Loden's Back in Victory Lane
By Jill Frischmann, Hickory Motor Speedway

NEWTON, NC (September 6, 2008) - The excitement continues at the "Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars", Hickory Motor Speedway! Drivers took to the track for the 19 th round of the 2008 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series presented by AT&T - The Real Yellow Pages.

The night featured appearances by the Bojangles Late Models, the Jewelry Exchange Limited Late Models, the Hickory Street Stocks, the Hickory Pro 4's and the Red Baron Race Parts Hobby Stocks. The night saw familiar faces in Victory Lane and some that were well over due for their moment in the spot light.

The competition was fierce during the 50 lap Bojangles Late Model feature. The #00 of Lucas Ransone jumped to the lead at the start moving ahead of WynnCom Pole Sitter, #10 of Andy Mercer. Ransone, Mercer, and the #29 of Andy Loden ran nose to tail, just inches apart, the first eight laps of the feature, but Ransone got loose and collected Mercer in a wreck as they were midway down the backstretch bringing out the first and only caution of the feature. Ransone spun up the track, forcing Loden against the wall as he maneuvered around the incident. Mercer got the worst end of the deal, with extensive front end damage, but was able to rejoin the fray at the back of the pack. Loden had the lead at the restart, but the #89 of David Latour Jr. was on his bumper. Loden continued to increase his lead over the field as Ransone and Mercer worked their way through the field from the back of the pack. Five laps remained when Loden reached lap traffic, allowing Latour Jr. to gain on Loden. Loden weaved in and out of lap cars as Latour Jr. continued to gain on him, but once Loden was back out into clean air it was smooth sailing to the finish line. "Man, the car was good, it was the best car we've ever had here!" Loden exclaimed from Victory Lane. The #33 of James Goff, the #42 of Todd Goble and the #57 of Grant Wimbish rounded out the top five.