John Vallo
Feature Win (#284), 40 Lap, Columbus Motor Speedway, Aug, 4, 2001
MAARN;September 8,2001;P-2
"John Vallo Victorious In LM's at Columbus"
COLUMBUS, OH - Aug.4 - John Vallo captured the 40 lap NASCAR Weekly Racing Series victory of 2001 Saturday at Columbus Motor Speedway. It was the second triumph of 2001 for the seven time track champion as he bested a stellar field of Super Late Models at the third mile paved oval.
Vallo and Scott Stevens led the 22 car field to the green flag with the eventual winner drawing ahead. Terry Humphrey and Buddy Townsend ran in tight formation behind him through lap eight when an on-track incident saw Humphrey spin and both relegated to the tail. Vic Tantarelli and Robbie Dean then took up the chase with both applying heavy pressure on Vallo. Dean had started ninth and moved into contention just past halfway. When the final caution of the event flew, however, it was Tantarelli who was in trouble. He spun off the second turn and on the restart it was the two most prolific drivers at the spedway - Vallo and Dean - set for a battle to the end. Dean worked to the outside of the leader on two different occasions only to be rebuffed through the race's end. Vallo held on for the victory ahead of Dean, Jerry Mitchell, Dominic Bando and Tim Ice.
