wood Brothers/JTG Racing, Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Ken Schrader Racing, Fitz Motorsports and Ginn Racing.

Johnson Wins At Martinsville

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
MARTINSVILLE — When it came down to the end, yesterday’s Goody’s Cool Orange 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race here at Martinsville Speedway boiled down to a battle of teammates.
Jimmie Johnson fended off a fierce challenge from teammate Jeff Gordon on the final lap and edged Gordon by a fender to win yesterday’s 500-lap event. His margin of victory was .19 second.
“To have a dual like that at the end, that was the hardest driving I’ve ever done,” said Johnson after notching his second win of the young season.
“To have my bumper beat off by my teammate in a way that didn’t jeopardize either one of us was really a class act by Jeff.”
The race came down to an 18-lap sprint at the end with Johnson leading and having to protect his lead in the last 10 laps from the onslaught of Gordon.
Gordon made several runs at Johnson, the final one entering the third turn on the final lap. The pair made contact twice as Gordon slipped to the inside but Johnson won the drag race off of the fourth turn to the finish line.
“I defended the bottom,” Johnson said.
“I gave him the inside lane a few times. I didn’t want to squeeze him and run him up the curb. He gave me a shot in (turns) three and four. I turned left and tried to beat him back to the start/finish line.”
Gordon, who led three times for 92 laps, was upset afterward but said “he (Johnson) didn’t do anything wrong. He did what he needed to do.
“He blocked me really badly,” Gordon added.
“I thought I had a chance at him a couple of times and he shut the door pretty hard. The only way I could have gotten by him was to wreck him. I did everything I felt I could do to win the race.”
Virginian Denny Hamlin rallied from a problem in the pits early in the day to finish third. Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and South Boston’s Jeff Burton rounded out the top six finishers.
Tony Stewart, Scott Riggs, Jamie McMurray and Matt Kenseth completed the top ten finishers.
Johnson, Gordon, Hamlin and Earnhardt dominated yesterday’s race, leading 467 of the race’s 500 laps between them. Earnhardt, who led only a race one time in the season’s first five races, was the top lap leader yesterday, leading twice for 137 laps.
But it was Johnson that got the top prize as he took the lead on lap 388 and led the final 113 circuits enroute to the win.
Hamlin and Gordon dominated the early part of the race. Through the first 218 laps, Hamlin, the pole winner, led three times for 125 laps and Gordon led twice for 82 laps.
Things looked good for Hamlin at that point. But, when the race leaders pitted under caution on lap 219, a problem with loose lug nuts dropped Hamlin back to 11th place in the running order.
Stewart’s crew, with a quick pit stop, gave him the lead for the first time in the race on lap 219. Gordon took the lead away one lap after the restart and held it for 10 laps until Earnhardt took the lead on lap 235.
Earnhardt, who had led only one lap through the first five races of the season, kept the lead through the next sequence of pit stops and held the top spot until the race was red-flagged at lap 357 due to rain.
He continued to be strong after the restart and held a 1.2 second lead over Gordon when the the next caution period came on lap 375 for a crash involving Tony Raines.
When Earnhardt and a handful of the front-runners pitted during that caution, Kyle Busch inherited the lead on lap 378. Busch, who had last pitted on lap 338, held the top spot for 10 laps before Johnson went to the front on lap 388.
The final 61 laps of the race was a battle among the top four cars with a late caution period resulting from J.J. Yeley’s crash in turn one on lap 475 setting up the final sprint to the finish.
Burton started 19th in the race and needed most of the race to get back into contention. He had worked his way up to sixth place by the time the race was restarted on lap 439 following event’s twelfth c aution period but fell back a spot when Busch, armed with fresher tires, made a run in the final 50 laps to get back into contention.
Johnson averaged 70.258 mph in the race that was slowed by 13 caution periods that consumed 93 laps.