Digger claims two Golden Shovels on Miller Pipeline Classic Cruise-In Night.

By Cody Sealey

Chase Johnson is the proud new owner of two Golden Shovels, but perhaps a more fitting

trophy would have been a golden broom.

The America Racer Late Model Driver provided highlight reel racing and two amazing finishes to the fans of Miller Pipeline and Caliber Collision Classic Cruise-In Night at the Races.

Johnson had the fastest qualifying time early in the afternoon, but his navigation to the front in

both races had to wait until the closing laps.

The points leader found himself in second, behind Dan Rogers, with a lap 38 restart in the first

Twin-50. Three laps into the battle, Rogers threw a big block on Johnson, which only temporarily hampered his progress. With 6 to-go, Johnson looked to have his nose in front of Rogers in turn 3, but Aaron Donnelly made it three-wide from third. It was a great save by Johnson, as he dropped down to third. Donnelly’s move was a harbinger of things to come, as a lap later, Johnson pulled the same move on Donnelly.

The contact between Johnson and Donnelly spun out Rogers who was on the outside of them

both: it was a tragic end to the first race for Rogers, who had led every lap up to that point.

A green, white, checkered restart would see Johnson beat Donnelly and claim his first shovel of

the evening.

“This is awesome,” said Johnson, in Bugsy Auto Repair Victory Lane. “[Donnelly] took a small

hole, and then he gave me one, so I took it. It was great racing.”

In the second race, Johnson had to come from eighth. At the halfway point, Johnson was

passing Peyton Lee for third, as Conner Weddell led the race.

Johnson passed Rogers for second, but Weddell had a sizable lead. That lead disappeared fast.

With three to-go Johnson was on Wedddell, and C-Weed had to defend.

Weddell was still leading in the final two turns, but Johnson hung it all out on the outside. With

the momentum, Johnson pulled alongside the #8c for a drag race in the front stretch.

The photo finish showed Johnson as the winner by two-one-hundredths of a second.

Johnson’s reaction was his most excited of the season, as he enthusiastically waved the

checkered flag on top of his car.

“I didn’t know if I was gonna get him or not, truthfully. Coming across the line, I had no clue if I

won. I kept asking my crew ‘Did I win? Did I win?’ It was so close I didn't even know,” said

Johnson.

The sweep on the night was Johnson’s fifth in a row and 8th victory of the year in eleven ARLM features this season at Dominion Raceway.

Johnson credits his composure for being able to capitalize in big moments.

“You gotta stay calm, cool, and collected. You can't do more than what your car gives ya. That is

the thing with these America Racers is that you can’t overdrive it. You gotta keep your head on

your neck,” said Johnson.

Johnson’s track championship lead now sits at 36 points over Dan Rogers.

The evening started with INEX Bandos racing, and Penelope Carlisle dominated the 15-lap

feature.

Michael Frayser battled with James Garrett in the Kelly’s Heating and Cooling UCar division.

Frayser got his #1 back in victory lane after Garrett was victorious a weekend ago. Frayser and

Garrett are separated by just two points in the championship standings.

“[My car] is old, but she keeps digging,” said Frayser. “The #97 is a good one, so we had to get

him quick. I knew if we did, we could get into a rhythm and we did.”

The racing weekend also saw the return of the Southern Ground Pounders Vintage Racing

Club. Shayne Lockhart was the overall winner from the modified class. He piloted his 1968

Chevy Camaro to the victory, while Kevin Floars won the sportsman class in his 1957 Chevy Bel Air.

In the Virginia Modifieds, Eric Fowlkes went last to first to get another win. Fowlkes, from

Mechanicsville, VA is the leader in the growing VA Modified division.

“This is a hot rod,” said Fowlkes. “We came here and tested earlier in the week and made it

even faster.”

For the INEX Legends, Charlie Beals survived a late restart en route to his third consecutive

victory.

The night concluded with a last lap pass in the 6/8-cylinder Any Cars division. James Johnson

was able to hold of a new white version of the #k9 of John Andrews for multiple laps, while

Richard Storm lurked in third. On the final lap, Andrews was able to make the move for the lead

and was the overall winner in the 6-cylinder class.

“That was excellent with James,” said Andrews.” We’ve got some competition [this year].”

Storm won the 8-cylinder class from third place on track and praised the clean battle between Andrews and Johnson.

“K9 and James put on a show,” said Storm. “It was fun and was some really good racing.”

Racing action returns to Dominion on Jun 28. The America Racer Late Models will run Twins again along with the VA Modifieds, Twin UCARs, Mini Stocks, and Twin Dominion Stocks on the race schedule for Juicebox and Kids Bike Race Night. Parents bring your kids Radio Flyer Juicebox racer or bike and cheer them on before the NASCAR racing begins Saturday June 28th! Participants will be group by age, bring your own bike or juicebox to race (NO MODIFICATIONS) We will drop the green Flag for KIDS at 6:30pm on the front stretch before we go Advance Auto Parts weekly racing at 7pm! https://www.dominionraceway.com/event-details/saturday-night-nascar-racing-6